Not All Police Officers Are Bad Eggs, Says Obiano  

Raymond Ozoji, Awka

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has extolled the efforts of the Nigeria Police in crime fighting and crime prevention across the country, noting that not all officers of the Nigeria police are  bad eggs as some of them are duly committed to their duties and obligations.

The governor gave the commendations yesterday at Golden Tulip hotel Agulu Anaocha local government area of Anambra state while declaring open a 4-day capacity building workshop for image-makers and communication managers of the  Nigeria police, drawn from the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory Abuja.

He said most of the things being said about the police were not true even though he took cognisance of the fact that some errant officers did exist but emphasized that they were not enough to malign the police  because the police according to him, have internal mechanisms and disciplinary measures against erring members of the force.

Obiano, who assured participants of maximum security and safety, enjoined them to find time to visit some of the completed as well as on-going projects of his administration and also savour the richness of its tourist attractions such as Ogbunike cave, Owerri-Ezukala waterfalls and some others across Anambra state. He also hinted that his administration would distribute some security equipment to the police on Friday this week.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, represented on the occasion by Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 9 Umuahia, AIG Baba Tijjani, said the police in Anambra state had enjoyed cordial relationship with the government under Governor Willie Obiano.

The IGP noted that the workshop was of paramount importance in order to equip police public relations officers skills that would aid them in laundering the image of the police force across the nation.

He explained that it was expected that at the end of the capacity building programme, PPROs would have garnered more skills in information and Communications management while challenging the officers not to rest on their oars but uphold utmost professionalism in protecting the image and reputation of the police force. He equally charged them to always endeavour to strengthen relationships between internal and external publics of the Nigeria Police Force.

Also, the Force Public Relations Officer Abuja, Mr.Frank Mba, said the workshop was not borne out of communication crisis within the force but an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police to train image makers and equip them with modern skills in information technology and communication management.

Mba further noted that the capacity building became necessary due to the emergence and influence of the new media and other technological inventions.

He said emerging trends in the communications sector made it imperative that gate-keepers of information and spokespersons of the police force needed to be equipped more with modern tools of Communications to be able to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently in order to portray the Nigeria police in good light.

Highpoint of the event was the hand-over of a plaque to Governor Willie Obiano for his supportive role to the police in Anambra.