The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has commended the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, over what he described as excellent approach in curbing crime in the state.
Governor Wike spoke at the commissioning of the Police Officers Wives Association’s skills acquisition centre built by the association in Igwurita, the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike, who was represented at the event by the the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, particularly extolled the Rivers CP for not tackling crime through political lens.
“We have had many Commissioners of Police in Rivers State and there was a time we could only sleep with one eye open, but since this CP came, the security situation in Rivers State has tremendously improved.
“I want to commend the CP for his professional efforts in tackling crime. For approaching crime as crime and not through political lens,” the governor stated.
Governor Wike expressed optimism that the skills acquisition centre will bridge the unemployment gap in the state and the country in general.
“There is a problem with the Nigerian education system; unlike what is obtainable in China and Japan, students are only taught to acquire degrees without any entrepreneurial skills, and that is Why the unemployment rate in the country keeps increasing.
“We all must contribute to providing employment in this country, because when a man is unemployed, it will be very easy to persuade him into crime.”
Earlier, the President of POWA, and wife of the Inspector General of Police, Haraja Alkali Baba, expressed her commitment to the welfare and economic prosperity of police officers’ wives and the police community in the country.
Baba, who observed a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the Kaduna-Abuja train attack, commended Governor Wike for funding the establishment of the POWA skills acquisition centre.
“This is one of the landmark achievement of POWA under my leadership. It has been my dream to transform POWA to alleviate poverty, curb unemployment and create wealth and prosperity amongst the police families.
“I commend the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for his commitment to POWA for the upliftment of women in the Police community.”
In his speech, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, urged police officers’ wives, policewomen and policemen to take advantage of the centre by enrolling to acquire skills.
Credit: PUNCH