PCRC @39: Dingyadi, Arase, others hail support for effective policing

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi and Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, have commended the leadership of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), for their contributions to effective policing in Nigeria.

They gave the commendation at the 39th Etim Inyang Lecture Anniversary and Award Ceremony with the theme, “Enhancing the Ideals of Community Policing in Nigeria” on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by Mrs Jaachinma Agu, said the establishment of PCRC by leadership of the Nigeria Police Force in 1984 had continued to yield its desired result.

He said it was evident in the fostering of partnership between the police and the community with a view to enhance efficient and effective policing through active partnership with members of the communities and critical stakeholders across Nigeria.

Dingyadi said the 39^th anniversary lecture organised to honour the founder of PCRC, retired Inspector-General of Police, Etim Inyang, was a means of appreciating police contributions to safety of lives and property, good governance and improved living standard in Nigeria.

“This event is therefore highly commendable and reassures everyone here present including serving officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, that their commitment and contributions towards tackling crimes and criminalities will not go unrewarded,” he said.

The minister, who is one of the awardees, said his nomination reaffirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s germane desire to reclaim policing primacy through police reforms, capacity building, enhanced welfare and equipping to improve internal security arrangements in Nigeria.

He said the award was a great impetus to consolidate on rendering services towards deepening economic development, through formulation and implementation of sustainable policies and programs that had in the last three years, promoted safety of lives and property across Nigeria.

He said the ministry had recently organised Town Hall Meetings with PCRC stakeholders and the NPF in four Geo- political zones to enhance the unity and working relationship between NPF and PCRC.

According to him, the recommendations from the meetings are being implemented to ensure a smooth working relationship between the NPF and the PCRC to achieve maximum reduction in crimes and criminality in our nation.

On his part, the Chairman of PSC, Arase represented by Mr Olumide Sodeinde, said that PCRC had become a veritable means of ensuring effective community policing in Nigeria.

He said that even though PCRC was established in 1984, the concept of community policing did not materialise in Nigeria until the early 2000s when insecurity and increase in crime rates became major issues to contend with.

According to him, the foremost community police in Nigeria was the vigilante group which is still relevant in today’s community, a group of people taking off the mantle to ensure that the growing crime rates and insecurity in their community is highly controlled.

“The vigilante’s main goals is to ensure the protection of lives and property, crime control and promotion of community policing in Nigeria.

“The need for community policing in Nigeria came as a result of an evidence based study which showed that the use of traditional policing methods and core law enforcement approaches alone are insufficient in dealing with crime and social disorder in the society.

“That is more reason why we need to seriously support the PCRC,” he said.

The National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, said the committee now operate from its permanent site with the support of the ministry and the I-G.

Olaniyan said that PCRC had grown in leaps and bound in its 39 years of existence, saying the committee was poised to do more in delivering on its mandate.

He pledged to continue to work with the police force to be able to achieve effective policing in the country.

He said the event was organised to recognised those who had meritoriously served the nation with passion and commitment.

(NAN)