The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olukayode Egbetokun, has hinted on plans to establish N100 billion Police Housing Fund to address the housing needs of personnel of the force.
Egbetokuun said this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Police Housing Summit with the theme, “Renewed Hope for Police Housing in Nigeria”.
He called on the participants to brainstorm on the possible establishment of the N100 billion Police Housing Fund.
“A critical discussion point will be the establishment of a N100 billion Police Housing Fund. Preliminary assessments are underway, and engagements with key players and institutions have begun.
“The experts and facilitators gathered here today will play a crucial role in refining our strategies and ideas.
“We believe that our men and officers deserve better and the current state of affairs offers little hope for meeting their housing needs effectively,” he said.
According to him, today, we take a significant step towards realising our new vision and expanding opportunities for home ownership among our ranks.
He said his administration as the I-G had identified the welfare of police personnel as a cornerstone for effective service delivery, adding that provision of appropriate housing was a key aspect of enhancing officers’ conditions.
“This task is monumental, as the Nigerian Police Force currently grapples with a significant housing shortage for its members across all ranks.
“Presently, housing capacity meets only about 10 per cent of the needs of our more than 400,000 strong workforces.
“Moreover, years of neglect have rendered existing barracks accommodations largely inadequate, failing to meet the demands of modern 21st-century policing,” he said.
He said the Nigerian Police Force had in the past, launched initiatives aimed at addressing these shortfalls, including the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force Property Development and Construction Company Ltd.
Egbetokun said the company had established partnerships with various state governments, government bodies, sister organisations and private sector developers.
According to him, the impact of these efforts has been minimal, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic reassessment and a revamp of” our execution framework to adequately meet our officers’ housing needs”.
The I-G said the Nigerian Police Housing Summit was organised to articulate a vision of ‘effective and efficient’ housing as an essential tool for the welfare of police personnel
According to him, it is to create a dynamic interactive platform that brings together key stakeholders in the housing sector, fostering collaboration towards achieving the Nigeria Police housing vision.
Egbetokun said it was also, to propose actionable strategies for the rapid delivery of affordable housing and facilitate the financing, needed for the sustainable development and demand for affordable housing.
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In his remark, Mr Dan-Mallan Mohammed, the Managing Director of Nigerian Police Force Property Development and Construction Company, said the summit was to create an environment for stakeholders to brainstorm.
Mohammed, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), represented by ACP Yahaya Abdulhassan, said the focus of the summit would be housing delivery to personnel of the Nigeria Police.
He said the idea was to deliver affordable housing for personnel of the force. (NAN)
