By Stephen Adeleye.
The Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), has commenced the construction of a modern Divisional Police Station to enhance the security in Ekinrin-Adde community, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi.
Alh. Mohammed Seidu, the Executive Secretary, NPTF, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Smart Police Station on Saturday in Ekinrin-Adde.
He said that the project would provide police personnel with a conducive working environment to effectively do their job of securing the society.
According to him, Kogi is strategically located at the centre of Nigeria, and Ijumu LGA bordering four States, is key to locate such divisional station in the area.
“This would also enable our police officers to have a good working environment in order to effectively ensure the security of lives and property of the people especially at the grassroots,” he said.
Seidu commended the Inspector General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, for his continued support in the agency’s efforts at strengthening and providing better welfare and conducive working environment for the Police.
This, he said had enabled police personnel to perform effectively in protecting the lives and property of the people.
“By our mandate at the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, we shall continue to intervene, complement and supplement the Nigeria Police Force.
“We will be doing our utmost best to give Nigerians a more secured environment to be able to run their day to day activities,” he said.
The executive secretary gave assurances that such project would be replicated across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He charged the contractor to ensure quality delivery on the job according to specification and within the stipulated time frame of four months.
In his remarks, the Kogi Commissioner of Police, CP Bethrand Onuoha, expressed delight with the project, saying it would take security closer to the people at the grassroots.
“You can see that this area actually requires more security presence, and when this project is completed it will attract larger personnel to this place.
“A good working and enabling environment will bring out the best in our personnel.
“On our part, we shall redouble our efforts to ensure the safety amd security of this area,” Onuoha said.
The CP pointed out that the police and other security agencies were committed to ensure that Kogi remained safe, especially during the festive seasons.
Also speaking, Alh. Haruna Ibrahim, Chairman of Ijumu LGA, commended NPTF for the gesture, and promised to support and create enabling environment for the success of the project.
Similarly, the traditional ruler of the area, Oba Anthony Bamigbaiye, the Olu-Ade of Ekin-Adde, thanked NPTF for the intervention, saying the community had been yearning for such a project for a long time.
The royal father noted that the community with over 25,000 population needed more security presence.
He emphasised that the construction of divisional police station would foster economic development and security of lives and property of the people in his domain and the entire Ijumu LGA.
The contractor, Alh. Toyin Abubakar of RASWAS Nig. Ltd, promised to deliver quality job in accordance with specifications and within the stipulated time frame.
(NAN)
