Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has described accessible housing as an indispensable tool for welfare of the police force.
Egbetokun made this assertion during the maiden edition of Nigeria Police Housing Summit, where he officially inaugurated the event.
Highlighting the pressing need for improved welfare within the police force, Egbetokun stated the longstanding challenges faced by officers, particularly regarding inadequate housing.
He revealed that only a mere 10% of the police force currently have access to suitable housing, indicating a dire need for comprehensive reform in this aspect.
In response to these challenges, the Inspector General of Police outlined his administration’s commitment to addressing the issue head-on. He expressed determination to rewrite the narrative surrounding police welfare by prioritizing accessible housing as a fundamental aspect of reform.
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“Upon my assumption as inspector general of police, I identified the welfare of our personnel as a cornerstone of my administration.
A key aspect of enhancing our officer’s welfare is the provision of appropriate housing during and after their service. We firmly believe that our men and officers deserve better and the current state of affairs offers little hope for meeting their housing needs effectively,” he said.
Speaking on the objectives of the summit, Egbetokun stated,
“The objectives of the Nigeria Police Housing Summit are in manifold; and this include to articulate the vision for efficient and effective housing as an essential tool for the welfare of the Nigeria Police Force.
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“This summit is envisioned as a critical platform for discussing and developing strategies to realize our goal of providing accessible and affordable housing for our officers and men.
This premiere event also aims at fostering comprehensive solutions for the swift delivery for quality, cost effective housing solutions much better than gold for our force members, active and retired,” he stated.
The summit, according to Egbetokun, serves as a strategic platform to convene all relevant stakeholders within the housing value chain. Its primary objective is to foster collaborative discussions aimed at devising effective strategies for providing accessible housing solutions to members of the police force.
“The summit aims to create a dynamic interactive platform that brings together key stakeholders in the housing sector, fostering collaboration towards achieving our housing vision.
To propose actionable strategies for the delivery of affordable housing, to facilitate the financing needed for the sustainable development and demand of affordable housing, to align the initiatives of the Nigeria Police Force with eco friendly and sustainable practices, to provide an avenue for networking and strategic collaboration, creating synergies amongst stakeholders that will support the implementation of our housing vision,” he added.