Arase: Why We Have Corruption in Police Force

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, on Thursday in Enugu identified “uncertain future and fear of the unknown” as the major causes of the possible reasons for corruption and unprofessional conduct in the nation’s police force.

Arase, spoke to newsmen shortly after commissioning a police estate comprising 50 houses of 100 units of 2-bedroom flats, named after former Inspector General of Police, IGP Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo (rtd.) for the Inspectors and rank and file cadres.

He noted however that steps have been taken by his administration to address the problem.

“When you talk of unprofessional conduct or corruption, corruption is borne out of fear of the unknown. You work in the force for 35 years or attain 60 years of age, whichever one comes first, you want to retire; you are not sure of where you are going to retire to and you want to take risk.

“So, we want to use this one to tell them that there is always a hope if you remain a good policeman,” he said.

Arase who said the housing project was part of police welfare programme for officers especially Inspectors and Rank/Files, said “we believe we can start planning their future immediately they get into the force so that by the time they are five to ten years in service they can boast and be proud owners of a house.

“The scheme is very flexible because they are all members of corporative society. Every member of Nigeria police is a member of corporative society. So if you are a member you pay N2,000 or N3,000 every month that one we put it into your mortgage. So when you start paying that one gradually in less than five years the house is less than N5 million and you become a house owner”, said the IGP.

The Police Inspector General said when he became the IGP a year ago, he swore to change the perception of the public and police themselves have about the police by improving their welfare.

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