The federal government reiterated its commitment to improve internal security and grassroots policing with the opening of a cutting-edge smart police station in Katampe, Abuja.
The facility, built by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund and officially handed over to the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, is intended to boost operational efficiency and strengthen police-community ties in the Federal Capital Territory.
Additional smart police stations are planned to be commissioned in Kogi, Enugu, and other parts of the country in the coming days.
Dr Anuma Nla, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs, represented the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, at the occasion and hailed the project as a symbol of the government’s desire to maintain law and order at the community level.
“It embodies our collective resolve to entrench law and order, improve community-police relations, and ensure that every citizen can live without fear,” Nla said. “It stands as a beacon of hope, a pledge of protection, and a commitment to service delivery at the grassroots.”
He asked officers assigned to the new station to uphold the greatest levels of professionalism, integrity, and respect for human rights, underlining the necessity of timely, fair, and accountable policing.
Nla also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This police station is a clear demonstration of our resolve to ensure a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he added.
Emphasising the necessity of incorporating new technology into policing, he urged the Inspector General of Police to send digitally trained personnel to the facility to fully utilise its capabilities.
In his remarks, Mohammed Sheidu, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, hailed the smart station as a “mission statement for nation-building”.
According to him, the new facility has perimeter fencing, CCTV security, overhead water tanks for continuous supply, and a 30-kilowatt off-grid solar power system made possible by a collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency.
“This is not just another police station,” Sheidu stated.
“It is a secure, efficient, and community-orientated policing hub built to meet the evolving standards of law enforcement in today’s Nigeria.”
Furthermore, he announced the launch of a six-man rank-and-file quarters project aimed at improving police officers’ living conditions.
“No officer should have to face the burden of duty while contending with inadequate living conditions,” he said.
“This is a tangible step towards boosting morale and ensuring our personnel, especially at the front lines, have the stability to perform their roles with excellence.”
