Police officers, families to vacate 25 barracks for renovation

• Officers deserve conducive accommodation, says Lagos Govt
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has directed police officers and their families to vacate 25 barracks in Lagos for renovation.

According to the directive, officers living in the affected barracks are to be issued a one-month notice to vacate their accommodation spaces following plans by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to reconstruct 25 police barracks and other facilities, to improve officers’ welfare in Lagos.

Spokesperson for the Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this, yesterday, at the Lagos State Command headquarters, Ikeja, said the initiative was in compliance with Lagos State government’s recommendations on the poor condition of some police barracks that failed structural integrity tests.

The affected barracks are: Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende; Highway Police Barracks, Ikeja; K9 Police Barracks, Keffi Street, Ikoyi; Falomo Police Barracks (A and B), Ikoyi; Bar Beach Police Barracks, Victoria Island; MOPOL 20 Barracks, Ikeja; Women Police Barracks, Obalende; MOPOL 2 Police Barracks, Keffi Street, Ikoyi; Mounted Troop, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi and Queen Barracks, Apapa.

Others are: FPRO Annex Office and Barracks, Ijora Olopa; Iponrin Police Barracks, Surulere; Adekunle Police Barracks, Yaba; Federal Highway Patrol Office, Yaba; Alausa Police Barracks, Ikeja; Mounted Troop, Ikeja; Okesuna Police Barracks, Obalende; Mc Carthy Barracks, Obalende; Force Headquarters Annex, Obalende; Obalende Police Barracks, Obalende; Bourdillon Police Barracks, Ikoyi; New Staff Quarters, Ikeja; Elere Police Barracks, Agege; Onikan Officers Mess, Ikoyi and Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Milverton Street, Ikoyi

Adejobi said the Force had taken a proactive approach towards the redevelopment and regeneration of these establishments, and anticipate positive outcomes with the venture.

He stressed that the renovations would provide the much-needed modern amenities and enhance the condition of living and dignity of Police Officers.

He said: The IGP had issued a directive that those living in the affected Barracks be issued a one-month notice to vacate their accommodation spaces and that the directive will be implemented gradually in phases to ensure that all officially recognised and lawful residents are properly catered for.

“All legally seated residents of any of the affected Barracks will receive a maximum sum of money equaling the rental cost for the location of their accommodation for two years, to aid them in getting alternatives throughout the period of reconstruction and that upon the successful completion of these living arrangements, a formal notice to vacate will be issued.

“The Inspector-General of Police has provided an assurance that all officers who are on active service and living in these barracks legally, shall receive the keys to the new structures upon completion.

“It is our earnest hope that the IGP’s modernisation plan will be successful and laudable, as it will not only maximise the potential of officers deployed within the Lagos State Police structure, but will also add values to the state’s social, economic and environmental profile.”

Adejobi, however, appealed for support from the public in funding the project.

On his part, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Works, Obe Rudolf, said: “The welfare of police officers is of utmost importance to leadership of the Nigeria Police and it’s because of this that the police hierarchy is partnering with Lagos State government, and we are doing the needful to rehabilitate the structures.”

Also speaking, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Toke Benson-Awoyinde, said: “We have yielded to the yearning of our people that Police in Lagos and all over Nigeria deserve better. Our police officers deserve to have conducive places like any other places, send their children to better schools like others and we hope that the police hierarchy will put good amenities and sports facilities in their schools.

“We are embarrassed as a government whenever a building collapses in the state because it takes away what we stand for as the Centre of Excellence. We will make sure that in this process, the Nigeria Police is protected, and that the state gives our officers a befitting place to live in, and the children will be well taken care of.

“We are passionate about what is happening in our state and that is why we are taking up this initiative with NPF.”