By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mr. Joseph Mbu, comes across to many as a real tough Police officer. He is also perceived by some others as ‘difficult’.
Mbu who recently resumed duty as the AIG in charge of Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, comprising of the FCT, Niger and Kaduna Police Commands, is not unawares of his reputation. He, however, insists that his job as a Police officer is his greatest passion, even as his commitment to his oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and loyalty the Nigeria Police Force remain the secret of his success.
Speaking to Blueprint, recently, at the Zonal Headquarters located in Wuse, Zone 3, Mbu stated that the Police is for the people, hence the general public needed to be policed and not giving policemen to individuals. To achieve this, the Police boss said, visibility policing would be encouraged while discouraging issue of ‘special duty’ within his zone.
He argued that having less officers on ‘special duty’ would give the Divisional Police Officers (DPO) more men to deployed to the field. According to him, “There are three commands under my zone. It is a very simple job, mine is to superintendent over the Commissioners of Police (CPs). So we will work together, I expect that I have more experience than they do.
“I’ll advise them, especially whenever they are derailing, particularly to make sure that the safety of lives and protection of property is maintained. Friendliness with the public is also important.
“Emphasis will also be placed on policing the public everywhere, not to send policemen to be guarding a few personalities and leaving the entire population on their own and at risk.”
AIG Mbu further explained that: “The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is the sole authority on the placement of police personnel on duty in this country. Dignitaries that are contributing to the welfare of the country ought to be protected but with the authority of the IGP.
“But when you get people who are not qualified or do not contribute anything to the country except lying, they just run to the Police with letters, claiming, “I need protection” all because they want be ‘big men’ and be among those carrying police escort. I will clip your wing.
“Of course you know what I did at the FCT Command. Each Area Command had over 270 personnel and for Christ sake, they don’t need that number of men. So I pruned the number down to 70 and the rest I sent back to the DPOs to be used for patrol.
He maintained that: “We will continue to do that even though those who don’t like what we are doing are kicking against us and will continue to say all sorts of things against us. It is not about name calling, whatever you call me I don’t bother, provided am doing what I am supposed to do to protect the people and up hold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On the penchant for some CPs to practically work from the State Houses, the Police boss stated that he would advise the CPs under his zone: “Not to take unlawful order and they should not be subservient to the chief executive of their states; so that whoever is an enemy of the chief executive of the state will not be an enemy of the Police. Their responsibility is to police the state and to protect everybody.
“They should avoid running around and opening doors for the governor or running to the governor to go and beg for money, saying I want to do this, I want to do that for themselves. This type of attitude can make them loss the respect and confidence the chief executive has for them.”
While stating that the CPs would be advised to work with integrity and build trust of their governor, Mbu decried instances where a CP could be given N10million for maintenance and fueling of Police vehicles and he swindles N5million or N7million.
He stated that if such a governor finds out that Police vehicles cannot move because there is no money to buy fuel, he won’t trust such a person, however, if he sees the CP is doing well with the resources available he would even increase it.
“So I will keep talking to the CPs that whatever is given to them is used judiciously and not go cap in hand begging their governors about things like, “I want to build a house in my village, my vehicle is broken down” they should talk about the welfare of the Police and they man will be happy and say this man wants to work and other things can come later,” he said.
The police boss also stressed that the CPs needed to build confidence in themselves and their officers and men so that they come out with a finger of authority and let the glory of the Nigeria Police Force return.
According to him, the CPs will earn the trust of their subordinates by providing strong leadership, taking their welfare to heart and catering to their personal needs, without bringing in sentiment in the discharge of their duties even as they remain firm and fair.
He advocated that: “They should train their subordinates by correcting them when they are going wrong. By so doing those who are directly under them will also correct those under them too and make things very easy for all of us thereby enforcing discipline and respect.
On the challenges towards achieving these goals, Mbu said: “You know now, you know my name is everywhere even as am coming to this place they have told them that I am the lion.
However, I am not the lion that devours, I make you to be responsible so that even when you go to hold a command position you will be responsible and do well.
“They know me. They know that I love my job. They know that I hate crime. They know that I hate disorder, I hate indiscipline and I hate laziness. You can see that everybody around here is trying to do what they should be doing.”
It has been like this from time, you can check my record, “When I was Director of Police education I transformed the whole schools, the structures. When I was in the Police Mobile Force (PMF) I transformed the PMF Training School, the commanders were forced to go for trainings. Also go to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, I changed the Command Headquarters to a building that befits a CP.
“I went to Rivers state, it was the same. I can say the Rivers and Uyo have the best CP quarters in the country. I did the transformation. Before I left Rivers we had agreement with NDCC to put up some more structures for the DCs and ACs. You have seen the FCT command how we have changed the place, broken down vehicles were repaired.”
Stating that the lack of maintenance culture in the NPF was a big challenge, he said: “We don’t care for what we have and we don’t have the resources but once the leader is committed, we have to compel our subordinates to comply and make sure they take care of what is in their possession. In FCT I had to open a ledger for vehicle maintenance so we can keep a track on resources spent on our vehicles as well as monitor the frequency of these repairs and some people did.
“Even right now as am talking to you the house of the CP in FCT is nothing to write home about. The minister has given a plan of six bedroom duplex with boys quarters and guest house and you know the min is an action man and will soon commence work on it. If you don’t act you don’t get it.
“Our men are suffering because of accommodation and transportation even though Nigerians don’t appreciate them; the only thing they see is the bad aspect of the Police. Nigerians have to change their attitude and learn to encourage the Police. We are not earning specially, it is the same salary like other people.”
Speaking further, he said: “We divide the Nigeria Police, create this one and create that one and try to weaken us, and whatever happens they still call us, we are the lead agency, but we are not given the encouragement we need. Improve our condition of serve, provide accommodation, and give us tools to work. Some Policemen work for 48 hours, there is none other service that works for more than eight hours. Come out at night when every other person has gone to sleep, aside from Policemen who will you see? Now because of insurgency you can see military sparsely but majorly Policemen.
“You know that it is not easy to be an IGP, all the services put together is not up to that of the Police, for one person to manage over 170 million people can’t be easy. Mine is to supervise and advice so we are going to build up and support the IGP. the important thing now is loyalty to the IGP, we have to be loyal and work with him, so that he succeeds because if he fails, we have all failed.”