The governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has asked for greater funds to assist the Nigerian Police in addressing its resource crisis.
At the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Governor Soludo received a courtesy visit from Baba Alkali Usman, the Inspector General of Police.
Governor Soludo praised the Nigerian Police in particular for their responsibilities despite all the challenges, saying that they, together with the other security agencies in the State, had behaved excellently in terms of their duty.
Welcoming the IGP to Anambra State, Governor Soludo said:-
“You are welcome to Anambra. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate you and the NPF and security agencies in Nigeria for the great job you have been doing under very difficult circumstances.
“I know a little bit of the challenges of the NPF in Nigeria. In my position as CBN Governor, I had the privilege to sit in some meetings, where people variously continued to criticize the police. On one of such occasions, I asked a fundamental question, “the police should work with what resources?”
“Can the federal government actually provide the resources. We evade the question, but somehow, one day, we will confront it. We need about four times the police we have now and that involves money.
“When we came, about eight (cool local government areas were under siege, but with the efforts of security agencies, we have been able to degrade it to reasonable level
“It was like a war situation. Criminals were in major camps; variously indulged in shoot outs. We are facing formidable organized criminals.
They are being degraded. But there is still so much work to be done”, Governor Soludo stated.
“What is going in the South East is nothing but plain criminality. It’s lucrative for them, anybody telling you anything otherwise is just a smokescreen.
The Governor applauded the efforts of the IGP since he assumed the role.
“I think since you came as IGP, the honour you already have from the President is well deserved as a mark of distinction.
“I see you as focused, conscientious, knowledgeable, ardent person who is desirous to get the problem solved”, the Governor maintained.
“When any police officer is killed, my heart bleeds. We appreciate what you have been doing so far”, Governor Soludo concluded
The Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, congratulated Professor Soludo on his emergence as Governor of the state.
“We’ve been making efforts to add value to improve the welfare of our officers.
“I’m here to commission some structures by the Nigerian police, the IGP said.
“Challenges in the south east seems unsummountable, but we will summount them.
“We will use the resources available to make people understand that we must cohabit and function effectively and efficiently”
The IGP pledged support for the Governor’s initiatives and tasks for Nd’ Anambra.
The AIG of Police in charge of Zone 13, Ukpo, Mr. Abutu Yaro, the Commissioner of Police for the State of Anambra, Mr. Echeng Echeng, the Commissioner of Police for the State of Enugu, Mr. Ahmed Ammani, and service Commanders in the State were among those who accompanied IGP Baba on the courtesy visit.
