The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, in his determination to ensure stability in internal security and a safe environment conducive for the conduct of the General Elections billed to hold in February and March 2023 in the country, has approved the organization of the third edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers.
The Conference and Retreat with the theme ‘The Imperative of a Nigeria Police Strategic Plan For Peaceful Elections’ is scheduled to hold from October 18 to 21, 2022 in Imo State.
According to police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, “The Conference and Retreat will assemble Senior Police Officers of the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIG), Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG), Commissioners of Police (CP) and other Heads of Police Formations and carefully selected security and election management experts across the globe to engage in peer-review and cross fertilization of ideas on effective management of security before, during, and after the General Election in 2023. “The retreat will also provide ample opportunity for Senior Officers of the Force to interact with key officials from sister security agencies, the nation’s electoral body and international development partners with a view to coordinating security towards free, fair, and credible General Elections in Nigeria.
“The Conference and Retreat is expected to host President Muhammadu Buhari, who will declare the Conference open and deliver the keynote address. Other guests expected at the event are State Governors, Service Chiefs, Heads of other Security Agencies and past Inspectors-General of Police.
“The last edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers was recently held in the beautiful and serene city of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on February 7 to 10, 2022, the third edition will be held later in the year to prepare the Force to provide adequate security during the upcoming elections.
“The Inspector-General of Police is therefore consulting with Matchmakers Consult International for the seamless organization of a successful and goal-oriented Conference and Retreat.
“In addition, the IGP has also approved a train-the-trainers workshop for officers from the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police to Deputy Superintendents of Police which will cascade down to the least Police Constable on Election Security “Management scheduled to hold from August 4 to 31, 2022 across the six Geo-Political Zones of the country as part of initiatives towards deepening the knowledge of Police Officers on election security operations for a peaceful, secured and credible electoral process.”
According to Managing Director/CEO, Matchmakers Consult International and Consultant to the Nigeria Police, Mr. Shina Philips, the 3rd edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, is a capacity building initiative proposed by Matchmakers Consult International and organized in conjunction with the Force Public Relations Department since 2019.
“The Nigeria Police Force is the lead agency in Nigeria’s internal security architecture and a strategic and significant institution in the protection of lives and property, maintenance of public safety and order and in the preservation of the country’s unity.
“We have full confidence in the professionalism, competence and preparedness of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman, the Police Management Team and the Officers and Men of the Force to discharge their fundamental responsibility as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is our conviction that corporate and individual citizens must support the Nigeria Police as they work assiduously to combat criminality and make our society safer. It is in the light of this that Matchmakers Consult International proposed the idea of an annual Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers to assemble Senior Police Officers of the rank of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Commissioner of Police (CP) and other Heads of Police Formations and carefully selected security experts across the globe.
“The major objective is to engage officers and stakeholders in peer-review and cross fertilization of ideas in order to bring Senior Officers up-to-speed with modern crime-fighting techniques which will assist the Force in checkmating the activities of local and trans-border criminals who are constantly evolving new methods of operations.
“while anticipating your continued support for the Conference and Retreat, Matchmakers Consult International will continue to support all activities of the Nigeria Police aimed at making our society safe.” He said.
