The Nigeria Police Force recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a Green Initiative known as the Nigeria Police Green Initiative aimed at engaging green innovative solutions to boost the operational efficiency and capacity of the NPF to fight crime and maintain law and order in Nigeria.

The Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the initiative further supports the socio-economic development of the nation, environmental sustainability, climate change, as well as supporting the lives and livelihoods of the members of the Nigeria Police Force and their families.

According him, a key aspect of the Initiative is “Nigeria Police Emission Reduction Programme”, which is aligned to the national and global direction in addressing climate change issues through emission reduction projects and lifestyle to be adopted by all Police Officers so as to create awareness for responsible production and consumption across sectors including renewable energy source for lighting applications such as solar lighting across the Police Stations, Police Colleges, Police Barracks, Police Outpost and Communities in alignment with the transition to low-carbon climate-resilient development.

“Additionally, the initiative aims at promoting eco-friendly transportation methods within the Police Force.

“This includes transitioning to electric vehicles and gas conversion vehicles thus reducing premium motor spirits (PMS) consumption and air pollution while increasing efficiency and promoting a healthier lifestyle among police personnel and the community.

“The Initiative will also leverage environmentally sustainable waste and water management include solar boreholes, waste-to-energy programmes, thereby reducing operational cost, create jobs and a cleaner environment.

The NPF is also going beyond our immediate environment by lighting up Communities with Solar Power to reduce security vulnerability and herder-farmer crisis, conducting outreach programs to educate citizens on the importance of preserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and engaging in sustainable practices, thereby effectively managing natural resource-induced conflicts such as the herder-famer conflicts.

“The Nigeria Police is leading by example by recognizing the need for government agencies and private sector to take proactive measures in aligning Climate Action with law enforcement and security issues.

“We have identified major primary stakeholders such as the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, who will work with us in the take-off and sustainability of this great green initiative.

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, NPM, Ph.d., emphasizes that the Nigeria Police Green Initiative could not have come at a better time, as the world currently prepares for the Twenty-eighth session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) on Climate Change coming up in Dubai from 30th November to 12th December, 2023.

“He assures that at COP28, Nigeria will rank among the nations where government institutions are leading-by-example on climate change issues as the Nigeria Police Green Initiative is a testament of the determination by the Nigeria Police Force to add tremendous value to the Federal Government while performing its core law enforcement responsibilities”, Adejobi stated.

 

Worries as Lagos Command awaits new CP.

The Command awaits the posting of a new Commissioner of Police (CP).

The outgone CP, Idowu Owohunwa was among the 12 Commissioners of Police who were approved for promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) of Police by the Police Service Commission on Thursday October 9, 2012.

The spokesperson for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said the PSC approved the promotion of the CPs to AIGs alongside 19 DCPs to the substantive rank of Commissioners of Police, 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners as well as 33 Chief Superintendents of Police who were elevated to the Assistant Commissioners of Police cadre. But since his elevation, there has been uneasy calm on who takes over as the new sheriff.

While new Commissioners of Police have been announced in States such as Niger, Benue and others, no announcement has been made on who replaces Owohunwa.

When The Guardian reached out to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department, Waheed Ayilara who is presiding over the Command before a new commissioner will be appointed, he said:

“We still continue our functions.
No police station has shut down, and Police officers have continued to perform their roles. Owohunwa just left last week and I don’t think it’s too long. Our PRO is still there to attend to issues regarding public interest.

“Owohunwa did well and you the press rated him well and the Police in Lagos State have rated him well. For now, I’m holding forth till when the substantive CP resumes and we are expecting him any moment from now so, we are available for the public”.

On his part, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said there is smooth operation in the Command and did not comment on other questions .
Except there is a last-minute change, CP Adegoke Fayoade is believed to be a likely replacement and new Lagos State Commissioner of Police before the end of November 2023.

A source told The Guardian: “He is the person they are waiting for and that is why they appointed Commissioner of Police in states where the commissioners were elevated but hadn’t announced the one for Lagos.”

Wike Moves To Ban ‘Keke Napep’ In Abuja.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced his administration’s plan to halt the operation of tricycles, commonly referred to as Keke Napep, in specific areas of Abuja.

Furthermore, the Minister has assured that the issue of one-chance will be effectively addressed in Nigeria’s capital city with no Keke Napep operations permitted in Asokoro and Maitama.

To tackle transportation challenges and combat criminal activities associated with one-chance, Wike stated that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) will soon introduce buses and taxis as alternative modes of transportation in the FCT.

“These buses and taxis will ply all the routes in Asokoro and Maitama. We are kicking out Keke Napep at least in these areas. Some of these Keke Napep are agents of criminals,” Wike said while addressing Estate Developers and Residents’ Associations in the Federal Capital Territory earlier.

The former Governor of Rivers State added that “if we have the buses, people will prefer to come from their areas and come to work and go back.”
The minister called on the residents to cooperate with the FCDA by paying their taxes. “It is painful but it’s an inconvenience that we must face,” Wike added.

Earlier, during a meeting with estate developers in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike announced he has successfully saved N110 billion for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) since assuming office.

The FCT Minister expressed concern regarding the prevalence of fake Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) being issued through the land process.
He further revealed that corrupt individuals within the administration were demanding payment of N5 million for obtaining a C of O.

Additionally, the Minister shared his intention to seek President Bola Tinubu’s approval to incorporate a National Identification Number (NIN) into all C of Os issued by his administration.

Panic As Gunmen Attack Adamawa Police Headquarters.

Yet-to-be identified gunmen, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, attacked the Adamawa State Police Headquarters located at the heart of Jimeta community in Yola North local government area.

The sudden attack has thrown residents of Yola, the state capital, into panic. According to a resident who pleaded for anonymity, sounds of gunshot rend the air for at least 30 minutes.

The  Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the attack but said things were under control.

Nguroje said the attack was repelled, but the identities of those behind it was unknown. The police said investigations were ongoing to ascertain the cause of the attack and those behind it

One source said the attackers were military personnel on a revenge mission, following the alleged killing of a military officer by the police.

 

Uproar in Senate after Akpabio announces Minority Leader, Minority whip.

There was uproar in the Senate on Tuesday after the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio announced Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the new Senate Minority Leader.

He also announced  Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as minority whip. The announcement drew the anger of the Labour Party caucus in the upper chamber as they accused Akpabio of not carrying them along.

According to the Senate President, 41 minority senators signed the document endorsing Moro as minority leader while 30 backed Ngwu for the minority whip seat.

They contended that the PDP should not have taken all the minority positions, as they were also entitled to such.

Some of the Labour Party senators hauled verbal assault at Akpabio, with some ready to engage in physical assault with him for denying them one of the minority seats.

Senator Okechukwu Ezea  protested the absence of his party in the minority leadership, describing the arrangement as an injustice against other minority parties.

“How can the PDP take three minority leadership seats? This is unfair, unjust, and unacceptable,” he was quoted by The Punch.

Another LP Senator, Tony Nwoyi, Anambra North, accused Akpabio of picking minority leaders for the opposition parties.

In his defence, Akpabio said he only announced the names given to him by the minority senators, of which the PDP had the majority.

According to him, all that was needed to produce a leader is a simple majority, saying that “41 minority senators signed for Abah Moro and 30 signed for Osita Ngwu. They have the majority.

“It will be unfair for me not to announce them after getting a majority of support. My job is not to work with individual opinion but with the majority of positions,” he said.