Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba has reiterated his commitment and concern toward improving the welfare of police officers for effective service delivery.

Mr Baba spoke while inaugurating the ultra-modern police station and barracks in Ado-Awaye, Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Friday evening.

The IGP, represented by DIG Johnson Kokumo, in charge of South-West, said improved welfare packages for the ranks and files of officers would undoubtedly impact their service delivery to the public.

“I promise not to relent on my oars at improving the welfare of officers, and I urge the officers to reciprocate the gesture,” Mr Baba said.

Mr Baba said the inauguration of the police station and barrack was one of his welfare packages to see those police officers could work and reside in a conducive atmosphere.

“When the working environment is conducive, and the place of habitation is equally conducive, it will positively impact on service delivery of officers.

“When there is improved service delivery in the discharge of our statutory duties and responsibilities, definitely members of the public will be our friends.

“What I am trying to do is to rewrite the narration of mutual trust between the police and the public and to truly see members of the public as friends of the police and true friends of the public,” he said.

The IGP, however, called on the public to cooperate and synergise with the police in order to positively impact the current community policing.

According to him, it is an active participation of members of the public in providing adequate security for lives and property where they reside.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Adebowale Williams, described Ado-Awaye Town as a pre-historic western settlement famous for its civilisation and resourcefulness, which predates the early 18th century.

Mr Williams said the priority and concern of the IGP in the protection of the lives and property of the public necessitated the construction of the police station and barrack in Ado-Awaye.

He assured the IGP of the command’s improved commitments toward effective implementation of crimes fighting strategies, in accordance with standard best practices and improved service delivery to people of the state.

He said the command had recorded a lot of successes in recoveries of arms and ammunition, vehicles, arrest of high profile kidnap suspects, foiled bank robberies, among others. 

(NAN)