N1.13tn needed annually to run Police – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday
said that the Nigeria Police Force required N1.13tn annually to
effectively execute its operations.

Idris said this at a Public Hearing on Bills to establish the
Police Reform Trust Fund and a Bill to amend the Explosives Act
2004 in Abuja.

The hearing was organised by the House of Representatives
Committee on Police Affairs.

He explained that the amount excluded major capital projects
such as arms and ammunition, purchase of new vehicles, gunboats,
helicopters and other equipment.

Idris said that the N560bn recommended by the MD Yusuf-led
Police Reform Committee in 2008 was a far cry from the current
amount required.

“To fully appreciate the funding challenges of the Nigeria
Police Force, it will be appropriate to compare the MD Yusuf
financial estates of 2008,” he said.
He explained that the force required an average of N26.9bn annually
for the maintenance and fueling of its vehicles.

“Presently, the force has a fleet of 14, 306 vehicles including
3,115 motorcycles nationwide,” he said.

The police boss also said that N14.5bn would be required
annually for uniforms and kits for personnel of the force.

Idris noted that the regular source of funding for the police
through budgetary allocation had failed to address the financial
needs of the force to provide security for the nation.

He said that if the bill was passed into law, it would largely
address the funding challenges of the police.

“The bill will provide alternative source of funding for the
Nigeria Police Force for the training and retraining of personnel,”
he said.
He said that the police required over N200bn to install cameras,
databases all police stations across the country.

“To effectively investigate and prosecute offenders, we must
invest massively in the detective infrastructure and capacity of
our investigators,” he said.

Idris said this would enhance the investigation and
prosecutorial capacity of the police.

He observed that restricting the trust fund to a period of six
years would not be in the best interested of the force and
public.

“The fund once established should be sustained in the interest
of national security and not be to be time bound.

“The purpose of the fund is to provide alternative funding for
the police, but if it is subjected to too many bottlenecks, the
objective will be defeated,” he said.

On the explosives bill, Idris said that it would curb the
illegal storage and use of explosives in the country.

He noted that the current Act was outdated and did not address
the present day security challenges facing the country.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara said
adequate funding was critical for the police to function
effectively.

Dogara was represented by the House Minority leader, Rep. Leo
Ogor (PDP-Delta).

He said that inadequate funding of the police had exposed it to
criticisms by Nigerians.

He said that the passage of the bill and its signing into law
would provide first-line charge for the police to carry out its
operations.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Rep.
Dauda Jika ( APC- Bauchi), said that the hearing was aimed at
giving stakeholders the opportunity to make inputs into the
bills.

He said that if passed into law, the fund would afford
individuals and groups to contribute to the funding of the
police.

“Funding the police adequately will boost its morale and
efficiency,” he said.

Jika said that the bill would also enhance the operations of the
police and make them not to be partisan during elections in the
country.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin called for a
10-year jail term for any one who misappropriated the fund.

“Any person found guilty of misappropriating the fund should go
for at least 10 year imprisonment,” Olonisakin, who was represented
by AVM Ibrahim Shafi, said.

Former commissioner of police, Mr Fidelis Oyakhilome, who spoke
on behalf of retired officers, called for constant training and
restraining of police personnel for efficient performance.

He said that the proliferation of security organisations in the
country was unacceptable when the police was not adequately
funded.

Other stakeholders who made presentations at the hearing are:
NLC, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and traditional rulers,
among others.

The bill seeks to provide alternative funding for the
police.

The bill to amend the explosives Act seeks to provide stiffer
penalties for defaulters of the law regulating explosives in the
country.

(NAN)

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday
said that the Nigeria Police Force required N1.13tn annually to
effectively execute its operations.

Idris said this at a Public Hearing on Bills to establish the
Police Reform Trust Fund and a Bill to amend the Explosives Act
2004 in Abuja.

The hearing was organised by the House of Representatives
Committee on Police Affairs.

He explained that the amount excluded major capital projects
such as arms and ammunition, purchase of new vehicles, gunboats,
helicopters and other equipment.

Idris said that the N560bn recommended by the MD Yusuf-led
Police Reform Committee in 2008 was a far cry from the current
amount required.

“To fully appreciate the funding challenges of the Nigeria
Police Force, it will be appropriate to compare the MD Yusuf
financial estates of 2008,” he said.
He explained that the force required an average of N26.9bn annually
for the maintenance and fueling of its vehicles.

“Presently, the force has a fleet of 14, 306 vehicles including
3,115 motorcycles nationwide,” he said.

The police boss also said that N14.5bn would be required
annually for uniforms and kits for personnel of the force.

Idris noted that the regular source of funding for the police
through budgetary allocation had failed to address the financial
needs of the force to provide security for the nation.

He said that if the bill was passed into law, it would largely
address the funding challenges of the police.

“The bill will provide alternative source of funding for the
Nigeria Police Force for the training and retraining of personnel,”
he said.
He said that the police required over N200bn to install cameras,
databases all police stations across the country.

“To effectively investigate and prosecute offenders, we must
invest massively in the detective infrastructure and capacity of
our investigators,” he said.

Idris said this would enhance the investigation and
prosecutorial capacity of the police.

He observed that restricting the trust fund to a period of six
years would not be in the best interested of the force and
public.

“The fund once established should be sustained in the interest
of national security and not be to be time bound.

“The purpose of the fund is to provide alternative funding for
the police, but if it is subjected to too many bottlenecks, the
objective will be defeated,” he said.

On the explosives bill, Idris said that it would curb the
illegal storage and use of explosives in the country.

He noted that the current Act was outdated and did not address
the present day security challenges facing the country.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara said
adequate funding was critical for the police to function
effectively.

Dogara was represented by the House Minority leader, Rep. Leo
Ogor (PDP-Delta).

He said that inadequate funding of the police had exposed it to
criticisms by Nigerians.

He said that the passage of the bill and its signing into law
would provide first-line charge for the police to carry out its
operations.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Rep.
Dauda Jika ( APC- Bauchi), said that the hearing was aimed at
giving stakeholders the opportunity to make inputs into the
bills.

He said that if passed into law, the fund would afford
individuals and groups to contribute to the funding of the
police.

“Funding the police adequately will boost its morale and
efficiency,” he said.

Jika said that the bill would also enhance the operations of the
police and make them not to be partisan during elections in the
country.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin called for a
10-year jail term for any one who misappropriated the fund.

“Any person found guilty of misappropriating the fund should go
for at least 10 year imprisonment,” Olonisakin, who was represented
by AVM Ibrahim Shafi, said.

Former commissioner of police, Mr Fidelis Oyakhilome, who spoke
on behalf of retired officers, called for constant training and
restraining of police personnel for efficient performance.

He said that the proliferation of security organisations in the
country was unacceptable when the police was not adequately
funded.

Other stakeholders who made presentations at the hearing are:
NLC, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and traditional rulers,
among others.

The bill seeks to provide alternative funding for the
police.

The bill to amend the explosives Act seeks to provide stiffer
penalties for defaulters of the law regulating explosives in the
country.

(NAN)