It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to today’s event, the flag off ceremony of the campaign and nationwide distribution of our re-branded Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) flyers produced in English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin English Languages which will take place subsequently in all states .
- It would be recalled that on my assumption of duty on 21st June, 2016, I promised Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will be repositioned to be more accountable, responsive, responsible and reliable. Under my leadership the Force will discharge its statutory responsibilities and other duties based on International core values of policing with integrity, and zero tolerance for corruption and ensure that the rule of law prevails in our actions and activities and also make sure that we respect the diversity, display courage, show compassion and demonstrate professionalism in the discharge of our duties and other responsibilities.
- In fulfillment of the above, I am flagging off the campaign and distribution of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) flyers today for the benefits of the generality of Nigerians and to re-emphasize that the Police is your friend and that we are accessible to all members of the public, that they can rely on us and appreciate the need to continue to cooperate and support the Nigeria Police Force throughout the country in carrying out our constitutional duties and other tasks associated with the protection of life and property.
- The Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) is a unit in the Force saddled with the responsibility of receiving and resolving all complaints of Police professional misconduct emanating from policing activities and operations nationwide. The Unit is available 24 hours a day to listen to members of the public from across Nigeria. In line with the change agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the “Change Begins With Me” campaign, the Nigeria Police Force under my leadership is ensuring Police accountability to the Nigerian people by ensuring that all citizens and residents of the country have a Unit through which all grievances against Police actions and inactions are taken up and redressed.
- The PCRRU has provided seven (7) different platforms which are inscribed on the flyers through which members of the public can reach the Unit – phone call, SMS, WhatsApp, Blackberry messenger (BBM pin), Twitter, Facebook and email.
- The PCRRU will work closely and in synergy with Force X- Squad Unit by passing promptly, complaints against Police officers and men across the country emanating from the members of the public to the X-Squad for immediate actions. In compliance with my directives the PCRRU flyers are being launched by the Commissioners of Police in other states of the Federation by tomorrow in collaboration with stakeholders.
- The X-Squad of the Force is an established Unit primarily responsible for arresting, investigating, discipline and prosecution of erring officers and men of the Force that are accused of corruption, corrupt tendencies, and those who compromised their official positions for pecuniary gains/interests. The X-Squad is empowered, reinvigorated and properly equipped to carry out their duties and other responsibilities effectively in accordance with the law. The X-Squad will not limit itself to corruption cases within the Force alone but to other Agencies of Government in the Federal, State and Local levels throughout the country.
- On this note, I wish to specially thank the President and Commander – In- Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, for providing mobility, technical equipment and other logistics for the X-Squad to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently. This will be launched in few weeks time by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces.
- It is in light of ensuring that those who are recruited into the Force conformed to the Change agenda of the Federal Government that the selection in the ongoing recruitment exercise for the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force is spread on Local Government basis to ensure grass-root representation in accordance to principles of democratic and representative policing.
- At this juncture, I wish to express deep appreciation to members of the public most especially public spirited individuals for their timely and useful information that has led to so many successes for the Force. On a final note, I hereby assure all Nigerians of prompt and better service delivery from the Nigeria Police Force and implore them to continue to partner with Force across the country in ensuring a safe and crime free society. In line with current Police mantra “the Police is and will be your friend”
- Finally I wish to express our profound appreciation to the Hon. Ministers of Interior, Information, Federal Capital Territory and all of us who have grace this occasion for your unflinching support and assistance.
Thank you all for your attention and God bless.