FG Inaugurates 263 Police Patrol Vehicles for Elections

02 Feb 2015

  Vice-President Namadi Sambo

Calls for violence-free elections

Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja

As part of efforts in enhancing security operations during the forthcoming general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday inaugurated 263 patrol vehicles for the Nigerian police, even as he appealed to supporters of political parties to eschew violent conducts.
President Jonathan represented by the Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the approval for the acquisition of 2,564 operational vehicles was given with the intention to see that the police “provide the needed security and enhance their operation to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections.

“The procurement of these vehicles is aimed at boosting the capacity of the Nigerian Police Force to deliver effectively, efficiently and appreciably.”.

“A well equipped and adequately motivated police force, will assist in no small measure to assist in ensuring the security needed in the drive to economic growth and development of Nigeria.

“And in view of the strong commitment of government to provide for the Police within available resources, it is my hope that the gesture by government will be reciprocated by assisting Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring the conduct of free elections this month. It is also expected that the deployment of these operational vehicles will translate to enhanced surveillance of our communities in order to improve security.”

While further highlighting the efforts of government towards enhanced peace and security of all Nigerian, the vice-president harp on the need for all Nigerians to see themselves as Nigerians and uphold the unity of the country, despite their political leanings.

“I call on the politicians, the aspirants their supporters and their sympathisers, to eschew all forms of violence and unlawful practices, both in words and conduct, before and after elections.

“Let us eschew any form of violence, we should condemn any form of violence before, during and after elections, we should know that elections will come and go but Nigeria will remain as one nation and one people,” he said.

Earlier in his opening address the Inspector General of Police (IG), Suleiman Abba, said approval for 2,564 operational vehicles was given by the president, but the first batch of the patrol cars comprising “170 Nissan hard body patrol pick up vans, 129 Nissan Frontier Double Cabin patrol vehicles, 50 Nissan Patrol 4WD SUV, 10 Toyota double cabin Armoured patrol vans and four Ford 550 model 4X4 state-of-the art Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs),” are ready for inaguration

When asked if the remaining vehicles will be available before the elections, which is two weeks away,  Abba said: “Delivery particularly when it is on production, you can’t make conclusions, but the most important thing is that the contract has been signed and the supply is coming from an indigenous company. We are certain that the multiplier effect of the contract would affect the citizens very well.

This is an addition to the vehicles we have in our stock.”

Abba also made references to other utility projects embarked upon by the government to enhance the performance of the police force in providing security to the Nigerian people, saying “The inuguration of the new patrol vehicles will strengthen police operational capacity and boost our preparedness for the security of the forthcoming 2015 elections.”

He promised that the police would utilise the vehicles judiciously in the “implementation of our strategic guidelines to ensure that the 2015 elections is effectively secured and generally peaceful.

“With these vehicles, the Nigeria police are also better prepared to present a stronger challenge against all forms of crime which have been threatening public security and safety in the country.”

 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-inaugurates-263-police-patrol-vehicles-for-elections/200743/