Inspector-General of Police , MD Abubakar has announced Tuesday that the Nigeria Police Force has concluded plans to establish a Peace Keeping Institute.
The Peace Keeping Institute which will be located in the Capital city Abuja will be saddled with the responsibility of training and preparing Nigerian Police officers for Regional, Continental and Global Peace Keeping Operations. The institute will also train police officers on issues like conflict resolution, disaster management, humanitarian support operations, global best practices in policing just to mention a few. The institute will also be opened to Police officer from neighboring countries.
The IGP disclosed this while receiving in his office the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and Head of United Nations office for West Africa (UNOWA) Dakar, Ambassador Said Djinnit.
Ambassador Djinnit, while thanking his host for the warm reception accorded him said that he was in the country to express the solidarity and support of the United Nations to officers and men of the Nigeria Police. He also further stated that UN is fully disposed to helping Nigerian security forces in the area of carrying out their constitutional duties. He specially commended the efforts and commitments of Nigeria Police officers serving in various Peace Keeping operations across the world. He stated that he was very proud of the contribution of Nigeria to peacekeeping operations as Nigeria is an important troop contributing country to UN, AU and ECOWAS peace support missions. The SRSG was accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Daouda Toure.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police has begun the air lifting of its peace keepers and equipment to Mali. The airlifting operation started on Sunday 9th of June, 2013,CSP Frank Mba,deputy force public relations officer said in a statement.