The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Solomon Arase, has
said that the Nigeria Police Force had spent over N600 million on the procurement
and maintenance of foreign dogs in the last few years.
said that the Nigeria Police Force had spent over N600 million on the procurement
and maintenance of foreign dogs in the last few years.
Arase made the disclosure at the inauguration of the Police
Dog Breeding Centre and Ultra Modern Mounted Troop in Abuja on Thursday.
Dog Breeding Centre and Ultra Modern Mounted Troop in Abuja on Thursday.
“This is certainly not sustainable in the face of the current
dwindling resources,”he said.
dwindling resources,”he said.
The IG said that so much money was being spent on the
importation of dogs from foreign countries that rarely adapted to the country’s
policing objective.
importation of dogs from foreign countries that rarely adapted to the country’s
policing objective.
He said that the projects inaugurated were funded within the
budgetary provisions of the Force Animal Branch.
budgetary provisions of the Force Animal Branch.
Arase said that the force animal branch had remained
underutilised in the past while the force continued to rely on importation of
dogs and other animals for its operations.
underutilised in the past while the force continued to rely on importation of
dogs and other animals for its operations.
He said that the centre was built to aid the police acquire
capacity to locally breed police dogs as well as support other security
agencies in the country.
capacity to locally breed police dogs as well as support other security
agencies in the country.
The Police boss said that the centre if effectively
utilised, would save the nation some foreign exchange that would have gone into
procurement of dogs from foreign countries.
utilised, would save the nation some foreign exchange that would have gone into
procurement of dogs from foreign countries.
The IG said that the centre had the capacity to breed and
supply police dogs to the entire West African sub-region.
supply police dogs to the entire West African sub-region.
“It is projected that at optimal breeding capacity, it can
produce well above 200 dogs per year,“he said.
produce well above 200 dogs per year,“he said.
He said that the establishment of the facilities was part of
the long term strategies aimed at restoring police primacy and aligning it to
best global standards.
the long term strategies aimed at restoring police primacy and aligning it to
best global standards.
In a remark, the Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the projects were timely considering the current
security challenges facing the country.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the projects were timely considering the current
security challenges facing the country.
Dambazau said that Nigerians deserved a police that was
competent and reliable.
competent and reliable.
He said that the projects would not only reduce spending but
would also provide job opportunities for other Nigerians aside from the police.
would also provide job opportunities for other Nigerians aside from the police.
The high point of the occasion was a display by police dogs
and award presentation to the Minister of Interior, Arase, and Mr Mike Okiro,
Chairman, Police Service Commission, among others.
and award presentation to the Minister of Interior, Arase, and Mr Mike Okiro,
Chairman, Police Service Commission, among others.
NAN
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