IGP calls for collective efforts at tackling security challenges

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has called on Nigerians to come together and find a lasting solution to security challenges currently in the country.

Towards achieving this, the Management of the Nigeria Police Force in partnering with a private organization is to organize national security summit in Abuja.

The IGP, in a statement from the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba said, "As part of efforts at encouraging a broad-based approach to tackling emerging contemporary security challenges in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police in conjunction with Vanguard Newspapers will be organizing a 2-day National Security Summit with the theme: “Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges for Sustainable Peace and Development”.

The event is billed to take place on 8th and 9th January, 2013 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

According to Mba, the summit which will be officially flagged off by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan will be attended by Military and Police Chiefs, security experts/practitioners from within and outside the country as well as other critical stakeholders in the Nigeria Project.

He said, "The summit which is a public-private partnership initiative is expected to provide an avenue for Nigerians from all walks of life to make informed input into concerted efforts by the Police and other security agencies at providing lasting solution to Nigeria’s myriad Security Challenges".

The IGP while emphasizing the importance of the summit to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, particularly as it relates to issues of safety and security of the nation, urged participants to seize the opportunity provided by the summit to make sincere and informed input on matters bordering on the general security of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He stated that the summit is predicated upon the belief of the Force that the business of policing and securing Nigeria is the responsibility of all and that no single individual or organization has monopoly of security knowledge.

Also, assuring participants that inputs, suggestions, contributions and decisions reached at the summit will be given their pride of place in new security policies and strategic operational plans by the Government and the Police High Command, he equally promised that the Force will do everything humanly possible to guarantee a safe, conducive and democratic atmosphere at the summit to enable participants undertake a free, candid and unfettered intellectual discourse.

According to the DFPRO, he urged participants to see their participation in the summit as a call to national service and to do all within their powers to deliver on the targets and objectives of the summit.

Mba stated that other participants expected at the summit include: representatives of State Governors, Special advisers on Security to State Governors, principal officers of National and State Assemblies, CEOs of registered and active private security agencies and representatives of ethnic forums and nationalities. Others are representatives of National Human Rights Commission, invited NGOs and Civil Society Groups, Labour groups such as NLC, PENGASSAN, TUC, and Professional groups such as NBA, NMA, Guild of Editors, NUJ, Representatives of PCRC at national and State levels and other invited participants.