We’ve initiated reform of STS, SARS– Minister.

     .Assures of constant fueling of Police vehicles

From Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

The Minister of Police Affairs Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi on Tuesday revealed that the origin of the initiative that led to the reform of the Special Tactical Squad STS and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS of the Nigeria Police Force was the brainchild of the Ministry.

He made the revelation at the second Ministerial Press Briefing at the Goodluck Jonathan Peace Keeping Hall, Force Headquarters Annex, Abuja in which he rolled out some key reforms of the Police Force initiated by the Ministry.

It would be recalled that the former Inspector-General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu had in October 11, 2020 ordered the disbanding of the Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS of Police following the nationwide protests by citizen who protested the abuses of the Police team.

The Minister who revealed that the main mandate of the newly created Ministry of Police Affairs is to to strenghten the security architecture of the nation’s security agencies assured that problem of fueling Police operational vehicles would henceforth be a thing of the past.

He said:” we ‘ve secured the first tranch of N5 billion for the fueling of Police operational vehicles from the Federal Executive Council and had gotten the assurances of the IGP on the effective disbursement of the said funds to Police formations across the country”

“We are making efforts to secure another tranch of N5 billion from the federal government to ensure the sustainability of this funding for continous fueling of these vehicles”

He explained that the Ministry was carved out in August 21 2019 from the Ministry of Internal Affairs adding that as the first government establishment in charge of Police Affairs, they rely on data supplied by the Nigeria Police Force.

He also said that the Ministry had entered into a contract agreement for the supply of Anti Riot Equipment for the Police Force with Poly Technology of China at government to government terms for the total sum of $44 million.

The Minister further said that he had obtained the approval of the Federal Executive Council FEC to concession 470 moribund public communications network which its major component is Close Circut Cameras CCTV.

Other key reforms of the Police Force by the ministry under the current Muhammadu Buhari administration include the training of 418 Cadet officers of the Force and protection of critical national assets in oil and gas as well as financial institutions

The Minister expressed optimism that the ongoing war against insecurity particularly insurgency, kidnapping and banditry is yielding good results saying that recent statistics by security agents has shown reduction in the incidences of these crimes in the country.