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New Rivers CP Reads Riot Act To Policemen …Orders Withdrawal Of Orderlies To Undeserving Persons
Worried by the lack of professionalism displayed by some Police Officers in the discharge of their duties, the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Chris O. Ezike, has warned Policemen in the state to justify their monthly pay by performing commensurate duties.
The Commissioner of Police also warned that idleness, Lazity and poor attitude to crime fighting as well as reckless use of firearms against the provision of the Force Order 237 would no longer be tolerated, even as he charged them to display professionalism, operate within the laws, rules and extant regulations.
The State Police boss gave the warning during his inaugural address and press briefing following a meeting with Senior Officers, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Heads of Departments (HODs) in the command yesterday at the Police Officers’ Mess, Port Harcourt.
The new Police boss said the essence of the meeting was to enable him interact and brainstorm with the Senior Officers to learn about the peculiar law enforcement challenges they faced in their departments, divisions, and formations to enable them develop fresh approaches and adopt measures that would complement existing strategies.
According to him, “the objective of this focus, is to combat cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, homicide and other violent crimes that undermine the state’s peace, security and general well-being.
“The state occupies a vital economic position in the affairs of the country.
We cannot, therefore, close our eyes and pretend that all is well,” he said.
“Operationally, we shall adopt high visibility policing method. Policemen must not only be on patrol but must be seen to be on patrol. We shall also develop and implement a standard operation procedure that would enhance coordination to distress management, and consequently, reduce response time”, he added.
He posited that high visibility policing will give the citizenry psychological assurance, besides the physical certainty but requires enonomous manpower, adding that he was convinced that with personnel strength of 15,521, three Mobile Police Force Squadrons, excluding visiting units, the command has the manpower to ensure effective and efficient policing in the state.
Ezike said that within the same framework, any Police Officer that abuses the goodwill he enjoys or wastes same on the platform of ineptitude or corruption, would be fully sanctioned in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner of Police told the officers that the handover notes he received from his predecessor show that the trend and pattern of serious crimes in the state have become worrisome to the citizens, especially kidnapping and armed robbery, fueled by cultism, and promised the readiness of his administration to wipe the scourge of criminality in the state as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in a determined effort to promote effective and efficient policing, the new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Okey Ezeike, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all Police Mobile Force personnel attached to persons that are not entitled to have such persons without the approval of Inspector-general of police.
The Commissioner also directed all Area Commanders, Heads of Department and DPOs to act accordingly by enforcing the strict directive.
Ezeike gave the directive during a meeting yesterday at Police Officers’ mess in Port Harcourt, with Senior Police Officers within the Command as part of his maiden meeting with them on his assumption of office as the new Police helmsman in the state.
He disclosed that a monitoring task force would soon be constituted to ensure compliance with the order, adding that the action was part of his administration’s drive to promote efficient policing in the state.
He said that his administration will focus on providing qualitative service to the people, fight crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism with every strength the Police can muster.
According to him, the Police will partner with other security agencies and non-state actors in a professional and transparent manner as well as respect the rights of the citizens while abhorring corruption.
Ezeike used the opportunity to re-emphasise the cardinal policy of the Inspector-General of Police’s administration on robust fight against violent crimes, focus on intelligence-led policing, ban on road blocks and replacement with safer High-Way Patrols, restorative justice, amongst others.
He told the officers that he is in the state “with tremendous goodwill, open hands and mind, willingness to work, partner with all to ensure we make the state safer, secure, better and prosperous”.
On the use of tinted glasses without authorization, the Commissioner said the Command was worried about the increase despite several directives by his predecessors, noting that persons of questionable character and criminals have been observed to be in the habit of using tinted glass cars to commit all sorts of atrocities.
“To this effect” he said, ‘with effect from 10th July, 2015, therefore, all vehicles which flout this directive will be impounded and the owners arrested and prosecuted”.
He, however, said that the task ahead of the new Police leadership was daunting but not impossible, and solicited for the co-operation of other security agencies, the media, civil society, market organizations, tertiary institutions and the general public in the quest for a safer state.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
