By Angela Atabo

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Department of Training and Development has forged partnership with International Alert, a Non-Governmental Organisation supporting peacebuilding to promote understanding and operationalisation of the Police Act 2020.

Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, the Country Director of International Alert, made this known during a courtesy visit to AIG Sadiq Abubakar, the Commandant, Police Academy in Wudil in Kano.

Nyulaku-Bemshima, who described the visit to the academy as “strategic”, explained that it was part of the UK-funded integrated security project known as the “Nigeria Reform Initiative”.

“We have been having strategic engagements with the police and this is particularly to understand if learning and training is centred around the Police Act 2020 and Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“We are here to see areas we can provide technical support toward making teaching and learning in this institution one that will actually be impactful on the future police officers.

“This is a full-blown university and we know that you are doing a lot in terms of training, but we want to know the areas we can support toward bettering our policing system in the country as contained in the police Act 2020.

“The Act stipulates the functions of the police, its mandate, as well as the duties of the public toward having a more responsible police in the country,” he said.

Nyulaku-Bemshima further said that the spate and dynamics of security challenges in the country required a well equipped police personnel to confront emerging security threats.

“You will agree with me that insecurity in Nigeria is becoming sophisticated and the type of officers you will produce should be those that are well equipped to handle the threats.

“We have a group of seasoned experts in police and security studies; they have knowledge that they can share with this institution toward ensuring deeper understanding of the police Act,” he said.

The country director maintained that the would-be police officers must understand their roles as contained in the Act, stressing that such would make them better security personnel after their studies.

Responding, the commandant of the academy, thanked the country director and his team for the visit, particularly for offering to support the NPF toward having a better policing system in the country.

He said that the academy was open to all forms of partnership aimed at equipping the cadets with the requisite knowledge and skills that would make them better officers in the nearest future.

“This is a degree awarding institution positioned to develop the cadets mentally, physically and morally to contribute their quota toward tackling security challenges in the country.

“This academy is responsible for nurturing and developing these young minds toward becoming responsible police officer to handle the internal security situation in the country.

“So, we are open to meaningful partnerships that will improve the knowledge and understanding of future police officers,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Polycarp Auta