YOU MUST GO FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS TRAINING, IGP TELLS POLICE COMMISSIONERS

With the recent trends in the public relations management of security issues- especially this period Nigeria is faced with serious security challenges and management of human , this is what the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, saw and directed all Commissioners of Police including those at the State Commands, to immediately undergo Public Relations Training.

The IGP spoke at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop with the theme: ”Speaking for the Nigerian Police,” organised by Cleen Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Represented by Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Habila Joshak, the IGP said it was time for the police to begin to reposition the service through effective communication and public engagement.

“It is important to establish that the mandate of the Nigerian Police is to protect the lives and properties of the Nigerian populace. Within this mandate lies the need for effective communication and public engagement.

Therefore, communication and public relations by the police should provoke more than a passing interest in the hearts of citizens, both educated and non-educated, “he said.

Idris lamented that the conduct of some police personnel “has caused serious image and operational problems for the Force whereby the duties of some police officers have been compromised because of some social maladies plaguing the country as a whole”, chief among which he noted, was “corruption which permeates both the public and private sectors of the country.”

The police boss disclosed that internal mechanism had been put in place to deal headlong with some wrongdoings, chief among which was corruption among personnel. “Some internal working mechanisms have been introduced by the current Police Management and it is yielding positive result to a large extent as incidents of corruption has drastically reduced in the Force, “he said.

He said the workshop came at no better time than now given that there were very germane issues which cannot be overlooked both by the police and the public, “particularly emerging issues and challenges currently playing out in our nation. It is common place to hear allegations of corruption, incompetence, unprofessional conducts and other questionable practices that have nothing to do with normal Police duty or the maintenance of law and order being leveled against a few police officers.

“I am excited to notify and educate you that this allegation is fast giving way to a more professional and highly motivated police force that is well equipped to cope with the challenges of contemporary policing in the 21st Century.