IGP to FG: Approve recruitment of 31,000 into Police annually

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has called on the federal government to approve the recruitment of at least 31,000 policemen annually for the next five years in order to boost the workforce of the Nigeria Police Force.

The IGP’s call also coincided with a similar position declared yesterday by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police for Osun, Ondo, and Oyo states, Mr. Agboola Oshodi Gloover, who urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to give approval for the recruitment of 31,000 policemen yearly in line with the ratio system recommended by the UN. Idris, who made this appeal yesterday at the passing out parade of recruited Constables at the Police Training School, Minna, said the recruitment of 31,000 personnel would further address the issue of lack of police personnel across the country.

The IGP, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Finance and Administration, Mr. Shuaibu Gambo, added: “The current ratio of the policemen to the public is below the United Nations approved percentage but if the federal government approves the recruitment of 31,000 policemen yearly, the nation would be able to meet up with UN ratio.”

He, however, applauded government’s approval of 10,000 police Constables who passed out yesterday in various Police Training Schools across the country. He expressed optimism that approval would be given for more to be recruited for next year. In his remarks, Gambo said, the IGP had directed that the recruit Constables be posted back to their communities in order to expand the effectiveness of community policing. In his address, the Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Ketso, urged the police to develop new and appropriate strategies to counter all forms of criminal tendencies to enable a peaceful environment while stressing the need to look inwards and think of how to confront the new forms of crimes and criminality in the society.

Meanwhile, Glover, while speaking as a special guest at the graduation ceremony of some policemen that were recruited recently at the Oyo State Police Headquarters, Eleyele, said: “Today we are having more policemen who are ready and willing to accept to join us in our fight against crime in the country.

“Though, I must commend the effort of our president for approval of the 10,000 policemen that were recruited this year, I nevertheless urge him to approve the United Nations ratio for recruitment exercise which is 31,000 police per year.”