From Joy Ekeke, Lagos 

The Coalition Alliance Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), has revealed plans to fully rehabilitate all 44 damaged and destroyed police stations nationwide to restore provision of security following the fallout of the #EndSARS protests in October.

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this Thursday at a CACOVID accountability meeting in Lagos, stated that the coalition was also committed to providing over N100bn to procure equipment and gadgets for the Nigeria Police Force over the next two years; as part of its contribution to fully modernize the Nigerian Police.

“CACOVID has committed to fully rehabilitate all 44 damaged and destroyed police stations nationwide in a bid to restore provision of security in affected  locations.

“To further strengthen the security apparatus in the country, CACOVID has committed to provide over N100bn to procure equipment and gadgets for the  Nigerian Police Force over the next 2 years; as our contribution to fully modernize the Nigerian Police.

“Our preliminary analysis indicates that unemployment particularly amongst the  youth was a critical factor behind the unrest, he stated.

Emefiele explained that the Bankers Committee and critical stakeholders in the private sector, under the auspices of the CACOVID alliance, held series of meetings towards developing measures that will support the government’s efforts in rebuilding confidence in our nation’s economy.

He added that Banks and financial institutions would be required to extend relief through concessionary loans to affected businesses and firms, so they can rebuild and restock their stores and continue to conduct their business activities.

Emefiele also reeled out plans for the youth in the country; stating that the committee is committed to creating a high impact youth development program that will provide technical and vocational education to over four million Nigerian youths over the next five years.

According to him, “students will be trained on craftwork, plumbing, masonry , capentry, and other artisanal related skills for which sufficient demand exist in Nigeria . 

“Over N150bn is expected to be deployed towards the set up and implementation of  the youth development program, which will be available at select training centers  across the country .

“Selected students on conclusion of the program will be certified by the appropriate standards board and will be eligible to receive loans to support their entrepreneurial pursuits. So far, over N25bn will be domiciled in a fund to support these entrepreneurial pursuits, which would also include acquisition of related equipment to conduct business activities.

“The ultimate objective is to provide young Nigerians with employable skills sets that will enable them to live a gainful life. We believe this initiative can lead to the creation of over four million jobs over the next five years,” he maintained.

Return to Duty Post, IGP Begs Police

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, has again pleaded with officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force not to be demoralised by the attacks and destruction of police stations during the #EndSARS protests across the country.

Adamu made the plea during his working visit to Ondo state to assess the destruction and looting of police stations during the #EndSARS protest.

Adamu pointed out that his visit to Ondo state was “to boost the morale of personnel and to intimate them of the plans of the Nigerian Police for the future.

He advised them to always be at alert to curb crimes and defend the public property against destruction.

“Go back and do your duties, don’t be demoralised, be confident, don’t be afraid, we are ready to defend you if anything happens”.

 Adamu, who traced the genesis of the last #EndSARS protest to fake news on social media, noted that this was an impetus to the protests which lasted for many days across the country.

“The main goal of those behind the #EndSARS protest was aimed at destabilising the government and remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office.

“The call for #EndSARS started in 2015 and the SARS has been reformed here and there till they came up with the protest again.

“During the previous administration, the issue was addressed, but Nigerians were not satisfied and we disbanded it, but despite this, they refused to leave the street which means they have a different motive and the motive was not #EndSARS but to destabilise the government

“When they were even protesting peacefully we were following them and provide security for them to make sure they were not molested but that did not satisfy the intent of the people that sponsored the protest.

“Their intent I believe, they wanted the police to use excessive force in disbanding the protest but police showed restrain and did not do that and because we didn’t do that they went to the next level of attacking police installations, police stations, police barracks, corporate facilities, and individual businesses.

“The people that know the importance of law enforcement and police in the society agreed that there are bad elements within the police but not everybody is bad” On improving the welfare of policemen, the IGP said that President Buhari had approved salary increment for all policemen in the country, while he said the recent mass promotion of junior officers was to encourage them to do their job diligently”.

Adamu added that various reforms including the introduction of the police trust fund and health insurance scheme had been approved by the federal government to boost the morale of policemen in the country.

 “This is to show you that your job is very important, without you coming out there will chaos in the country, without you performing your duties there will be a problem, therefore, don’t be easily provoked”, he said.

Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami assured the IGP that men of the state command will not relent in discharging their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property.

Salami commended the Police boss over the recent promotion of 800 policemen in the command.