By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed concern over the level of decay and dilapidation of police formations, especially, their accommodation, popularly known as Police Barracks in the country.
He stated this at a ministerial press briefing organised by the Ministry of Police Affairs, in Abuja, Tuesday.
He, however, applauded the Police Affairs Ministry for its efforts so far, noting that the ministry is under pressure due to the current security challenges in the country.
“I must commend the Minister for his capacity to whether the storm. I went with him round the police formations in Lagos and I was shocked at the level decadence not just of the police facilities but their accommodation which we call the barracks for the police officers. The level of destruction that these police men have suffered in the hands of the hoodlums that hijacked the EndSARS protest last year.
“That is not all, the paucity of men and officers is something to worry about.
“As few as they are, if you now distribute them to the local governments and situate the number of police men in a local communities, you will appreciate the challenge of the ministry of police affairs and the police as an institution.
“If there is an arm of government that have faced the worst form of pressure in this dispensation, it is the police as an institution and the Ministry combine,” Aregbesola said.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi disclosed that the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force are well equipped to provide security in all schools across the country. This, however, depends on the demands put forward by state governments.
The Minister assured that the federal government is doing everything within its powers to ensure that schools across the country are safe for learning and teaching.
“On the issue of security of schools across the country, if you go to most of the selected schools by the state governments, the police is providing security in the schools. They are there doing what they can do to protect lives and property in the schools.
“Recall that the states were mandated to select schools that will require security cover by the police.
“There are, of course, some instances where the armed bandits overpower the police and other security agencies that are there, but I want to assure you that the police are there and they are well equipped to face these challenges within the limit of what they can do.
“So, we are providing security in the schools and we will continue to do so depending on the demand of the state governments for providing of security in these secondary schools.”