Group applauds Buhari for approval of N13.3billion for community policing

By Dennis Udoma, Uyo

A Civil Society Organisation, COMPART Foundation for Justice and Peace Building has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach to community policing in Nigeria by releasing N13. 3 Billion.


The group in a statement endorsed by 
the Executive Director, Saviour Akpan Esq and made available to newsmen in Uyo at the weekend expressed delight that, for more than 20 years the programme was launched in April, 2004 as a philosophical and pragmatic policing strategy that will encourage active involvement of Nigerians, President has decided to move community policing beyond political gimmick, by releasing funds for take-off and effective implementation.

Akpan while saluting the gesture of Mr President for having the security of lives and property of the citizenry at heart in a manner, suggested that ‘‘the N13 . 3 Billion for community policing should not go directly to the police but, through the Police Trust Fund Account’’.

According to him it will encourage sustained citizens ownership and commitment through effective implementation of the programme.

‘‘Your Excellency, we are writing to you to most respectfully not to release the said fund to the Nigerian Police; because it is not the duty of Police anywhere in the world to implement community policing rather, it is the community with the Police and other security agencies as partners.

‘Also, the scale of training requirement in community policing is such that, it is simply not feasible to rely only on the existing training institutions of the Nigeria Police as it will involve the different states and communities.

 

‘‘Community policing does not have any model that can be replicated across board anywhere in the world rather, it is only a set of core values namely; transparency, accountability, respect for and protection of human rights, respect for the rule of law, partnership problem solving and pro-active response to public security and safety needs’‘, the statement added.

He maintained that, Nigerians need to be reassured that, the poor crime information which has been aiding and abetting citizen’s lack of trust on the different security agencies in the country would have a paradigm shift that would encourage active citizen participation and partnership.