President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganisation and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.
Abubakar who is currently an Assistant Inspector General of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from today.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, born on May 5, 1958, Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979.
He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi, before his new appointment.
Jonathan, according to the statement, has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect.
These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja; Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept); Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.); and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).
The President also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganization of the Nigeria Police Force.
The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O. Osayande, DIG (rtd).
Other Members of the Committee are: Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.), mni; Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.), fwc; Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe, rtd; Prof. S.D. Mukoro; Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN; Aisha Larai Tukur; the Solicitor General of the Federation; the Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee.
The Committee’s Terms of Reference are as follows: To identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the Nigeria Police Force and make recommendations for addressing the challenges; to examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the Police to determine their adequacy or otherwise; to determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution; to examine records of performance of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force with a view to identifying those that can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity, age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty; to make any other recommendations for the improvement of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Committee’s recommendations, the statement said, shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
Before the statement was issued, Jonathan and his Chief of State, Chief Mike Oghiadome, had met with Abubakar for about an hour inside the Presidential Villa.
Abubakar, who was ferried from Bauchi for the meeting, arrived the State House at about 4.02pm.
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