Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has listed some of the needs of the Nigeria Police Force, if it must give maximum security in line with the country’s bid for industrialisation.
According to Guardian, IGP made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking on ‘Role of the NPF, Industrialisation and Climate Change’, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.
The event was the institute’s Defence Week.
Egbetokun stated that NPF requires at least 190,000 new recruits, 1,000 Armoured Personnel Carriers and 250,000 assault rifles, with corresponding ammunition.
He said resources needed to enhance capacity in promoting a secure environment for industrialisation include 2,000,000 tear gas canisters and smoke grenades, 200,000 riot guns and smoke pistols, 1,000 tracking devices and 774 operational drones.
He reasoned that limited supply of the aforementioned has continued to limit effectiveness in police activities.
The IGP explained that if efforts by the Police Trust Fund in procurement of security equipment are sustained, the result would improve capacity for creating a suitable environment for sustainable industrialisation, energy security, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The Police boss affirmed that constitutional responsibilities of the police require personnel to guarantee effective internal security management, with a view to providing a safe environment for industrialisation, promoting energy security, and allowing people to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“Inadequate manpower has resulted in low police presence and could hinder the government’s industrialisation efforts. Without sufficient police presence and response capabilities, industrial sites are vulnerable to criminal activities, thereby hampering economic progress,” he said.
He further said that the Federal Government needs to intensify efforts at integrating modern technology solutions towards improved security at key national infrastructure.
