By Mohammed Mohammed
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Wednesday admitted the receipt of more than 200 operational vehicles from the Ministry of Police Affairs, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), and 16 from the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to fight crimes across the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has handed over 34 operational vehicles comprising 15 Toyota Hilux, !6 Ford Rangers, and 3 Personnel Carrier Trunks to the IG for onward distribution to the needy police command in the country.
The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Alkali Baba Usman, said the operational vehicles are being dedicated to patrolling Abuja-Kaduna.
The handing over ceremony of the 34 operational vehicles was performed at the Louis Edet House, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Minister appealed to the IG to ensure that those vehicles are put to proper use and taken to police formations across the country.
He said: “we hope that those who are going to use them, will make the best use of them for the good of our country, peace, and unity of our people.”
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving funds for procurement of the vehicles and the National Assembly for their continued support as well as other government agencies and the private sector that have been extending support to the Nigeria Police.
In his remarks, Alkali Baba Usman, thanked federal government through the Ministry of Police Affairs for providing tools/equipment to NPF.
According to him, “This year alone we have received tools/equipment to do our work and scientific aids to enable us to go e-policing.
We will continue to sustain what we have been doing and those operational vehicles will also help us greatly in equipping our divisions in some of the states.”
He added that police as an institution require more operational vehicles and equipment and they will continue to make efforts to get more from the government and those Nigerians that are willing to assist in crime prevention and control.
The Head (Press and Public Relations Unit, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, signed the statement for the Ministry.