The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday promised Nigerians that despite its current challenges, he will secure the country.
Buhari made the promise in Lagos during the handing over of security equipment by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to the Lagos State Police Command during the President’s one-day official visit to the state.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari: My directive on criminals with AK-47 remains in place, vows decisive action on those attacking security personnel.’
The President was quoted as saying that, “As Commander-in-Chief, my primary responsibility remains the security of the country and the safety of all citizens.
“Despite the many challenges we are facing, I want Nigerians to rest assured that we will secure this country.
“We will secure our infrastructure, our highways, our communities, and our forests, and we will secure the lives of our people.”
Buhari said his regime was currently working to recruit 10,000 new police officers and increase police salaries and wages.
He said, ‘‘We are currently recruiting 10,000 new Police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country.
“In addition to this, I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits.”
The President stated that no administration since 1999 has been as committed as his in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.
He said, ‘‘In 2019, I signed into law the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, the first in the history of the Force, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare, logistics and equipment.
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‘‘In September 2020, I assented to the Bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.
‘‘This new Act, a vast improvement over the old one, among other things spells out the modalities for the implementation of a National Community Policing Scheme in Nigeria.
The scheme, he said, will restore confidence within local communities and enable them to become active stakeholders in the safety and security of their environs.
In a similar vein, Buhari insisted that his directive to security agencies, to shoot any person or persons found illegally wielding AK-47s and other assault weapons, stands.
The President cautioned that a nation that turns its Police personnel and infrastructure into targets of violence and destruction is a nation on the path of self-destruction.
He charged the officers, men and women of the Nigeria Police that both Nigerians and the government expect so much from them even as the government strives to improve their welfare and capacity.
He also commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Force for their recent success in minimizing the spate of violence in troubled parts of the country.
‘‘I have charged the Inspector-General to leave no stone unturned in rebuilding the morale of his officers and men, especially in the aftermath of the mindless violence associated with the EndSARS protests, as well as the recent spate of attacks on Police Stations in some parts of the country.”
Buhari added that the newly acquired security equipment and assets will boost the morale of the Police, and further enhance their capacity to fight crime and combat criminality.
He also praised the Governor and people of the state for remaining resilient despite the carnage and destruction experienced last October; urging other states to emulate the resilience and resourcefulness of Lagos.
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