IGP LEAVES FOR NEW YORK: DRUMS UP SUPPORT FOR NIGERIA’S PEACEKEEPING, COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS

In another fervid effort at getting the needed support from the international security agencies and other multilateral bodies, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing, exchange programmes, combating terrorism, peace-keeping operations and capacity building, especially on training, manpower and infrastructural development for the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, will, along with five other senior police officers, embark on a four-day official visit to the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, United States of America from 21^st – 25^th October, 2013 for discussions with the UN, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York Police Department (NYPD).

 

The meeting, which is an offshoot of the agreements reached on the platform of Nigeria and the United States’ Bi-national Commission held earlier this year, is expected to highlight the efforts of the present Police Administration towards: repositioning the Force, continuing and improving on the performance of the Nigeria Police contingents deployed in sub-regional, regional and UN Peace keeping missions world-wide. Attention would be drawn, for emphasis, on the need to acquire and continuously maintain adequate equipment for the Nigeria Police Contingents to the UN missions.

 

While in the US, the IGP will also meet with the FBI Chiefs and his NYPD counterparts and State Department officials where he will, expectedly, be engaged in exchange of ideas and strategies on intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism measures and look at the possibility of obtaining modern training kits. He will also pay visit to the officials of the Nigeria House in New York, the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC and the UN Peace Keeping Department with a view to exploring areas of mutual cooperation and benefits.

 

The IGP is expected to discuss the challenges militating against the effective and efficient deployment of the Nigeria Police personnel and equipment to peace support missions and seek the support and collaboration of the UN towards addressing these challenges.