The Nation - Police launch 40 vans for highway security

The Nation - Police launch 40 vans for highway security


DEVINE WISDOM REVISITED: WE ASKED FOR HIGHWAY PATROL

When the Nigeria Governor's Forum (NGF) approved of State Police, we at Hamiltonatlarge were the first to kick against the idea (see an excerpt and the link to the story below). The following day, a representative of the influential Northern Elders, also kicked against it, using our language or the same language that we used in our disapproval. Few days later, the Northern Governors - who of course were part of the NGF that took the decision - surprisingly came out and argued against introduction of State Police. Then, another group, made up of former Inspector General of Police (IGPs), also argued against the introduction in a strongly worded language. And finally, the Council of State joined forces and rejected the idea for good. That was how the call for, or the introduction of State Police met its demise. 

We did more. We asked for the reintroduction of Highway Patrol and revitalization of the Mobile Police Unit as a SWAT TEAM.

Today, we are glad to read in more than four Nigerian Newspapers the launching of Highway Patrol Unit (equipped with light armor vehicles) by the Inspector General of Police yesterday.  We are ecstatic and we are delighted. In the word of President Obama, “never under estimate the power of your advice”, even when you think no one is listening all reading your work. That’s all we have to say for now. The best is yet to come.

Please find the link: "Divine Wisdom: Changing the World in Six Months." 

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) - an excerpt.

Granted that the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will remain under the control of the Federal Government, we want to warn the leadership and every Nigerian that the prevailing call for State Police is a call for disaster and dictatorship of the State Governors. To ensure security and neutrality in the deployment of Police, NPF should remain under the exclusive control of the Federal Government. We should revert to the three units as they were in the past - regular Police, Highway Patrol, and Mobile Police. This time, we recommend that (1) Mobile Police or “Mopo” should be transformed to the standard of a SWAT TEAM as it is in advanced countries. (2) The Highway Patrol should be merged with Federal Road Safety Corp and the new unit should be called Federal Trouper. The unit should be in charge of security and traffic control on Federal Roads, Government Institutions, NGOs, and Foreign Organizations and Embassies. And (3) the regular Police should remain the only uniform wearing security agency on our streets and public places. Every other uniform wearing security apparatus on our streets and public places should be merged with the regular Police Force, especially those that were established in the last fifteen years.

On the other hand, with the evolution of true federalism  (semi-autonomy for the federating states), State Police would be a welcome development. In that case, Mobile Police (the new SWAT TEAM) and Highway Patrol (Federal Trouper) should remain under the exclusive control of the Federal Government. I repeat, Highway Patrol should be re-introduced and merged with Federal Road Safety Commission to be known as Federal Trouper to manage Federal Institutions, Foreign offices and Institutions, and Federal Highways, while Mobile Police should be transformed into a SWAT TEAM for rapid response assignment nation-wide. But the regular Police should be under the control and command of State Government.

 June, 2012

See my response to an article on the issue published by Punch Newspaper: http://www.punchng.com/politics/state-police-to-be-or-not-to-be/