By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration has significantly made an impact on its three priority areas of security, economy, and corruption, with measurable results.
The President stated this at the Passing Out Parade of the Regular Course 4/2016 Cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.
He said that the remarkable achievements were because he followed his vision of making Nigeria more peaceful, prosperous, and reliable, among nations.
Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that policies and actions of the government made an impact on the tripod vision, despite challenges, assuring that more will still be done to safeguard lives and property, enhance livelihood and ensure probity.
The statement quoted the President as saying, “As you are all aware, this administration came to office determined to make an impact in three main areas: security, building a sustainable economy, and fight against corruption.
“We can say that recent positive developments in these areas have shown that despite the challenges on the ground, we can see a general improvement in all three areas. In the area of corruption, as you are all aware, I am determined to ensure that we do not have a repeat of what has gone on in previous administrations and we have taken a strong stand against pervasive corruption.
“This administration has also focused on security by repositioning our national security to perform their duties effectively. We have equally embarked on some crucial changes in their funding, structure, and modes of operation.
“With the launching/empowerment of the Police Trust Fund, this administration swung into action after taking the assessment of needs for possible interventions in the provision of logistics and infrastructural needs of the Force.”
The President said in a fast-changing world, driven by digital technology, the Nigeria Police must continually evolve its structure and operations to make a greater impact in checking crime, particularly in the virtual space.
According to him, “In a world where insecurity is constantly evolving; law enforcement responses have to equally evolve not just to keep up but to stay ahead. Also, as part of efforts to modernize the Nigeria Police Force, this Administration has intensified both international and local training and retraining of our officers and men in addition to providing new platforms and other resources.
“These approaches have yielded positive results as it is glaring that Nigeria’s ranking has improved on the world Counter-Terrorism global index from 4th to 6th position on the list of the most terrorized nations.
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“This administration has signed into law the new Police Act to ensure an improvement in the welfare of service delivery to meet best international practices. As I said earlier, with the take-off of The Police Trust Fund, there has been an upgrade of infrastructure such as the construction of new barracks across the country, renovation of existing ones, construction of medical facilities, as well as procurement of modern operational vehicles.”
Buhari was enthused that the Boko Haram insurgency, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Eastern Security Network (ESN), and banditry in some parts of the country over time, posed a potent threat to the country and had been significantly degraded and relative normalcy returned to most towns and villages.
He said more efforts would go into ensuring that normalcy returns to all the areas suffering banditry.
Buhari also noted that security transcends law enforcement to include building the right relationships that underpin the development of secured societies.
He noted that today’s landscape extends well beyond the land, sea, and air, into the vast territories of cyberspace, noting that the internet and new digital technologies have provided a platform for emerging offenses to reach unprecedented levels.
Buhari assured that the government would do everything possible to address the challenges facing the Academy by calling on the interventions of the relevant agencies/parastatals to facilitate the developmental plans.
While congratulating the cadets for the successful completion of their training, Buhari directed them to
maintain the spirit of accomplishment, as they prepare to face the tasks ahead.
The President commended the Commandant and the entire Academy community, for the excellent work, raising new generations of Police officers who will tirelessly secure the nation 24/7.
In his remarks, the Commandant of Nigeria Police Academy, Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Ahmad AbdurRahaman,
thanked the President for honoring the invitation, explaining that the institution was upgraded from professional training to degree-awarding in 2012.
The Commandant said the institution had graduated 1,748 cadets, Assistant Superintendent of Police, over the years, including the 205 who just graduated.
AbdurRahaman said all the Assistant Superintendents of Police will be immediately deployed as “pervasive actors in securing the country, most especially as the country is confronted with multifarious challenges.”
Buhari later presented awards to the best graduating cadet, Rachel Oluwatosin Babarinde, and the second-best, Isa Abdulateef.
