Police community relations committee solicits NAN support to create awareness
By Yahaya Isah
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), has solicited the support of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in creating security awareness toward a successful war against crime.
Its National Chairman, Alhaji Magaji Ibrahim, made the appeal when he led other officials of the committee on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director (MD) of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, on Thursday in Abuja.
Magaji said that the delegation was in NAN to register its presence and solicit the support of NAN to enable it reach out to the members of the public effectively.
“We are doing a lot; we were established in 1984 and we are in all the 36 states of the federation. We are in all the nooks and crannies of the country and the FCT.
“We are doing a lot to support and complement the efforts of the Federal Government. Three months ago, through one of our pillars of support, we identified 17 children of Police officers that died in active service.
“As usual, we went ahead and sought for scholarships for them to the university level. When we got this, we worked with the wife of the Inspector-General of Police to help us to search for deserving families.
“Women know better when it comes to these issues; she did justice to it by picking from the 17 zones we have in the country. We used her office to pick one person from each zone.
“We are equally working with the youth and women to sensitise them against all social vices. We are working with children to catch them young, and support the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) family.
“We are equally assisting their children through the NPF school by providing them with textbooks and other necessary tools.“
He said that the committee decided to work with the NPF because, through its findings, it came to realise that majority of Police personnel some Nigerians were condemning, were actually the best in the world.
“In any international programme that involves them, they usually lead. So, it pains us when people condemn them because, to us, they are the most discipline organisation.
“We believe and stand by this any time anywhere,” he added.
He commended the personnel of the NPF for rejecting a bribe from a kidnapper in Kaduna State and went ahead to arrest him with his gang.
“Recently, a Police officer in Lagos State also rejected N4 million bribe from a drug baron and arrested her. Also, in Taraba, a Police officer rejected N8.5 million bribe.”
Magaji, however, called for support for the nation’s security outfits, saying that much would be achieved if Nigerians worked together to rid the nation of criminals.
He also solicited for NAN support to give the PCRC good coverage in its forthcoming 40th anniversary celebration which, he said, would commence from the grassroots.
In his response, Ali said that NAN, the biggest news content provider on the continent of Africa, started business in 1976 and would soon celebrate its 50 years anniversary.
“We will be 50 years and, in this whole of 50 years, we have been able to open offices in 11 foreign countries.
“At a time, we had offices in Moscow, in the U.S., and the only news agency resident in the UN. We are the only one from West Africa. One of the three from the continent of Africa.
“We have offices in Johannesburg, in CoteD’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and in some other African countries. We have offices in the entirety of Nigeria, in 36 states.
“We also have some zonal offices. We are the only content provider with district correspondents in the rural areas.
“So, you could not have had a better partner to seek support to celebrate your 40 years anniversary. We will freely give you the support without even asking.
“All we need is notice and we will be there to give you whatever the publicity you require,“ Ali said.
He added that the NPF had been doing a commendable job over the years, given the challenges in other parts of the country.
“If you look at it dispassionately, notwithstanding its shortcomings, it is, comparatively speaking, about the least corrupt on the continent of Africa.
“I know this because, in the course of my over 30 years in the news media, all my life has been in the newsroom.
“I was a crime and judicial editor in Thisday newspaper, I have interfaced with the Police; I have seen the Police working round the clock.
“Our policemen work hard. So, when I see Nigerians deriding the Nigeria Police, it shows we have no idea how they operate.
“If you just go to South Africa and see the extent of the rot in the Police system there, then you will come back and hail the Nigeria Police.”
The MD acknowledged the fact that the PCRC and NAN were in the business of promoting the good image of the country, being on same page.
“That is why we see the cup as half full and not half empty. It means we are on the side of positivity.
“The NPF is doing a tremendous job given the challenges it face. The PCRC, on the other hand, is equally doing a tremendous and commendable job.
Ali urged the PCRC members to keep up the good work and congratulated them for what they had been doing, especially the offer of scholarships to the children of the fallen heroes.
“Most times, people are apprehensive of sacrificing their lives and limbs for fear of what will become of their children. Your efforts will go a long way to take off the fear in people.
“I particularly like the zoning formular in the selection of those to benefit from the scholarship. I like the spread. I congratulate you on this ,” Ali added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ephraims Sheyin
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