They emphasized the potential of accessible housing to notably increase morale and improve performance while on duty.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman of Cooperative Mortgage Bank Ltd, Mr Femi Adewole in his keynote address, challenges the concept of police barracks, reiterating that addressing the welfare of those responsible for upholding law and order is essential for societal progress.

“At the heart of the rule of law and order, is the police. The quality of policing is the largest driver of the quality of the rule of law in the society and therefore without a decisive, bold and audacious and even sustained focus of reforming the Nigerian police force as a critical part of the wider objective of strengthening law and order, it is extremely doubtful that we can achieve our developmental ambition no matter how much money that we throw at it.

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“Knowing this, we must act decisively. We are at a critical point embracing the ongoing reforms, we have an opportunity to begin to reach for our dreams of a prosperous nation, establishing law and order is at the foundation of that, effective policing and the morale of our police men and women including making sure that everyone of them lives in the most decent housing we can afford is now critically urgent,”

Speaking with Housing TV Africa on the sidelines, real estate expert and the Executive Consultant of Nigeria Police Force Property Development and Construction Company Limited, Hakeem Ogunniran, restated the importance of collaborative partnerships in advancing the vision for accessible housing for the police force.

“Providing housing for the Nigerian police we believe is a matter of urgent national significance because a society that will thrive will be a society that is driven by rule of law and we need the police to enforce law and order and we need to provide the basic necessities of life which include housing for them because that enhances their wellbeing, their productivity and that is why we’ve decided to work along with the police to create the framework that we are working together on.

“If you look at housing delivery all over the world, in all the countries that have succeeded in delivering affordable houses in numbers, it is delivered by a coalition by a coalition by the partners in the value chain…one of the building blocks for us is building a collaborative platform between the Nigerian police and all the stakeholders..and in fact the whole essence of the summit is to create that environment that we have to talk to each other, synergize, work collaboratively, aligning our strengths so that we can deliver the housing in number for them.”

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The Group Managing Director of COPEN Group, Surveyor Ugochukwu Chime, asserted that the purpose of the summit extends beyond merely providing houses for the men of the police force. He suggested that the core issue at hand is whether society truly values the invaluable services rendered by these officers in safeguarding lives and property.

“The issue is not about our policemen, the issue is about our security and if we value our security, we should be able to provide housing for the police men. It is not just about giving them houses, it is about whether we value the services they provide, and being able to do the needed thing for ourselves by providing houses for them, at the local government levels,…the provision of affordable housing got them is critical in securing their families so that they can secure us and our own families”

Member representing Dutsin-Ma/Kurfi Federal Constituency of Katsina state and Chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Aminu Balele Kurfi, highlighted the criticality of equitable housing as a matter of national importance.

“We cannot in good conscience continue to watch them in unpleasant conditions. It is essential to provide our dedicated officers with suitable, comfortable housing both during and post service. Not only will this significantly augment the dignity of the police force but it will also serve as a fundamental strategy to maintain the security of our communities and nation at large.

“We have the opportunity, the resources and the capability to make a decisive difference. I envisage a Nigeria where the welfare and living conditions of our police are no longer a source for concern but a model of excellence. We must rally our resources, our will, our collective strength to foster viable housing programs that will enhance the quality of life of our police personnel and by extension strengthen the ties of community and our nation.”

He pledged the ongoing support of lawmakers to ensure that the current structure of the police force to receive adequate assistance in providing housing for its personnel, both during active service and post-retirement.”

The housing summit, a brainchild of the current Inspector General of Police was organized to discuss, strategize, and kick-start initiatives aimed at providing affordable housing for officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) during active service and after retirement.

The post Stakeholders Advocate Affordable Housing for Nigeria’s Police Force appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

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.

The post IGP Launches Summit, Describes Accessible Housing as Indepensible Welfare Tool for Police appeared first on Housing TV Africa.