The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has commenced the training of officers on election security management, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by the NPF, in collaboration with Solar Security and Consult Company Ltd.
In a speech at the formal opening of the training for North East on Monday in Maiduguri, the Lead Facilitator and former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase (rtd.), said the training was an initiative of IGP Alkali Baba.
Arase said the IGP, like other stakeholders, was impressed by the performance of the police in the recent staggered elections and wanted to sustain the tempo during the general elections by filling the gaps identified in past elections.
“IGP Alkali Baba felt that his officers and men have been doing very well in staggered elections but 2023 election is going to be more challenging because of the massive deployment the police have to do.
“He felt that his officers are acquainted with the new Electoral Act and also imbibed the tenets of working together with other organisations,” Arase said.
He further said that the training would give room to the participants to give their views and challenges they faced to enable them to initiate measures to tackle them.
Speaking on behalf of Borno Government, the State Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Isa Izge, commended the initiative, describing it as timely.
Izge said that the State Government was poised to support all the measures being taken to improve the police and other security agencies in the discharge of their duties.
A representative of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mrs Zara Umar, and that of the Civil Society Organisations, Mrs Lucy Yunana, also lauded the initiative.
NAN reports that the theme of the training is: “The 2023 General Elections: Enhancing national security capacity for a secure and credible electoral process in Nigeria.”
It is expected to broaden the professional knowledge and operational capacity of the police with a view to closing the knowledge gap that could inhibit their optimal delivery of election security mandate.
The workshop will also discuss “Media relations and security functions – Toward effective public communication for election”, “Effect of new social media during elections”, Security of media personnel” as well as “Managing officers’ mental health and stress during election”. (NAN)
