As part of an effort to improve Nigerian police operations, the Honorable Minister for Police Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi, officially ten thousand six hundred thirty-five bulletproof vests and six thousand seven hundred eight ballistic weapons hand over helmet and four thousand four hundred safety boxes/first aid kits to Police Inspector General IGP Alkali Usman Baba.
In a press release electronically signed by the ministry’s head of press and public affairs, Bolaji O. Kazeem, and issued to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, stated: “The Honorable Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi has officially delivered ten thousand six hundred thirty-five (10,635) bulletproof vests, six thousand seven hundred eight (6,708) ballistic helmets and four thousand four hundred (4,400) security boxes/first aid kits to the Inspector General of Police IGP Alkali Usman Baba to improve the operations of the Nigerian Police.
The handover was carried out at Nigeria Police Headquarters, Louise Edet House, Abuja.
The statement read: “Procured by the Ministry for the Nigerian Police under its 2022 capital budget.
The minister said the gesture is part of the current government’s ongoing reform of the Nigerian police force by providing equipment that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian police force despite dwindling revenue.
According to him, “This reinforces this government’s focus on providing the Nigerian police with the necessary equipment to protect their personnel and give them the confidence to fight all forms of crime in the country.”
He pointed out that the Nigerian police’s recent successes in their offensive operations against mindless criminals and eviction from their hiding places necessitated the need to equip police personnel with protective equipment in line with international best practices.
In his words, “it underscores the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to reclaiming the primacy of the police through improved welfare regimes, revamping of police infrastructure, capacity building, higher salaries and sweeping reforms to promote internal security in the country.”
Dingyadi urged Nigerian police officers and men to continue doing their best to fulfill their duties to the nation and abide by the rule of engagement and protection of civil rights to win back the dwindling public confidence.
In response, Inspector General of Police IGP Alkali Usman Baba thanked President Muhammad Buhari, the National Assembly and the Ministry for supporting the force with operational tools.
He added that the equipment will assist Nigerian police in their operations against banditry, criminals, kidnapping and elections in 2023, giving officers on the ground confidence and protection during operations.
