President Bola Tinubu has called for the collaboration of various sister agencies to enhance security in the country.
President Tinubu made the call, yesterday, at the official opening of the conference and retreat for senior police officers tagged CARSPO 2025 with a theme ‘Improving Nigeria’s Internal Security and Economic Prosperity through Inclusive Policing’ in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
On his part, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, mandated all commands of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to implement a comprehensive action plan to reduce the crime rate by 50 per cent this year.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President explained that some of the economic policies initiated by his government were tailored towards improving the country’s socio-economic status, noting that many states of the federation, including Ogun, keyed into the government’s policies for economic stability.
He stated that the Federal Government was concerned about the nation’s economic growth by strengthening internal security, assuring that the government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the security personnel to get the best out of them.
Describing the theme of the conference as apt, Tinubu said the conference would serve as a platform for the police officers to cross-breed ideas and come up with new strategies for effective policing.
Commending NPF for providing adequate security in the country, the President urged Nigerians to collaborate with the police to address some of the security challenges facing the nation, as “security is the responsibility of everyone.”
According to Egbetokun, to effectively address these challenges, intelligence-led policing must remain at the core of police operations.
He added: “We are, therefore, committed to deepening strategic partnerships with both domestic and international security agencies, while enhancing community engagement to bolster public trust and promote active citizen participation in policing.
“Recognising the growing threat of cybercrime, we have strengthened the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC), complemented by the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Unit (AML/CFT). These units, in collaboration with the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), are actively working to combat financial crimes and ensure Nigeria’s compliance with international security and financial regulations.”
The IGP noted that the theme was in line with Tinubu’s security vision and underscored the determination of NPF to cultivate a police force that is professionally competent, intelligence-driven and equipped to confront emerging threats proactively.
According to him, the intensified operations and commitment to the cooperation with the military and other security agencies in the fight against banditry, kidnapping and other organised crimes are yielding significant results.
At the event, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said his government would provide electric motorcycles to NPF to enhance operations in the state.
The governor also disclosed that the government was partnering a French company to provide drones capable of detecting crime from as far as 8,000 feet.