By Gbenga Abulude
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N13.3 billion for the commencement of community policing strategy across the country.
The approval of the funding was disclosed at the National Economic Council (NEC) held on virtual platform, Thursday.
In recent months, there have been hues and cries over the reluctance of the federal government to adopt community policing as Nigerians continue to push for it as one of the measures to tackle the rising insecurity situation in the country.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), state governors, FCT Minister, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and some federal cabinet officials were in attendance.
The meeting resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding for the initiative.
The National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing, had made a presentation on its assignment to the Council noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was ongoing.
The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.
The federal government had in May, approved the reorganization of the Force Criminal Investigations Department by separating the Force Intelligence Bureau out of it and making it a department on its own with a Deputy Inspector General of Police as the head.
This measure was to enhance community policing strategies of the Nigerian Police Force, working in tandem with States Government’s in the country.
