FG Approves Unit To Regulate, Monetize Posting Of Police Officers As Escorts, Guards

The federal executive council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the
formation of the Special Police Services.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media
and publicity, said the new unit will formalise the deployment of
police officers as escorts to VIPs and as guards to big
corporations.

Speaking after the FEC meeting in Abuja, he said the approval
was in the interest of transparency and accountability.

He said: “The minister of police affairs also had an important
scheme which was approved at federal executive council meeting.

“It is the deployment of what they call Special Police Services.
And this is about a new system that will formalise what has existed
with us all the time.

“You know police provide escort and guard for big corporations,
banks, and so on. Now, in the interest of transparency and
accountability, the government is formalising this relationship.
And there will be an introduction of tariffs and billing schemes.
This will be using PPP (public private partnership)
arrangement.

“The police projected the use of consultant that will help them
to manage this. Part of the revenue will go to federal government.
Part of it will go to the police. Part of it will go into police
allowances. And part will go to consultants as their own fees.

“This is something that has been going on for many years. And it
has happened virtually in all countries of the world. In our own
case, it has remained largely, people will say, undocumented or
non-formalised. Government is concerned about leakages in revenue
and incomes which should be blocked.”

Shehu also said contracts worth N754,048,161 were approved for
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for capital
projects.

He said: “These are mainly for the supply of communications at
the command and control centre. This is to enable EFCC comply with
modern day investigative techniques, improve its operational
efficiency, and support the administration of criminal justice
system in the country.

“So, these are basically defensive and offensive cyber-security
systems.”

The federal executive council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the
formation of the Special Police Services.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media
and publicity, said the new unit will formalise the deployment of
police officers as escorts to VIPs and as guards to big
corporations.

Speaking after the FEC meeting in Abuja, he said the approval
was in the interest of transparency and accountability.

He said: “The minister of police affairs also had an important
scheme which was approved at federal executive council meeting.

“It is the deployment of what they call Special Police Services.
And this is about a new system that will formalise what has existed
with us all the time.

“You know police provide escort and guard for big corporations,
banks, and so on. Now, in the interest of transparency and
accountability, the government is formalising this relationship.
And there will be an introduction of tariffs and billing schemes.
This will be using PPP (public private partnership)
arrangement.

“The police projected the use of consultant that will help them
to manage this. Part of the revenue will go to federal government.
Part of it will go to the police. Part of it will go into police
allowances. And part will go to consultants as their own fees.

“This is something that has been going on for many years. And it
has happened virtually in all countries of the world. In our own
case, it has remained largely, people will say, undocumented or
non-formalised. Government is concerned about leakages in revenue
and incomes which should be blocked.”

Shehu also said contracts worth N754,048,161 were approved for
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for capital
projects.

He said: “These are mainly for the supply of communications at
the command and control centre. This is to enable EFCC comply with
modern day investigative techniques, improve its operational
efficiency, and support the administration of criminal justice
system in the country.

“So, these are basically defensive and offensive cyber-security
systems.”