During an official one-day visit to the Kwara State command, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun expressed distress over the current shortage of manpower in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), highlighting that one policeman is often burdened with the workload meant for two.
Addressing the issue in Ilọrin on Friday, Egbetokun pointed out the challenges faced by officers working continuous shifts, leading to instances where their moments of fatigue are captured and shared on social media, subjecting them to public ridicule.
“A policeman would close from night duty and resume for the morning. And as he is closing from the morning shift he is resuming night duty yet when he dozes off in public his photograph is taken and posted on social media to ridicule him,” he said.
However, he conveyed optimism about addressing the shortfall in personnel, mentioning that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given approval for an increased yearly recruitment quota for the police force. Egbetokun emphasized the need to gradually double the police force’s strength in the country.
In response to officers calling for the removal of police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the IGP cautioned against premature decisions, assuring that plans and programs are underway to enhance the pension system.
The Commissioner of Police for Kwara State, Victor Olaiya, also made a request for an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) from the IGP to bolster security measures for banks and enhance the state’s crime-fighting capabilities.
Ada Peter
