Abuja (Min. of Police Affairs) – The Hon. Minister, Ministry of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi has expressed optimism in the 9th Assembly for a quick passage of the Bill on Police Reforms and Police Academy. While appreciating the leadership of the Senate and the United Kingdom, Policy and Advocacy Centre for organising a retreat which held on 13th December 2019 at the Legend Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. The Minister said the retreat was timely and necessary and enjoined all stakeholders present to seize the opportunity to perfect the two Bills before passage to the Senate for second reading.
Speaking further, Dingyadi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, said the Ministry of Police Affairs was solidly behind the review and updating of the Police Reform Bill and Police Academy Bill. He said ’I strongly believe that this exercise will launch the Nigeria Police Force and indeed the internal security machinery of the nation to global standard; such that it will be able to tackle frontally, the myriads of security challenges confronting the nation.’
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Haliru Dauda Jika said the purpose of the retreat was to create wider public awareness on the importance of the Bill and also engage with the leadership of the Nigerian Police, The Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission and all relevant stakeholders to get their buy- in and present a robust Bill to the Senate for ease of passage. He concluded by encouraging participants to make submission in writing to the committee to be led by the Ministry of Police Affairs for further input before senate resumes recess assuring all that  a public hearing will be made on the Bill for all-inclusiveness.
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The 2-Day retreat had in attendance top hierarchy of the Police Force, Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, Non – governmental organisations with various paper presentations for discuss such as: Improving Police oversight and governance Nigeria, Background on the Nigeria Police Act- History, Gaps and Challenges, Efforts at localising Global Best Practices on review of Police legislation, Background on the Nigerian Police Academy: Challenges and Prospects, Review on the Nigeria Police Academy Bill, Wudil and Tracking Progress and Achievements through the use of committee work-plan
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Odutayo Oluseyi
Head of Press and Public Relations
