The Federal Government has asked the British Government to assist it in restructuring the Nigeria Police Force.
The Minister of Interior, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd.), who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, said the request was made by President Umaru Yar�Adua at the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda.
Abbe briefed journalists on the new development after a meeting between Yar�Adua and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior.
He said that the planned restructuring was to improve on the security situation in the country.
The minister said that the President had directed him to constitute a committee of retired and senior police officers who had distinguished themselves in the Police Force.
The officer are expected to come up with a strategic plan of action.
He said, �The issue of the reorganisation of the NPF and the British involvement came up when Mr. President had a discussion with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, in Uganda.
�In the course of their discussion, the British Prime Minister kindly requested Mr. President for what assistance Nigerian Government would like the British Government to render. Mr. President told him that he would appreciate any support the British Government could give us in the matter of improving the security services of this country.
�So, against that background, Mr. President is looking at the Police Force as the point element in the security services. And that of course is giving room to this committee that is being set up to look at areas where we seriously need external help and also look at areas where we are capable of handling.
�We will then advise Mr. President who will tell the British Prime Minister on the areas of assistance we may need.
�We have it on good authority that the British Government is ready to support us in reorganising the NPF and empowering it to be able to carry out its assigned role of ensuring law and order.
�The extent of involvement will be determined by the committee that will be set up.
�I believe the British government has done well in the past and the Nigerian government appreciates that. That is the essence of the cordial relationship between the two governments.
�We also have instructions to put together a high-powered committee comprising experienced senior Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the service of this country in the Police Force to come together to look at the past and join us to look at the future.
�This committee is also going to look at the White Paper, which was approved by government, and assist in the implementation of the content as quickly as possible.
The NPF is a product of the British colonial police system.
According to the website of the force, �Three separate police forces existed in Nigeria. There were the Lagos Police Force, the Northern Police Force and the Southern Police Force. In the second half of 1906, the colony and protectorate of Lagos was merged with the protectorate of Southern Nigeria.
�In 1914 the colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern were merged to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
�However, the Southern and Northern Nigeria Police Forces remained separate and no amalgamation too place until 1930.
�On April 1, 1930 came the existence of the NPF with headquarters in Lagos.�
The minister also spoke on the e-passport scheme, the National Security, Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Prison Service.
He said that areas where Nigerians were resisting would be looked into.
Abbe said that whatever system that emerged would ensure that the identities of Nigerians were not questioned abroad.
He said, �As far as the National Security and Civil Defence Corps is concerned, we believe that their activities are commendable and must be strengthened and must be ready to combat vandals to a standstill and ensure that our national economy is duly protected.
�As for the prisons, the issue of neglect and long-term abandonment was also identified and Mr. President has graciously accepted that from January, we are going to look at the problems of the prisons holistically.�
The minister said that states might be involved in the management of prison service so as to reduce the burden on the Federal Government.
Abbe said that the meeting also deliberated on security abuses by well-to-do Nigerians.
He said that some of them were not even qualified to have armed security.
The minister also added that a massive training of security personnel would commence in 2008.
He said, �We are going to install discipline and ensure that any element who falls below expectation is ruthlessly dealt with and shown the way out because we must evolve a new and better police.�
Nov272007