Counter Terrorism: Nigeria Police sign training pact with US

In a bid to curb and oust terrorism in Nigeria, the police force has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday with the United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement on counter-terrorism training.

The MoU was executed by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the US Government respectively. The ambassador noted that the police force will benefit from the International Police Education and Training Programme run by the US authorities with funding from the US Department.

US ambassador, James F. Entwistle shake hands with IGP Mohammed Abubakr

He stated that the training pact will help to improve and modernize police training in Nigeria and also bring about a well trained Nigeria Police dedicated to the highest standards of ethical conduct, proficiency in law enforcement, support and build on efforts of Nigeria Police to implement a sustainable development.

While receiving the ambassador and officials of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Abuja, Abubakar did a formal presentation of strategic guidelines on counter-terrorism and eight other core areas of policing peculiar to the Nigeria Police Force which include counter-terrorism, integrated intelligence, community-policing, fleet management, human resource management, diversity, use of force, PR and media.

But noted that the opportunity provided by the international police education and training programme must be harnessed to increase the capabilities of the Nigeria Police particularly now that the country is battling the menace of terrorism and equally preparing for general elections in 2015.

IGP Abubakar is presented with strategic guidelines on Counter Terrorism to IGP

He restated his commitment to continue to drive reforms and strategic transformation of the Force in order to reposition the police force for better service delivery and enjoined all Police officers to key into the ongoing positive wind of change.