As part of efforts to address the significant housing deficit affecting its officers, the Nigeria Police Force has convened a Housing Summit to tackle the issue.
The Inspector General of Police IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, stated that the summit aims to facilitate networking and strategic collaboration among stakeholders to advance his housing vision for the Nigerian Police.
Kayode Egbetokun stated that in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President, which is central to the vision of enhancing working conditions, providing affordable and fit-for-purpose shelter during and after service is essential.
He further explained that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that more programs prioritizing the improvement of the living standard of the force are implemented.
In his words, “of particular significance is the need to deliberate on modalities for the creation and establishment of one hundred billion Naira Police Housing Fund programme. We have undertaken preliminary assessment and commenced the engagement of relevant players and institutions to assist us in this process. The invited experts and facilitators at this summit will further help our thoughts and ideas in this respect.”
In their separate keynote addresses, the chairman, Cooperative Mortgage Bank Limited, Mr. Femi Adewole and a former Permanent Secretary who is also the Chief Executive Officer of NISH Affordable Housing, Yemi Adelakun emphasized the importance of the summit, stating that the comfort of the officers would contribute to ensuring the safety of citizens.
Yemi Adelakun while commending the Inspector General of Police for the giant step said “this initiative is long overdue and I can assure you with the kind of strength put behind this programme, it’s going to be a success. Housing police is not about the police themselves but it’s about us. If they are well motivated, they will do a good job. If they are happy we are all secured but if they are not, we are not secured. So this is why we in the affordable housing we are putting our strength supporting it so it gets the will to be delivered, so it’s not going to be another project undelivered.”
Representatives of the Minister of Housing, Ahmed Dangiwa, and his counterpart from Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidan, pledged government’s support to ensure affordable houses are delivered for effective policing of the citizenry.
According to the representative of the Minister of Housing, “However, today marks a turning point. This gathering of critical stakeholders in the built environment represents a collective resolve to prioritize the welfare of our police officers by ensuring that they have access to decent and dignified housing. The commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda for Housing, in collaboration with stakeholders from various sectors, underscores our determination to effect tangible change in this critical area.
“As the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, I am aware of the immense task that lies ahead. The challenge of providing adequate housing for our law enforcement agents is only a tiny part of the larger task of addressing the housing deficit bedeviling our nation.”
The theme of the summit is “Renewed Hope for Police Housing in Nigeria.
Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji
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