The Cadet ASP Course 21/2002 of the Nigeria Police has appealed to the Federal Government to introduce digital innovation into Nigerian policing for the police officers to be at par with their counterparts across the world.
It made the appeal during its 20th anniversary held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja Lagos at the weekend.
Addressing the journalists, the Chairman of the Anniversary Committee, ACP Sanusi Jidda, who noted that policing world over has been digitised, said Nigeria is lagging behind.
He said there is need for the government to introduce digital innovation into the police force to aid security situation of the country.
He added that the government should see to the welfare of the policemen as a matter of urgency to make them efficient and deliver their duties effectively.
Reflecting on their journey from 2002 when they were enlisted to join the police, Jidda said: “We all started together, precisely on August 15, 2002. By the grace of God it is 20 years today and we may not be able to gather as we have done today because in the next few years some of us will retire and some might have left the service.
“After 20 years we have really come a long way. We decide to gather to forge ahead and to make suggestion of the way forward to make the Nigeria Police better. After thus event we are going to have a communiqué to be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.”
He regretted that about 45 out of those who started together have died in the course of their service to the nation.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Committee, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi, said there is a total reform going on in the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the current Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, who is keen on sanitising the police force.
“We could all see how the bad eggs among the policemen are being dealt with. Reformation starts with the leadership and that is what we have in the leadership of our IG now. He is sacrificing everything to make sure the police are people friendly. He has been trying to build people’s confidence in police again and that is why he has been seriously dealing with the erred policemen as we can all see.
“We want the people, the community walk with us while rebuilding the police and that us why we have tagged our anniversary ‘Walk with the Police’. Everybody should walk with us so that we can have a peaceful society. This set, I mean ASP Course 21 is a unique one among other policemen in Nigeria. You can attest to it that every police officer from this set is hardworking as many if us have carved a niche for ourselves in the course if discharge our duties with both national and international awards and community recognition.”
Okuwobi, who was the former DPO of Ejigbo Divisional Police Station in Lagos said they are making good relationship with the people in the society as they would return to the same society after retirement, admonishing other police officers to create good rapport with the the people.
The two-day anniversary featured endurance walk as they trekked from Police College in Ikeja through Oba Ladejobi Street to Joel Ogunnaike, then through Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way and back to the police college.
Lectures were also delivered to them at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja on the topics such as ‘Advancing Friendly Policing and Public Safety in Contemporary Nigeria’, ‘Pre-Retirement Plans and Living Happily Ever after Retirement’, and ‘Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Diets/Lifestyle for Police Officers above 40 years’ given by Dr. Charles Ironagbe; a medical doctor, Dr. Amure Olusola; and a retired police officer, Obafemi Gbemileke Abiodun respectively.
