By Usiere Akpan
ONNA
Gov Udom Emmanuel has called on the Nigeria Police Force to maintain practical relationship with communities in the state.
Emmanuel, accompanied by his wife, Martha, made call during the inauguration of the Special Protection Unit (SPU)Base 27 at Awa, Onna Local Government Area, Wednesday.
The governor said that the police and communities relationship would help to maintain the friendship, partnership and collaboration for sustainable peace beyond the lips, adding, “We don’t just want to sit down and ask what can the police do for us, but as a people, as government and as a state,we make bold move to make a statement that this is one state that at each point in time we demonstrate that we’re in collaboration, in partnership, in common purpose and common goal with all the security agencies operating in this state.”
He remarked that the SPU was designed and built by his administration in line with concepts of ways all police formations are expected to be across the country, explaining that the SPU was ‘with a modern administrative block, a hundred apartments all ensuite, 10 one – bedroom flats, the commandants’ block with service quarters, the 2 ICs house, officers mess for relaxation, good internal roads with solar-powered lights.
Emmanuel appreciated the honour by the inspector general of police, IGP, for according priority and commitments to the inauguration of the facility to represent a worthy step in the South South states of the country, assuring the police and other security agencies of support to achieve the primary goal and purpose of civic and common responsibility to protect lives and property.
He restated the goal of his administration to provide 100 vehicles to support the police, announcing, “We’ve been buying and will keep buying, but for today I’ve 15 vehicles on ground: 10 are Sienna buses and 5 brand new Hilux trucks, all fully fitted with communication gadgets to start this base. We don’t want this base to lack mobility.”
The inspector general of police, Alkali Usman, said it was pleasing to witness the landmark inauguration of an ultramodern facility constructed to serve the operational base of the SPU by the state government.
Usman said that the facility was a legacy project to demonstrate the Akwa Ibom government commitment to the security and wellbeing of the citizen, stressing, ‘By this action … Emmanuel has given a loud and clear tent to Chapter 1 Section 14, subsection 2B , that the unity and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.
He emphasised that the facility would induce the administrative and operational efficiency of the SPU AkS as well as advance the general security across the state, adding, It’ll l also boost investors confidence by protecting the critical and economic industrial assets put in place for Akwa Ibom’
The IGP appeal to individuals and groups to make pains taking contributions towards adding value to policing and the security of the people, remarking, ‘By this action Emmanuel has taken the bull by the horns in supporting the federal government in addressing critical infrastructural deficit which has been impacting on the actual efficiency of the Nigeria Police while pledging to put in place a maintenance protocol to sustain the beauty of the asset.
The member representing Onna state constituency, Mr. Nse Essien, said that the people of the constituency are happy that the present administration has been able to meet one of the needs to citizens in the provision of security to lives and property, adding that the SPU would further reduce the crime rate in the state.
Essien stated that the completion of the SPU was another demonstration of capacity of the state government to liaise with appropriate national agencies to raise standards of social service to the people of Akwa Ibom, appreciating the IGP for the approval of the construction and the release of men and equipment for commencement of duties.
The chairman of Onna local government area, Mr. Iniabasi Ekanem, said that the people are grateful on the initiative of the state government to partner the Nigeria Police Force in the building of the state security station, hoping that the unit would help in giving a free crime environment in the local government area.
Among top personalities at the inauguration of the unit are the Secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem and the member representing Eket Federal constituency in the national assembly, Mr. Patrick Ifon, commissioners and special advisers as well as heads of various security agencies in the state.
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