News Release: Nigeria Police Unfolds Security Measures During Festivities

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, on behalf of the Police High Command, officers and men of the Force, heartily felicitates with Christians in Nigeria as they join their counterparts across the globe to joyfully celebrate this year’s Christmas.

  While reminding Christians of the very significance of Christmas – the holy birth of Jesus Christ; the IGP enjoins them to emulate and imbibe the worthy virtues, principles and teachings of Christ, by being open minded to issues of peace, forgiveness and harmonious co-existence, especially, at this auspicious moment in the history of our country. He calls on all Nigerians to appreciate and respect the persities of the nation, and leverage on same as a source of strength and medium for national development. 

Meanwhile, to ensure a peaceful and incident-free Christmas celebration the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and State Command Commissioners of Police to take all necessary measures to ensure the provision of adequate security across the country before, during and after the celebration. CPs are to personally, ensure that key and vulnerable points including: shopping malls, motor parks, financial houses, places of worship, recreation centres and other public places are adequately and effectively protected, to enable  holiday makers, worshippers and the general public enjoy maximum fulfillment. In a similar vein, Zonal AIGs and CPs have been directed to ensure the provision of 24hrs security around all government installations, strategic facilities and other key targets.

In addition, Commanders of Police Highway Patrol Teams have been directed to ensure that motorized patrols on our highways targeted at crime and accident prevention, are intensified to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful celebration. Police men deployed on our highways have also been directed to render necessary assistance to travelers and road users, especially accident victims and those who may suffer vehicular break down. 

The IGP warns officers who will be deployed during the period, to ensure that they comport themselves and act within the confines of the law. They must be firm but polite, civil and professional in the discharge of their assigned roles, giving due regard and respect to the fundamental human rights of citizens at all times.

On the other hand, in the spirit of the season, the IGP expresses his gratitude to Nigerians for their cooperation, patience and understanding all through 2012, particularly in the face of daunting national security challenges. He sues for peace from all Nigerians, irrespective of religious, political and socio-cultural leaning, expressing the belief that the country’s multifarious challenges, including that of security, are surmountable with all hands on deck.

The Police Chief equally uses this medium to pay tribute to all Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, for their dedication, tireless courage and selfless service to father-land and humanity. He restates his resolve and commitment to reposition the Force, bargain for better welfare package and a more humane and conducive working condition for Police personnel. He commiserates with families of patriotic members of the Force who, like the heroes they truly are, paid the supreme price in the out-going year, to ensure that Nigerians enjoy peace and security.

Finally, the IGP seeks the prayers, support and understanding of Nigerians, assuring that by God’s grace, the battle against crime and criminality will eventually be won. 

 CSP Frank E. Mba
Deputy Force Public Relations Officer,
For: Force Public Relations Officer,
Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Opinion: Defying Presidential Directive On Roads Repair

A Bad Road In Nigeria

By Nelson Ekujumi

A constitutional responsibility of government at all levels is the welfare of the citizenry and the roads is a critical picture of this state of welfare because of its indispensable economic importance in the life of the people. This sector just like other parts of the economy is in a terrible state and this is responsible for the alarming rate of road accidents that have consumed thousands of lives and destroyed trillions in economic value of goods and properties.

Thus, one could not hide his joy when the news broke that President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered the immediate rehabilitation of all federal roads in the country in order to ameliorate the human conditions suffered on the roads as we approach the yuletide. To underline the seriousness of the federal government, it even had to revoke a long standing concessionaire agreement with a construction firm in order to speed up repair works on one of the country’s gateway expressway.

However, one is baffled that months after this Presidential directive, it seems no one is listening in order to carry out repair works on the Lagos Abeokuta expressway as motorists and commuters daily spend agonizing hours on the road as a result of the several failed portions. A journey on that road these days is just too traumatic with the damage to individual’s health, wear and tear on vehicles coupled with the danger posed to the life of road users as a result of accidents and criminality which are being engendered by the man holes on the road.

Another worrisome aspect of this failed federal road is the indiscriminate removal of road medians by unscrupulous elements which have paved way for illegal U turns at dangerous sections of the road such as at Ile Epo bus stop and in between Adura and Shalolo bus stops. This illegal and life threatening U turn spots have resulted in accidents which have continuously claimed innocent lives and destroyed properties. Hence, there is urgent need for both the federal and Lagos state governments to come together with a view to finding a lasting solution to this menace on the road.

Another noticeable shortcoming on this federal road is the absence of carved out bus stops or shelters that would prevent commercial vehicles from staying on the road to either drop or pick up passengers and as a result causing unnecessary traffic jam which is inconveniencing to other road users. Also, there is need for the governments at both federal and state levels to look into this aspect with a view to making the road free and safe for all.

As we approach the Yuletide in some few hour’s times, it is our fervent hope and prayer that the honourable minister of works will be patriotic enough to give meaning to the directive of Mr. President with regards to the Lagos Abeokuta express road and other unattended to federal roads in order to ameliorate the human condition as well as putting in place mechanism for collaboration with the relevant state governments on addressing other challenges noted on the roads.

This is wishing all Nigerians, a merry Xmas and prosperous 2013.

(Ekujumi is Executive Secretary,

Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) and writes from 26A Adesina Street , Ikeja, Lagos)