*As Rivers Police Tactical Operations Centre comes on stream
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed the need for the federal government to increase funding to the Nigeria police to enable it perform better.
The governor maintained that any government that cannot protect life and property, fight crime and make people live happily does not have any business in governance.
Speaking on Friday in Rumuepirikom community during the inauguration of Police Tactical Operations Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, governor Wike said his administration understands such import and had unrelentingly provided necessary logistics to the State police command.
Such support, he noted, has strengthened the capacity of police officers to do their best in keeping crime rate at its lowest level in Rivers State.
“Ours is to provide the necessary logistics and allow the police and other sister agencies to carry out their function. When you provide the enabling and conducive environment, obviously officers and men of the security agencies will put in their best.
“I’m sure, when the tactical team, as the CP said, move in here the environment alone will allow them to put in their best.”
Governor Wike however, corrected the thinking that only the federal government has the duties of fighting insecurity.
He stressed that the essence of governance is to protect life and leaving such role for the federal government alone is a slack in responsibility of any person in government.
“If you’re a governor, you’re a chairman of local council, if you’re a president and you can’t protect life and property of citizens then you have no business to talk about governance.
“So, don’t go home and sleep that it is the responsibility of federal government to fight insecurity, no. Every tier of government has that responsibility to fight crime and make sure people live happily.”
Governor Wike commended the Inspector General of Police for not changing commissioners of police posted to Rivers State incessantly.
This, he pointed out, has helped to stabilise the security architecture and strategies deployed in fighting crime and criminality.
Governor Wike also acknowledged that a new commissioner of police has been posted to the State and urged him to sustain the crime fighting tempo.
He stated that the incoming governor, Siminalayi Fubara will not tolerate it if the crime rate increases, when it should be fought to minimum level.
Inaugurating the Police Tactical Operations Centre, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba said police officers in Rivers State are lucky because of the good working tools and conducive environment provided for them.
IGP, Baba noted that while the Nigeria police is contemplating adopting E-policing strategies, the Rivers State government has taken the led by proving E-policing enabling equipment and centres that will make tracking, patrolling, raiding, stop and search operations possible without being on the road.
“I want to pledge that I will support this tactical operation unit with an armored personnel carrier, two gun trucks made of pickup and I will also give arms and ammunition dedicated to this place. That is our contribution at the headquarters level.”
Former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Effiong Okon said the Police Tactical Operations Centre provided by the Wike’s administration is the first in the country.
Okon listed anti-cultism, Anti-kidnapping and C4i tactical teams as the three out of the 13 Tactical Teams in Rivers State that will be stationed at the centre.
Former Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, Former Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly explained that the Police Tactical Operations Center has 20 number offices.
Kelvin Ebiri
Special Assistant (Media) to Rivers State Governor
May 26, 2023.
