The Honourable Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of townhall engagements across Nigeria as a means to enhance grassroots understanding of security dynamics and foster community-specific solutions.
She made these remarks during the “Renewed Hope Police Agenda: Citizens Town Hall Engagement on Strengthening Community Policing in Nigeria,” held at the Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall, Nasarawa State Government House.
Hajia Imaan highlighted that security is inherently local and stressed the necessity of tailoring approaches to reflect each community’s unique characteristics, challenges, and strengths. “Security is local, and we must acknowledge and embrace the unique dynamics of each community in our pursuit of a safer nation,” she stated.
She further noted that Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prioritizes the security and welfare of the people.
The Minister also mentioned that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed security at the center of the administration’s priorities.
The implementation of the Renewed Hope Police Agenda is underway, aimed at strategically positioning the police force to fulfill its mandate.
At the core of this agenda is a community policing strategy designed with local peculiarities in mind, ensuring full participation and ownership by community members and stakeholders.
Nasarawa State, according to Hajia Imaan, is unique in terms of security due to its diverse and growing community, substantial mineral deposits, and proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which brings both socio-economic opportunities and security challenges.
The Renewed Hope Police Agenda for Nasarawa aims to build on local efforts and support existing collaborations, making Nasarawa a model for effective security measures in the North Central Region.
She outlined six foundational pillars designed to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force: Technical and Operational Excellence, Infrastructure Advancement, Welfare Enhancement, Policy Framework Development, Strategic Communication, and Public Trust Management.
Alhaji Mogaji Ibraheem Olaniyan, represented by the National Vice Chairman, Don Kenneth Otuonunyo, stressed the need for collaboration between the community and the police, emphasizing that effective policing requires community support and information sharing.
He noted the continuous, demanding nature of police work and called for encouragement and support for the police force.
The Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, expressed the state’s willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Nigeria Police Force to enhance policing.
He also urged the private sector and other stakeholders to support the Renewed Hope Police Agenda.
In his welcome remarks, the Inspector General of Police, represented by Deputy Inspector General (Intelligence) DIG Dasuki Galadachi, announced the approval of Crime Data Analysis and Mapping in all local governments across the country, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
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