BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

ABUJA-The Federal Government, weekend, expressed its readiness to cooperate with any group or firm that could contribute meaningfully to the cause of providing quality equipment and training for the Nigeria Police Force.

Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, (rtd) made this known when he received a delegation from AvtoKraz Holdings of Ukraine.

According to the Minister,Nigeria will be ready to tap from Ukraine’s expertise and experience in the production of high quality heavy-duty military equipment as long as the firms meet the Ministry’s laid down conditions.

Such conditions, according to Olubolade, include ensuring that all hardware produced for the Nigeria Police are of the highest quality and latest technology available; readiness of the firms to maintain such equipment over a specified period and training of Nigerians on their management and maintenance.

He said the conditions had become necessary in view of the low level of maintenance culture and lack of commitment to the management of equipment by suppliers after delivery, as obtained in the past.

”The present Administration is determined to carry out a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police as enshrined in the Nigeria Police Reform Programme, and this includes provision of quality and technologically up-to-date equipment and training,” the Minister said.

He, however, commended the company on its plans to invest in the nation’s economy through the establishment of an assembly plant for its trucks, and promised to facilitate land allocation in the Federal Capital Territory for the purpose.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Ambassador Extra-ordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Mr Valery Vasyliev, told the Minister that Ukraine was one of the top ten producers of military and Police hardware and anti-terrorism equipment in the world.

The products of AutoKraz, according to him, will go along way in helping Nigeria Police navigate the difficult terrains due to their rugged nature.

Also speaking, the Prime Deputy General Director of the company, Yuriy Oblog, told the Minister that AvtoKraz Holding Company had always placed emphasis on after sales service of their trucks, saying they were in the country to assess the condition of over 100 of their vehicles earlier supplied to the Nigeria Police Force.