For 2 days, IGP Egbetokun and ex-IGPs reflect in Ibadan on solutions to insecurity

Deeply concerned, like many Nigerians, by the emerging, debilitating and protracted security challenges currently facing Nigeria, the Retired Police Inspectors General Committee this week left their comfortable homes for a retirement of two days in Ibadan City, Oyo State to deliberate and chart pathways towards a more peaceful, united and progressive Nigeria through responsive and proactive security architecture.

The retreat, which took place from August 21-23, was themed: “Intervention by Former Inspectors General of Police for Strategic Contributions to Effective Policing.”

Initiated by Committee Chairman, IGP Aliyu Attah (Retired), Facilitated by Police Services Commission (PSC) Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, also a retired IGP, and Sponsored by the Oyo State Government under the Executive Governor. , Eng. Oluseyi Makinde, the retreat was held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to deliberate on worrying trends and how to address them.

Similar Items

Other retired IGPs in attendance included Sunday Ehindero, Ogbonna Onovo, Mike Okiro, Hafiz Ringim and Kpotun Idris.

In his opening address, Committee Chairman Alhaji Attah in his paper titled: "Repositioning the Retired Police Inspectors General Committee for its Impact and Relevance in the National Security Architecture of Nigeria,” said the meeting presented a unique opportunity to reflect on the journey of retirees in the Nigerian Police, share experiences and chart a course towards repositioning the committee for greater impact, relevance and benefits. strategic interventions in the national security landscape.

According to Attah, “the security challenges facing our beloved country have become increasingly complex, diffuse and multifaceted, with unprecedented lethality.

“The dynamics of crime are exacerbated by the technological advances of the 22nd century that have given rise to the information highways; daily employed and exploited by criminal elements of society for their nefarious activities. »

He said the security needs of citizens therefore demand that the NPF, as the agency charged with internal security, remain focused, innovative and proactive in the pursuit of a secure and prosperous Nigeria.

He noted that the FNP has experienced problems, resulting in a continued decline in public confidence in the ability of law enforcement officers to provide adequate internal security.

This phenomenon, he added, has also been aggravated by the creation of other security agencies, which affects the adequate funding of the FNP and deepens inter-agency warfare due to overlapping responsibilities and tasks.

Retired IGP Attah said the retreat was intended to provide a platform to harness the collective wisdom and expertise as a retired IGP by re-energizing the committee and its role in shaping from the present and future of the NPF towards a strengthened and manly Nigerian security architecture.

“Our collective experience as retired IGPs positions us as guardians of institutional memory, strategic vision, practical guidance and survival instincts to a repositioned police force, for greater efficiency and efficiency in the exercise of its statutory functions.

“…The time has come for us to wake up from our seemingly inactive state as retired members of the Board of Inspectors General of Police and jointly provide strategic guidance to the current Inspector General of Police. the acting police and, in fact, to every inspector. Police General," he said.

In his presentation titled: “Current State of Police Preparedness: Issues, Challenges and Prospects”, Acting Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, who graced the occasion, said that he was there to share his vision of policing with his bosses and to let them know what the Force intends to do, how it would be done, the experience of the past two months, the challenges faced, and to tap into the wealth of experience of retired IGPs, to find ways to cope with the challenges.

According to the IGP, “our new policing vision is to build a professionally competent, service-oriented, rule-of-law and customer-friendly police force that will support the Government's policing agenda. recovery and economic growth as well as socio-political development of our country.

“We look forward to a police force that will be so well placed to respond appropriately and adequately to the dynamics of crime and criminality in Nigeria. »

He said it would be difficult to have such a police force without understanding the multifaceted nature of the challenges it faces.