Police Officers, Other Nigerians Hail Buhari Over IGP’s Tenure Extension

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Elated Police ranks and files serving in Lagos Police formations and some concerned Nigerians have praised President Muhammadu Buhari for extending the tenure of the untiring and detribalised Inspector General of Police, Baba Alkali Usman.

Some of the Officers and Men who spoke with our correspondent under strict conditions of anonymity stated that their boss, IGP Usman deserved the tenure extension for doing a wonderful job in crime fighting and control and instilling discipline in the system within the  short period he had served as Nigeria’s IGP.

They stated that within the short time, IGP Usman stabilized the Nigeria Police Force and restored discipline, loyalty, hard work, sincerity, transparency and due process in the Police operations.

They also stated that during the same period, Usman also ensure seamless promotion of Officers, training and retraining of Officers to improve  Professionalism in the Force, adding that they are happy working with IGP Usman and that he deserved the tenure extension by the President.

The outpouring of praises and commendations started on Wednesday shortly after the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi in a press release broke the news of the approval of Mr President on the tenure extension of the Inspector General of Police to the Press in Abuja.

Dingyadi told the press while reacting to a question on whether or not the IGP would be retiring as expected since he would clock 60 years on 1 March 2023, that the Inspector General of Police will not be retiring midway into the 2023 general elections.

Dingyadi stated that by the provisions of the Police act 2020, IGP Usman supposed to have a kind of four years period and that the President has already given him a letter of appointment in that regard and as such the issue of IGP going out during the elections period does not arise.

Dingyadi also stated that the level of corruption within the Nigeria Police Force during the period had drastically reduced.

Some concerned Nigerians also stated that what they would always remember the IGP for was the dogged manner he was able to stop illegal raiding and arrest by Officers using unpainted vehicles, adding that IGP Usman deserved the tenure extension.