AMBO: The Arrival

I drove past one of the new white salon cars presented to the Lagos state Police command yesterday by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode about noon today. The vehicle looked like a 2013 model of the Toyota Corolla and I was briefly alarmed that the governor opted for such relatively high profile vehicles for the use of the Nigerian police.

Ford salon cars

Some irreversible  pessimists have already gone unto social media to ridicule the purchase of “100 4-Door Salon Cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-Ups, 15 BMW Power Bikes, 100 Power Bikes, Isuzu Trucks, three (3) Helicopters, two(2) Gun Boats and 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers”. Some have described this as a waste of resources and misplaced priorities especially when viewed in the context of the “broke” status of the country. N4.765bn is the quoted figure spent to acquire these resources which also include Revolving Lights, Siren and Public Address System, Vehicular Radio Communicators, drones; Security Gadgets such as Bullet Proof Vests, Helmets, Handcuffs, Uniforms, Kits, riot shields. Insurance and Death Benefit Schemes for police officers are also part of the package.

Helicopter 

Why was I alarmed that more recent models of Toyota and Ford cars were given to the police? Very simple, the cars will be driven by male policemen. I can wager that some of those vehicles will end up with broken and bashed components before the weekend is over.  Nigerian Police officers are notorious for ruining vehicles given to them in the past; they are practically devoid of any maintenance culture or sense of responsibility to handle police property with care. One may ask why this is so; I think the simplest answer to that is the fact that we run a centralized police structure in Nigeria. The fellow who drove a police Hilux van recklessly in Lagos yesterday could be redeployed to Damaturu tomorrow where he would also recklessly drive into the ground whatever he meets there. It is the same way some policemen who have shot civilians get posted away from the location of their crime to escape the scrutiny of the law.

 

Gunboat

I was almost overrun by a police pickup truck a few months ago on Bode-Thomas Street in Lagos on my way to church. The object of the truck’s pursuit was a fleeing “Danfo” bus; both vehicles encroached on the walkway to evade opposing vehicles and I wondered what crime the bus driver committed to warrant such high speed chase. I have also seen a police vehicle rammed into a wall on Eric Moore road like it was driven by a drunken driver. It will take enormous work to replace the mentality of the average Nigerian police officer to begin to do things right and with dignity.

What Lagos state has done is what should be replicated all across the country. The emergence of Major General Aguyi Ironsi as the supreme commander of the military and Nigeria in January 1966 led to the abolishment of the 3 Regional governments that existed at that time. The country was further dismembered into states over the next 30 years many of which are unable to do just what Lagos did yesterday as they only function to disburse salaries to ghost and palpable workers alike. It may be important for some states or geographical regions to pool their resources together to equip a state or regional police force which will be well suited to handling their peculiar security issues. I do not think it is wisdom to continue with the method of deploying and redeploying officers to police states and zones where their loyalty to the people cannot be guaranteed. What we have are mercenaries who will be ready tools in the hands of a few influential and mighty because they know they could be easily moved on to greener pasture when their deed is done and tenure is over. We can learn a few things from even “area boys” with respect to security. They are able to organize themselves and provide security if a good tip is provided and a small dose of respect in employed when addressing them. One can imagine what we could have made of these ones if the rot in the educational sector a few decades ago did not happen. Locals should be policing their communities; religious organizations know this and do not fail to invite the so-called area boys to security meetings when they have events to organize.

The police is an industry in my opinion; a massive institution to create jobs and reduce unemployment. We encounter private security outfits at events all over the country and many of the young men involved are well built and definitely able to cope with police duties if they had been wooed. These new cars will definitely get bashed and would need regular repairs and maintenance; it is not spirits who will do this job. The country can boast of many expert motorcycle riders who can rival the likes of Valentino Rossi and Marquez of this world. These young people know every nook and cranny of Lagos state and beyond like the back of their hands; one can just imagine how effective they could be if deployed as patrol officers with the police. One wonders what the young Nigerian minds could do with drone technology in this day and age.  Danfo drivers are not alien to high speed chases; they could easily serve as drivers for the police if properly trained. Many Nigerian youths have been classified as untrainable and lost to the vices of society but these ones still serve as mentors to children who have no other options for role models or parents. The system can be structured to harness these ones including those deemed lost and plough them into training program that can turn them into responsible human beings and police officers. Policemen need uniforms, food, stationery, groceries etc. like every other citizen; it is high time we stopped allowing them to be treated like errand boys wearing khaki shorts during the colonial era.

I strongly believe in a decentralized police force so that internal security duties can be structured based on the peculiarities of different regions and zones. State governments will be able to plan appropriately instead of having the uncertainties of deployments from Abuja scuttle their efforts and set them back a few years. The Lagos government has made a very brilliant move; good money has been spent for a worthy cause. The other state governments have to also spend money for the sake of security and to get the economy of their states going. They should not expect the government at the center to stimulate them to work; very little will get done that way. There is so much that can be done with agriculture in the entire North central region of the country from Kwara through Nassarawa to Taraba. The potential which is inherent in the entire landmasses of the North West and North East is enormous. Hiking, mountain climbing and safaris are activities capable of attracting tourists to our nation.

The police should be directed on the path of professionalism. They could have facilitators amongst them who would help in training security teams of corporations and other institutions. They could also be involved in touring secondary schools to educate students on issues pertaining to law and order; catching them young. The restoration of the respect and dignity of the force should be top of Lt. Gen. Dambazau’s agenda as Minister of Interior. If internal security is resolved and well managed, the chances of insurgent and militant groups festering would be greatly reduced. Joining the police should not be regarded as a duty for society’s misfits; the very best amongst us should be shouldered with the responsibility of ensuring we are secure within our borders.

Governor Ambode has done well; those who were lampooning him for the water shortages and acute traffic jams are now singing his praises and celebrating his vision. I think the people should exercise a little more restraint when criticizing; it is important we observe situations critically and follow whatever information is released. We should utilize confirmed press releases and speeches made by our political leaders to keep them in check and demand for performance instead of just getting easily swayed by emotion and sometimes the evil contraptions of those who are still dressing the wounds of the last administration. I do not know if Governor Ambode’s calculation of what was spent is accurate but that is not my worry. I am glad someone had the capacity to invest in something which should affect the entire populace positively; that should be commended and used as a springboard to demand even more performance.

The United Kingdom Police utilizes diesel powered cars as patrol, Response, Area and Traffic vehicles. These vehicles are fuel efficient and they also use other specifications of cars depending on the function to be carried out. Such should be the yardstick with which our governments should measure themselves to ensure wastages are halted and tax payers’ money efficiently utilized.

I guess Governor Ambode has finally arrived from wherever he was coming from.

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