The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim kpotun-Idris, yesterday, inaugurated 500 police housing units constructed for officers and men of the force in Lagos, named after President Muhammad Buhari at Badagry in Lagos. The house was built in partnership with Remax Realtors
Speaking at the ceremony, IGP Idris said that the houses were built as part of effort to alleviate the accommodation problem of the officers and men of the force. He said the gesture was also inline with President Muhammad Buhari’s change mantra of providing conducive accommodation for all categories of civil servants in the country.
The IGP said the Corporative housing estate, which was built at Onowo, Badagry, was to tackle the police housing deficits. Idris said the project was part of the initiatives of his regime to improve the welfare of the police across the country.
The IGP said the Police Corporative Society and Insurance Scheme was sustained by the investments of police personnel in the country. According to him, the scheme was in keeping with his earlier promise to the police of reinvigorating the corporative housing scheme to ease their housing challenges across the country.
He said his welfare programme for the police was “ high” for the purpose of achieving a proactive and functional police force.
“The welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, especially the rank and file, is uppermost in my agenda for a more functional, proactive and result-oriented Police Force. Consequently, I enjoin you to be at your best, applying best practices in our dealings with the civil populace with total loyalty to our dear nation,” he advised.
The top cop reiterated his commitment in promoting the welfare of his personnel to achieve enhanced service delivery. “I have assured police personnel of my determination to accelerate all issues that advance their welfare and our families such as promotion, prompt payment of entitlements, salaries and provision of affordable housing units among others.”
According to him similar estates would soon be inaugurated in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and FCT while that of Enugu State will kick off soon.
In a remark, the Managing Director, Remax Realtors, Mrs Funke Adesoji, said when fully developed, the estate would have 1083 bungalows of both two-bedrooms and three-bedrooms. She said the facilities were fitted with modern amenities such as water, reticulation systems, central Sewerage processing system and over 14 Kilometers of roads were in the estate.
She said the estate has schools, a petrol station, a banking complex and an event management centre. Adesoji admitted that there were several challenges in the construction of the estate such as the filling up of landmass, but said they had been overcome.
Meanwhile, the IGP has assured that the force would partner with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to burst the international syndicate behind the illegal importation of weapons into the country from Turkey.
Though, he said that the customs was yet to inform the force officially on the issue, but added that the matter bordered on national security.
He said: “The Comptroller General of Customs had made a broadcast on the seized arms. The police as a security agent will join force with the Nigeria Customs Service to investigate the source of the arms and we will ensure that those behind the illegal importation do not go scot-free, no matter the circumstances”.
