We’re Working on Bold Initiatives to Reshape Police, Minister Tells First Lady

Police Affairs Minister, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Monday in Abuja met with First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and assured her that the Police Affairs Ministry was working on bold initiatives aimed at not only addressing existing challenges, but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria Police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution. 

While welcoming the minister, who was accompanied by senior female police officers, Mrs Tinubu stated that efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require active participation of women.

Noting with pride, the fact that a large number of women are actively involved in policing and securing the country, the First Lady said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given more room to women to contribute their quota to national development.

” It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota. I am also looking for ways to contribute. We can not have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things”.

On how senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria,  the first lady charged the Minister to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and proliferation of baby factories.

“Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factory.”

She added that she was looking forward to a day when a female will become the nation’s Inspector General of Police.

Applauding the steadfast advocacy by the First Lady for setting the pace and advancing the interest of women in the country, the minister noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women were key anchors of a just and fair society.

“We are working on a bold initiatives aimed at not only addressing existing challenges, but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria Police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution. We recognize the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership”.

Former DG of Naptip and Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is the first female Minister of State for Police Affairs in Nigeria.