Nigeria mulls synergy with S/Leone to secure West Africa
By Peter Usman://
Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi has disclosed plan by the federal government to offer admission to intending Sierra Leone Police officers to acquire more strategic courses on policing at the Nigerian Institute of Police Studies and other institutions.
Dingyadi who spoke during a courtesy call by the Sierra Leone delegate led by the Minister of Interior, David Maurice Panda-Noah and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ambrose Sovula at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, noted that such synergy between Nigeria and Sierra Leone would enhance efficiency of rank and files of Police to secure West African region.
The minister, while recalling that both countries had experienced civil war and now facing security challenges, believe that collaboration between the Police Force of both countries would enable their personnel to secure the region.
“We are going to support one another and we will continue to make an effort to update and improve on police equipment and gadgets of the Police Force,” he assured.
Dingyadi, açcording to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Bolaji O. Kazeem, stressed the need to strengthen the security architecture of both countries and support Sierra Leone Police Force with more opportunity for training facilities in Nigeria, noting that they have enjoyed brotherhood and togetherness from time immemorial.
He said “in addition to the National Institute of Police Studies, we have other police colleges around the country that can train intermediate officers. The Inspector General of Police can facilitate admission of Sierra Leone youths into the police training schools in the country.”
Earlier, the Sierra Leone Minister of Interior revealed that the President of his country has flagged off his star project in the area of human capital development which necessitated the idea of sending some Police officers to attend the “Strategic Leadership Training Course” at the Nigerian Institute of Police Studies, adding that the President endorsed their attendance of the graduation ceremony coming up today (Thursday).
Panda-Noah stressed the urgent need for African countries to unite, synergize and collaborate in order to combat transnational challenges.
He said: “Africa has their own unique problems which only Africans can solve. Supporting one another is key to tackling the challenges which have bedeviled Africa and the world at large. The collaboration is very important to us and would enable our officers to have seamless understanding on how to curb crimes in the region.”
According to him, the people of Sierra Leone would never forget the help rendered by Nigeria about two decades ago to overcome the civil war in his country.