- Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged youths to reconsider protests, emphasizing President Tinubu’s efforts to build a prosperous future for Nigeria
- She highlighted the ministry’s progress in expanding NPF capabilities through recruitment, welfare reforms and partnerships to address youth grievances
Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian youths to reconsider the proposed nationwide protests. She emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration are diligently working towards building a prosperous future for the nation. She acknowledged the challenges driving the desire to protest. Still, she warned that the narratives accompanying the planned protests, especially their faceless nature, could lead to chaos and destruction, potentially undoing the progress made by the current administration.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the minister highlighted the significant achievements of President Tinubu’s administration within just over a year in office. She stressed that the president’s commitment is absolute, with well-thought-out policies that will soon positively impact various aspects of Nigerians’ lives.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the need for patience and constructive action over protests. She called on youths to consider the power of peaceful engagement, dialogue, and collaboration instead of confrontation.
The minister also outlined her ministry’s accomplishments, particularly with Nigeria’s dynamic youths, and the goal of creating a world-class Nigeria Police Force (NPF) suited for the 21st century. She mentioned efforts to make the NPF inclusive, community-based, intelligence-led, and technologically driven, excelling in public safety, upholding the rule of law, and fostering community trust through transparency and accountability.
Significant progress is being made in expanding the human and technical capabilities of the NPF through the right frameworks and policies, Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted. She highlighted the recruitment plan of over 30,000 young Nigerians into the force annually in the coming years, with an initial recruitment of 10,000 personnel for 2024 already in an advanced stage. The welfare of officers is also under review to boost morale, contributing to an increasing level of discipline and professionalism within the force.
The minister mentioned partnerships with the Ministry of Youths to create platforms for robust engagement between the NPF and the youth, serving as channels for grievance reporting. Strengthened platforms like the Police Public Complaint Committee and the Complaint Response Unit of the NPF ensure that complaints against police officers are promptly addressed.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim appealed to the youths, stating, “Our nation is at a crossroads, and we need your energy, creativity, and passion to drive positive change. But let us work together to find solutions that uplift and unite us rather than tear us apart. Protests can easily be hijacked by criminal elements, leading to unintended consequences, causing harm to people and property, and creating divisions that are difficult to heal.”
She concluded by calling for constructive conversations and collective efforts to build a Nigeria that offers hope, opportunity, and justice for every citizen. “God bless our youths, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
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