Buhari Commissions 200 Patrol Vehicles, Security Equipment Purchased by Police Trust Fund

The Buhari Commissions 200 Patrol Vehicles, Security Equipment Purchased by Police Trust Fund

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration is adequately poised to give the Nigerian Police Trust Fund all that is needed to enable it meet its mandate and attain the expectations of Nigerian Police and Nigerians at large.

The president gave the assurance while commissioning 200 patrol vehicles and Security equipment purchased by the Trust Fund for use by the Police.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said NPTF was set up to bridge the funding gap in the budgetary allocations of the Nigerian Police, by rendering support in critical areas such as training and retraining of personnel, provision of infrastructure and general welfare of Police personnel.

He reassured Nigerians of his government’s determination to address various security challenges facing the nation.

According to him, government is quite aware of Police constraints and will continue doing its best to address the challenges for effective policing of the country.

He also said the recent Federal Executive Council’s approval of enhanced salary packages and other allowances for the Nigerian Police affirmed his commitment to enhancing policing, hence it deserves commendations from well-meaning Nigerians.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, said items provided by the Trust Fund for the Nigerian Police Force were in line with requisite operational specifications, and have been tested and found to be of quality standard.

He assured that the Nigerian Police Force will continue to partner the Trust Fund.

The IGP further noted that the NPTF depends substantially on revenue accruing from the federation account for the implementation of its programmes and activities.

He added that with dwindling national revenue “it is obvious that this source of revenue alone cannot sustain the Trust Fund in the attainment of its mandate of repositioning the Nigeria Police Force to change the internal security narrative in the country.”

To this end, he called on all Nigerians, corporate bodies and multinational organizations to key into the goals of the NPTF to enable it accomplish its mission.

In his address, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, said the fund has so far procured 200 patrol vehicles, 1,300 ballistic helmets and bullet proof vests, and COVID-19 kits, as well as drugs and medical equipment for the police force.

The Trust Fund, he added has expended 8.7 billion naira in its 2020 intervention in the purchase of the said vehicles and other state-of-the-art security equipment .

Aliyu Sokoto, assured that more equipment will be provided to the Police for improved operations.

By PRNigeria