By PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI— CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus Igwenwagu, weekend, expressed optimism that with the on-going reform agenda of the Nigeria Police, the menace of Boko Haram would soon come to an end.

Igwenagu, who made this known to newsmen, called on Nigerians not to be deterred by the present security challenges facing the country. He added that measures had been put in place to establish a more efficient and effective Nigerian Police that would meet both national and international standards.

Igwenwagu, who represents Ebonyi senatorial zone in the National Assembly, explained that the task of reorganizing the Nigerian Police did not only rest on the shoulders of the Executive and Legisture alone, but also on every well meaning Nigerian as the federal government was developing a master plan which would ensure that the welfare of men of the Force were adequately taken care of at every point in time.

He said: “We are repositioning the police because of the level of insecurity in the country. The issue of Boko Haram will soon come to an end.

“The issue of Nigeria police being repositioned as canvassed by all Nigerians is seen as a task that must be done by both the Executive and Legislature. I can assure you that it must be done. We trying to make sure that equipment for the Nigerian Police are procured adequately enough. The members of the force are well trained to meet up with the security challenges in the country. Again, their welfare will be taking care of and that is what we working towards.

“We are reorganizing the police so that it will be friendly and meet international standard. Due to the recent promotion many people are writing petitions to my office and not only to my office but to the Senate President, the President of the Country among others. Petition has nothing to do with what we are doing today. What we need is preparedness and efficiency in the job of policing the country”

According to him, the recent promotion of some Commissioners to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIGs, and Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIGs, was a welcome development. He called on those officers who were aggrieved over the exercise to stop writing petition and wait their turn.

“We want to reorganize the police whereby if you look at the recent promotion you will discover that some people who were Commissioners are now DIGs; some were Commissioners and are now AIGs. It is not a normal promotion. I want to state that promotion stops at the level of commissionership while every other thing is by appointment.

“Some are just writing petition because they want to be promoted forgetting that being promoted is another thing while doing the job is another thing. I’m in support of the recent promotion. If I’m not in support I would have stop it because it falls within my jurisdiction. My advice is that those not promoted should work hard and wait their turn”. He said.