Nigeria's police have welcomed the
European Union's assistance pledge to provide training and logistical support
in its operations.
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The pledge follows a meeting with
Nigeria's Minister
of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Lame, in Brussels, Belgium.
The pledge includes
providing forensic laboratory equipment and training Nigeria's police in crime
detection and prevention.
Nigeria requested the
EU's help after conducting a "comprehensive study" which identified inadequate
resources as a major impediment to the full implementation of its police reform
program.
The police have often been accused of being ineffective in fighting
crimes.
But Emmanuel Ojukwu, the force public relations officer said that the pledge is a morale booster for police.
"The
Nigeria police (are) willing and open to all friendly international
organizations and development partners who are willing to assist us to build
and expand our facilities," Ojukwu said.
He said the police are doing
the best under prevailing circumstances.
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"The Nigeria police (are) a
growing organization. We are also a learning institution, and we are working
very hard every day to improve our skills and competencies to deliver quality
services to Nigeria. We know there are problems, but we are making every effort
to succeed and overcome these problems," he said.
Ojukwu said the EU's
logistical pledge would benefit the police.
"The level of our forensic
ability is still low. The level of training is still low. So such assistance
from the EU or any good foreign partner would be welcome to help us to increase
our skills and our competencies and to enable us to improve on our record in
crime detection and even prevention," Ojukwu said.
He said the police are often
blamed for wrongs in society.
"It is not only in Nigeria
that the police are said to be ineffective. The police everywhere in the world…
if things go wrong people would like to blame the police," he said.
Ojukwu said the police force
is in the process of changing the often wrong perception of ineffectiveness.
"We are making every effort
to improve on areas of perceived inefficiencies or inadequacies, and we want to
grow as Nigeria is growing in its stride to achieve the millennium development
goals," Ojukwu said.
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He hailed the
professionalism of Nigeria's police.
"It is as good as can be
expected of a modern (force), particularly with people coming from military background.
So it is as good as can be expected of groups in our category," he said.
Ojukwu said the police would
always rise up to its responsibilities, adding that international investment in
the country will depend largely on providing adequate security.
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