Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has received commendation from the National Commissioner representing the South East in the Police Service Commission, Mr. Onyemauche Nnamani, for notable improvements in the state’s security.
Mr. Nnamani who is in Abia State to supervise the ongoing screening exercise of the recruitment of Police constables, gave the commendation when he paid a working visit to Governor Otti.
Nnamani while commending the state government’s strategic efforts in ensuring peace and calm in Abia, emphasized the need for continuous improvement in addressing insecurity.
“We commend you for those efforts and I urge you to do everything possible to ensure that there is adequate security in the State.
“I also want to say, that coming here, nobody warned me including my wife, nobody panicked.
“If I had said I was going to neighbouring states, a lot of warning would have come and I would have gone to Police to get extra security.
“I came here on my own without anybody, which means there is calm, but it is not yet Uhuru, there is still room to improve,” he said.
Nnamani commended Abia government’s commitment to mobilizing youths for the police force, noting that it would aid in tackling apathy to police recruitment in the state and Southeast region.
He emphasized that only about two thousand candidates applied from Abia compared to 30 thousand applicants in some Northern states and called for increased participation to meet upcoming quotas.
He said that the commission had been mandated to recruit 10,000 persons into the Police Force and added that President Bola Tinubu had approved the additional recruitment of another 30,000 persons from Abia origin into Police Force.
Nnamani pointed out that the recruitment exercises would greatly help in solving the manpower problem experienced in the Police Force.
He said that “Abia must be ready for that recruitment. I am not sure it would be fair if any State loses her required number”.
Responding,Governor Otti while highlighting the key role security plays in development, expressed concern over general apathy in police recruitment and attributed it to the perceived difficulties in rising through the ranks.
The Governor stressed government’s commitment to making the Police Force an attractive career option and affirmed plans to enhance recruitment success in the upcoming exercise.
He emphasized the importance of creating awareness about the benefits of joining the police force saying,“I believe we still have to keep nudging our people, reorientating them, letting them understand that the Police Force is a good place to make a career.
“We have seen a lot of senior people who entered the police force just like these people being recruited and ended up being Commissioners of Police , IGs, DIGs, AIGs”.
Governor Otti challenged the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, and the security team to intensify efforts in mobilizing Abia residents, through town criers, churches, and community centers.
The Governor suggested the appointment of liaison officers, utilization of town criers, and reaching out to churches and community centers to disseminate information.
He pledged the state government’s commitment to mobilizing the people for future recruitment exercises including incentive packages for interested individuals, especially those facing financial constraints.
