On behalf of officers and men of the Nigeria Police, I feel proud to most warmly welcome the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation to this epoch-making ceremonial Parade, which acts as a pleasant climax to the 2016 edition of the Nigeria Police Week Celebrations. My sense of pride stems from the fact that with the blessing of the Almighty God and support of my lieutenants, under my stewardship as the Inspector-General of Police the Nigeria Police Week tradition has been sustained.
Mr President, Sir, the Police Week was designed to commemorate the unification of the Northern and Southern Nigeria Constabularies, which was undertaken by the colonial government on April 1, 1930 to form what is now known today as the Nigeria Police Force. The Week provides an annual opportunity for the Nigeria Police to remember its history, and undertake institutional self-appraisal for purpose of celebrating our achievements, dissecting our challenges and projecting into the future in a manner that will enhance our performance and guarantee quality service delivery within an increasingly complex and demanding national and international security space.
President, Commander-in-Chief, Sir, in addition to these strategic justifications for the celebration of police week, the long-term intention is to commence the process of restoring the lost glory of the Force and re-enact those practices which bind the citizens to their police and which elicit fond memories of the Force. Many here would recall with great nostalgia the good old days of Police Week when police stations were thrown open for members of the public to walk into and interact with their policemen and officers; when police commanders and smartly dressed police women would proudly interact with the youth community and security stakeholders in the society; and when the expertise of the Force would be showcased in form of demonstrations by versatile police motorcycle riders, proud and smartly turned out officers and men on ceremonial parade, and breath-taking demonstrations by police dogs.
By today’s grand event the Force leadership is giving practical meaning to its firm determination to restore the lost glory of the Force and re-enact those practices which bind the citizens to their police and elicit fond memories of the Force. The dedication of a number of days, and packaging of strings of events to commemorate Police Week is a standard practice among police agencies across the world. Such events are usually capped with a Ceremonial Parade during which deserving police officers who have demonstrated exceptional courage and professional excellence in their line of duty are recognised and honoured. Honours are also extended to officers, who, in their commitment to their sacred functions of protection of life and property, have laid down their own lives for others to live.
In essence, the Police Week is a celebration of our history as well as an opportunity for the Force to reconnect with the people for a more Effective Policing. The essence is to remind police officers that their efficiency rests solely on their knowledge of history and the extent to which they can bond with the people whom they are paid, trained and directed to serve and protect.
Inversely, on a day like this, the people also need to be reminded of the need to accept the fundamental fact that no matter the level of private security contraption sewn around themselves, they still need to remember and appreciate that there exists a body of men and women whom they can trust and rely upon to protect them and the public space. Hence, while appreciating the challenges of the Force over the years, the 2016 edition of Nigeria Police Week Celebration is designed to break from the past and commence a new beginning that will treat the members of public as respect-deserving customers who must always be kings in our policing world as we guide our relatively nascent democratic culture into sustainable heights.
The journey we have embarked upon may appear slow, and seemingly tenuous, but we must be courageous enough to commence the process of bridging the policing gaps in our dear country by not only taking advantage of a day like this to undertake institutional soul searching, but also to reinvigorate the process of applying international best policing practices, which emphasise community-led, technology-driven, Rule of Law-guided, and intelligence-propelled policing virtues in our policing activities in Nigeria. Beyond this, today, we remember and shall celebrate the heroics of great police personalities, like Chief Supt. Chioma Ajunwa, the first Nigerian Olympic gold medallist; the late Supt. Sunday Bada, a 400 metres gold medallist at Sydney Olympics in 2000; Deputy Supt. Samuel Peters, who placed Nigerian name on the international boxing map by winning the World Boxing Council Heavyweight Championship in 2008.
We recognise the professionalism of Nigerian Police Contingents on International Peace Keeping Operations, who, in Namibia, East Timor, Liberia, Kosovo, Sierra-Leone, Serbia Montenegro, Haiti, Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, and South Sudan, have not only advanced the foreign policy thrust of our Fatherland, but have won professional laurels for gallantry, zeal and exceptional professional conducts as they join the rest of the world to restore global peace and order. These great professionals have, in a number of instances, paid the supreme sacrifice for global peace and security.
Indeed, on a day like this, we remain united in remembering personnel of the Force who have been fighting side-by-side their military colleagues as they advance our common national will to defeat terror elements that have in recent years been altering our national values in the North East and other parts of the country. We celebrate the gallantry of our women and men who daily engage deadly armed robbery gangs, kidnapping syndicates, murderers, fraudsters, rapists, and other heinous criminals who target our children and youth community. We in unison demonstrate our determination to take the criminal battle to the footsteps of elements that continue to threaten our peace and security and remind the nation that with their support, their new police Force vows to defeat the threat of terror and other internal security threats.
On this day, we commend officers and men who, even in our institutional inadequacies, have continued to courageously display loyalty, courage and zeal towards confronting internal insurgency. We recognise the sacrifice of officers and men who sweat it out under the scorching sun, the drizzling rains and the cold nights to stay alert in order to ensure the safety and security of members of the citizens. We salute officers who resist temptations, reject inducements, and stand against threats and intimidation to firmly uphold justice. We recognise and encourage the unsung heroes of the Force, who uphold the tenets of rule of law and respect for human rights in the discharge of their duties, guide the weak and vulnerable through traffic safety, and laid down their precious lives for us all to live.
Beyond all these, we also, on this auspicious occasion, pass a clear message to the criminal community that the wind of change is now blowing through the Police, a cultural reorientation that is premised on adoption of international best policing practices is emerging, and a new Police Force that will display team spirit, loyalty, zeal, courage, civility and renewed commitment towards confronting criminal elements, hand-in-hand with the citizens is evolving. The Nigeria Police Family, on this day, recognises its history and glorious past. The Force engages this unique occasion to re-assure the Federal Government of its commitment to restoring its lost primacy and to assure the citizens of its determination to live the true meaning of the common saying, ‘Police is your friend.’
It is for these reasons that I wish to specially thank the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for supporting our new policing vision and for sparing time to share this moment with us. In my capacity as the Inspector-General of Police, I wish to use this occasion to reassure Your Excellency of the loyalty of officers and men of the Force and our firm determination to advance your Vision of a professional, community-driven police Force that will remain civil to the citizens, but potent enough to respond to any threat to our internal security and national cohesion.
Finally, to our esteemed guests, I thank you most heartily for sharing the joy of our day and for joining us in our crusade for the rebirth of your Police Force. I wish you all a safe journey to your respective destinations.
•Being an address presented Inspector-General of Police, Solomon E. Arase, at the ceremonial parade marking the 2016 Police Week celebrations on April 1, 2016 in Abuja