Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has charged all Strategic Police Managers in the Nigeria Police Force to generate and adopt proactive measures in the quest to efficiently counter the anticipated internal security challenges of the coming year. 

The IGP said year 2022 will present its peculiar security challenges, which includes a spike in political activities, due to the general elections in early 2023. IGP Baba said these at a meeting with Strategic Police Managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday. 

He said the purpose of the conference was to primarily evaluate Police activities within the outgoing year, identify gaps that could have militated against optimal service delivery and to advance pathways to bridging those gaps. 

He said 2021 was a particularly challenging year for the Force, due to potent threats posed to internal security by the activities of bandits, secessionists, kidnappers, as well as other highly organized criminal syndicates. 

According to the IGP, "The challenges were compounded by the #Endsars violence of the preceding year, which weakened the morale and operational base of the Force, following the massive destruction of Police operational assets, and unfortunate deaths and injuries to Police Officers that attended the violent protests."

"Despite this reality within the internal security space, I am delighted to note that all of you, as strategic Police Commanders, remained resilient, and demonstrated commendable level of courage, initiative, sound operational capacity, and loyalty not only to the Force leadership, but to our dear Country."

The Police boss also gave a literal pat on the back to men and officers of the Force over what he described as the high level of courage, valour and professionalism displayed at the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State in particular, and in the secession-ridden Eastern parts of the Country.

He harped on the successful collaborative synergy with the Police Trust Fund (PTF) and the Police Service Commission (PSC). He said it has led to the procurement of new fleet of purpose-built operational vehicles for the Force. He said the operational assets will soon be launched and deployed to all Commands, Formations, as well as other Tactical Units across the Country.

"Additionally, we successfully re-energised our working relationship with the Police Service Commission, leading to the smooth and near completion of the 2020 recruitment of ten 

thousand (10,000) Police Constables in the Force, and the commencement of the 2021 phase of the exercise", the IGP also stated. 

According to the IGP, other reforms in the coming year include a standardization of a model Police Station template. This is to modernize Police Stations across the Country. He said the construction of this model Police Stations has commenced in some States and will soon be replicated in a phased implementation process across the Country.

The IGP also commended the Force for what he described as the successful galvanization of international support, leading to the election of AIG Garba Baba Umar, as the Vice President (Africa) of INTERPOL during the recently concluded 89th Session of INTERPOL General Assembly held in Istanbul, Turkey. 

He appreciated all members of the Force for these modest successes within the outgoing Year. He charged all to brace up for next year, which he said will likely be more challenging, security-wise. He said the vision for the next year remains fixed on the virtues of professionalism and respect for rule of law. 

Follow us on Twitter @eonsintelligenc and get exclusive news as it breaks