Minister of Police Affairs, Sen Ibrahim Gaidam, has expressed concern over the dilapidated structures and abandoned projects in the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State.
The minister raised the concern during his first official visit and inspection of the facility at the academy in Kano, yesterday.
Gaidam wondered why structures already awarded would be abandoned midway despite budgetary provision.
The former Yobe State governor further disclosed the government’s approval of N1 billion, through the Police Trust Fund (PTF), for completion of ongoing projects in the institution.
He expressed the Federal Government’s determination to transform the police university into a world-class citadel that would produce highly professional officers, and charged the management not to compromise ethical standards.
Emphasising the importance of upholding the rules and regulations of the academy, designed to entrench discipline and excellence in training, he called for synergy between the police and academic wings of the institution to accomplish the desired goals of producing academically sound and professional police officers.
“The academy must ensure the cadets are equipped and prepared to face modern law enforcement. We are fully aware of the challenges facing the academy, especially in the areas of welfare and infrastructure, such as offices and accommodation.
“The Ministry of Police Affairs is fully committed to addressing the concerns and working tirelessly to provide offices and accommodation, as well as offering scholarships for human capacity development initiatives. This is paramount to us and we would not spare anything to deliver,” Gaidam stated.
Earlier, Commandant of the academy, Sadiq Abubakar, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), told the visitor that the academy was adopting best global academic standards as a model in training of cadets.
With 4,223 police cadets in the academy, the commandant noted that the institute was building discipline, highly professional and fit cadets that would confront the present challenges of insecurity.
AIG Abubakar, however, urged the Federal Government to address acute shortage of academic staff and other supporting staff, as well as inadequate laboratories among major predicaments in the academy.
The minister, accompanied by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Sani Gwarzo, and other senior directors, were earlier taken round to the tactical training field, new facilities and abandoned projects.
