The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), has solicited the support of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to create awareness among the public about its community relations activities.
Alhaji Magaji Ibrahim, National Chairman of the committee, made the appeal when he led other officials of the committee on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Mohammed Ali, on Thursday in Abuja.
Ibrahim said the PCRC delegation was in NAN to register its presence and solicit the agency’s support to enable it reach out to members of the public effectively.
“We are doing a lot. We were established in 1984 and we are in all the 36 States of the federation; we are in all the nooks and crannies of the country and the FCT.
“We are doing a lot to support and complement the efforts of the Federal Government.
“Three months ago, through one of our pillars of support, we identified 17 children of Police officers that died in active service.
“As usual, we went ahead to seek scholarships for them to the university level and, when we got this, we worked with the wife of the IGP to help us to search for the deserving family.
“You know women know better when it comes to this and she did justice to it by picking from the 17 zones we have in the country.
“We actually use her office to pick one person from each zone.
“We are equally working with youths and women, sensitising them against all social vices.
“We are working with children to catch them young and support the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) family.
“We are equally assisting their children through the NPF school by providing them with textbooks and other necessary tools.”
According to him, the committee through its findings has realised that the Police Force in Nigeria is the best in the world and should be commended for its efforts rather than condemned by citizens.
“In any international programme that involves them, they usually lead.
“So it pains us when people condemn them because, to us, they are the most disciplined organisation.
“We believe and stand by it any time anywhere.”
He also called on the media to support and report the positive efforts and contributions of personnel of the Police Force.
“Some Police officers rejected a bribe from a kidnapper in Kaduna State and went ahead and arrested him with his gang.
“A police officer in Lagos State also rejected N4million bribe from a drug baron and arrested her and her accomplice.
“Also, in Taraba, a Police officer rejected N8.5million bribe.”
He called for attitudinal change towards the nation’s security outfits while seeking the support of Ali to achieve it.
Ibrahim also implored the NAN MD to support the PCRC with coverage of its forthcoming 40th year anniversary celebration, which he said, would commence from the grassroots.
In his response, the MD said NAN was the biggest news content provider on the continent of Africa.
He said that the agency started business in 1976 and would also be celebrating its 50th anniversary soon.
“We will be 50 years old and, in this 50 years, we have been able to open offices in 11 foreign countries.
“At a time, we had offices in Moscow and in the U.S.
“We are the only news agency resident in the UN, the only from West Africa and one of the three from the continent of Africa.
“Even at that, we are still the leading content provider.
“We have offices in Johannesburg, in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and in some other African countries.
“We have offices in the entirety of Nigeria, in all 36 States as well as in some zonal offices.
“We are the only content provider that has district correspondents in the rural areas and primarily report Nigeria for Africa and Africa to the rest of the world.
“So, you could not have had a better partner to seek support from to celebrate your 40th anniversary.
“We will freely give you the support without you even asking.
“All we need is notice and we will be there to give you whatever publicity you require.”
Ali noted that the NPF had been doing commendable job over the years, given the challenges in parts of the country.
“If you look at it dispassionately, notwithstanding its shortcomings, it (NPF) is, comparatively speaking, about the least corrupt on the continent of Africa.
“I know this because, in the course of my over 30 years in the news media, all my life has been in the newsroom.
“I have been a journalist and, occasionally as a media aid or a member of the Executive Council, I was a crime and judicial editor in Thisday newspaper.
“I have interfaced with the police; I have seen the police working round the clock.
“Now, the point I am trying to make is knowing how hard the Police Force works.
“So, when I see Nigerians actually deriding the Nigeria Police, it shows we have no idea how the Police Force operates.”
The MD said that the PCRC and NAN were in the business of promoting the good image of the country, hence, were on the same page.
“That is why we see the cup, all the time, as half full and not half empty; meaning we are on the side of positivity.
“The Nigeria Police is doing a tremendous job given the challenges it faces; the PCRC, on the other hand, is equally doing a tremendous, commendable job.
“What I see here, I see Nigerians who have paid their dues in various fields.
“From the legislators, directors, gubernatorial aids; I see Nigerians under your leadership.”
He urged the delegation to keep up its good work and congratulated them for giving scholarships to the children of fallen heroes.
“I like the zoning formula; 17 zones and from each zone, a child is picked and offered scholarship.
“So, I congratulate you on this and also wish you the best under your leadership which is just a year plus old,” Ali said.