Police Trust Fund Awards Contracts for Procurement of Arms, Ammunition

Kingsley Nwezeh

The Police Trust Fund (PTF) has awarded contract for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the Nigeria Police, Minister of Police Affairs, Hon. Muhammed Dingiyadi, has said.

The minister, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, also said that the federal government approved N4 billion for the purchase of fuel for fueling of police vehicles and supply of fuel to the 36 states police commands in order to enhance its operational efficiency.

Speaking during the presentation of a paper titled, “Strategic Leadership Development: The Role of the Ministry of Police Affairs” with the course participants of the Strategic Leadership and Command Course 3/2021 at the National Institute of Police Studies in Abuja, the minister said the Police Trust Fund awarded contract for the procurement of arms and ammunition, body protection, operational vehicles among others.

“The ministry is deeply grateful to Mr. President and the National Assembly for approving funds for the supply of fuel to the 36 states police commands across the country and FCT to increase their efficiency.

“As we speak the Police Trust Fund has awarded contracts for the supply of more operational vehicles, body protection vest and helmet, arms and ammunitions, drugs and medical equipment and other critical security hardware”.

Dingyadi said the Ministry of Police Affairs made training and development of police officers top priority.

He said the director in charge of training and development and other vital units was directed to ensure that the skills and competencies of officers of the Nigeria Police and civilian staff of the ministry were developed for improved service delivery.

“The Ministry of Police Affairs in conjunction with the police leadership developed training and development needs of police officers. This is determined by the development of an appropriate curriculum in accordance with the strategic needs of each cadre of officers according to best practice”, he said.

Dingiyadi said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the automation of police specialised services to promote transparency and accountability as well as serve as an additional source of funding to enhance police operations.

The minister pointed out that the ministry was in the vanguard of positive reforms in the Nigeria Police to enable the force to keep up with the changing society and advancement in technology.

“Specifically, we focus on reforms that will translate to improve skills and competencies. However, it should be noted that some of these reforms take time to implement but we shall continue to push and collaborate with relevant partners like the British Council, Department for International Development German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) CLEEN Foundation, and other NGOs who have been working closely with us”, he said.

Responding to the issues raised by participants from Nigeria in respect of promotion stagnations and welfare, the minister reiterated President Buhari’s directives to the National Wages and Salaries Commission to produce new enhanced salary structure for the police.

He charged the participants from both Nigeria and Sierra Leon to come out with solutions that would solve the issues of promotion and stagnation.

“The institution has a great role to play in this direction and the essence of establishing this institute is to undertake research, discuss issues related to police and proffer solutions as well as submit a report to the management”, Dindyadi stressed.