The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has asked the Nigerian police to deploy Information Communication Technology (ICT) for effective Policing in the Country
The Governor spoke when he received the Niger State Screening Team for the ongoing recruitment exercise of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), who paid him a courtesy visit at government house in Minna.
According to Bago, deploying ICT by NPF to discharge their duties, would aid in tackling insecurity and also put them at par with their counterparts in other Nations of the World.
The governor also called for the engagement of more plain clothes Police for effective intelligence gathering on issues affecting society, adding that members of the public will be more comfortable providing information to plain clothes Police Officers.
While commending the efforts of the Team in particular and the NPF in general for embarking on such an exercise, he advised the Team to impress it on the Police Service Commission the need to consider posting successful candidates to their communities to serve for at least 5 to 10 years.
By so doing, he observed that the transition to State Policing would beeasier and the Police personnel would effectively discharge their duties as they are familiar with their localities.
The Governor further suggested for more collaborations between the NPF and the governments at the State and Local government levels in terms of screening exercises to get the best candidates for the job.
He enjoined the NPF not to compromise the process but to ensure that only qualified and true Nigerians are recruited while reassuring them of the commitment of his administration to providing welfare and logistical support for them to give their best.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danladi who led the Screening Team disclosed that the Team had screened over 13,000 candidates, adding that the results would soon be released and successful ones would sit for a Computer Based Test (CBT) those who excel would thereafter be commissioned for training.
He applauded the support of the State government through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)/pointing out that the support made the screening exercise smooth.