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LAGOS – The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders & Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the deplorable conditions of police facilities and its barracks nationwide, especially the Kam Salem barracks in Lagos.
The association also urged Tinubu to undertake a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police by considering some key factors that could contribute to its welfare and effective policing.
The letter dated, May 15, 2025 with the reference number: APFFLON/HQ/NGP/Vol:1.25, signed by Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, President, APFFLON, said that the various police facilities were in appalling state and needed government attention.
The association also copied The Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Inspector General of Police, AIG Maritime, AIG Zone 2 and AIG Zone 11 in the petition.
According to Ogunojemite, the ongoing challenges not only affected the wellbeing of our police officers, but also had significant implications for public safety and trust in law enforcement across our nation.
He declared that the deplorable facilities were a reflection of broader systemic issues plaguing the Nigeria Police Force in the country.
According to the petitioners, many police officers lived in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions, lacking basic amenities such as clean water, functional sanitation and adequate living space.
The association insisted this situation not only demoralised the officers, but also detracted them from their ability to effectively serve and protect the populace.
The petition added: “It is well-documented that officers working in distressing conditions face increased stress and diminished morale, which ultimately affects their performance on the job.
“This can lead to a perpetuation of lawlessness and a lack of trust between the public and law enforcement. Moreover, it undermines the very essence of what the Nigeria Police Force stands for – the protection of life and property and the maintenance of peace and order.”
Ogunjemite expressed that as a matter of urgency, the government should embark on infrastructure Development by assessing and renovating police barracks nationwide.
It also solicited for increased funding for the police to uplift the status of the facilities.
It further called for regular training programs to be instituted to enhance the skills and efficiency of police personnel, adding that the government also needed to develop community partnership between the police and the members of the public.
He added: “The government needed to implement mental health programs for officers to address issues arising from job-related stress and trauma. It should also provide specialised training for police officers in intelligence gathering and analysis that can improve their ability to tackle complex security challenges.
Other recommendations are entrenchment of public confidence and trust, acquisition of modern equipment and technology, legislative and executive support, inter-agency collaboration and encouragement of collaboration and information sharing among the various different security agencies.
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