The Federal Government said it recruited 40,000 police officers in the last four years in an effort to re-energize and improve the personnel of the force to tackle increasing security challenges in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari who made this known on Tuesday in Uyo while declaring open a two day retreat for senior police officers said he also granted accent to the Nigerian Police Trust Fund and carried out an upward review of salaries and allowances of rank and file in a bid to boost the morale of the Force.
Buhari who was represented by Minister of Police Affairs Dr Maigari Dingyadi added that other efforts aimed at improving service delivery in the force initiated by the FG include a Task Force on need evaluation of the Nigerian Police headed by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and assent to the Nigerian Police Regulatory Bill 2020.
The President who commended the two arms of the National Assembly for their support to the Force assured that the FG would continue to accord priority to efforts aimed at re-engineering and re-equipping the Force to tackle increasing and complex security challenges of the country.
“Ladies and gentlemen, an opportunity for a professionally driven police force is critical to national cohesion and socio economic development.
“It is in recognition of this that this administration has prioritized the reforms, re-equipping and re-engineering of the Nigerian Police, being the lead agency in the internal security architecture of our dear country.” He said.
The President commended the Nigerian Governors Forum for their support to the Police, Akwa Ibom State government for hosting the conference and expressed belief that the conference would engender a new policing focus and project a new united front against elements threatening the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.