Buhari Commissions Operational Vehicles, Crowd Control Equipment, Others Ahead of 2023 General Elections

President Muhammadu Buhari recently visited the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja to commission a range of operational assets acquired by the police force to enhance their ability to manage the upcoming 2023 General Elections.

The Nigeria Police Force took to Twitter to announce the acquisition of vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot equipment, and high-capacity computers. These assets will help ensure the enforcement of electoral laws and a stable public space during the electioneering process.

The President praised the efforts of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, in modernizing and professionalizing the police force, News About Nigeria reports.

The IGP and the Strategic Managers of the Nigeria Police Force met at the Force Headquarters to review internal security and assess strategies for the 2023 General Elections.

The IGP charged the Strategic Police Managers to ensure the public space remains safe and secure during the elections, while working in active collaboration with other security agencies.

He emphasized the importance of the rule of law and warned police officers to remain apolitical in their duty to provide free, fair, and credible elections. The acquisition of these operational assets is a step towards achieving an ideal environment for a safe and secured election process.

The statement reads, in part, “the equipment which includes operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, and high capacity desktop and laptop computers were acquired to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws and seamless electioneering process and stabilizing the public space before, during, and after the general elections and for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the NPF to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.

“The President commended the efforts of the IGP in advancing the commitment of his administration to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly motivated and citizens’ focused Police Force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for the rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in policing the nation.

“In the quest to achieve an ideal environment for safe, secured and credible 2023 General Elections, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, fdc, CFR, has today met with Strategic Managers of the Nigeria Police Force comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police across the nation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. The Conference, which is the first for the year 2023, is targeted at reviewing the internal security of the country and reassess the NPF’s strategies towards the imminent 2023 General Elections.”