The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Solomon Arase has expressed the readiness of the Nigerian Police Force to partner with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) on the training and retraining of anti-corruption operatives in the country.
Mr. Arase who gave this assurance while receiving the Provost of the ACAN and its management team in his office recently stated that the Force would collaborate with ACAN in carrying out its mandate.
Speaking to the provost of ACAN, the IGP said ,”When I was the AIG in charge of Force Intelligence, I set up an intelligence school. We can help in training of your officers in intelligence and crime analysis. We have a school in Enugu for that purpose.
‘We are going to collaborate with your academy in the training of Nigerians on the anti-corruption issues. We have a lot of experts on the issues of fraud and we shall be glad to deploy them. We shall also be willing to attend and participate in your workshops and seminars”.
Earlier, Mr Arase had informed the Provost and his team that the major challenge before him was to correct the wrong perception of the Force among Nigerians, stressing that “policing is generally about perception and if the perception is bad, it will be difficult to police the society.
Prof Akinrinade in his remarks said that there was need for ACAN and the Police to work together and promote a symbiotic working relationship in view of the mandates of the two organizations which are among other things, to prevent crimes.
Explaining the role of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), he said, “ACAN is an initiative put in place to take the fight against corruption beyond investigation and prosecution, but to enlighten the public on the ills of corruption, which includes training of officers and men from various organizations”.
The ACAN boss emphasized the need for capacity-building and closer cooperation between the ICPC and other anti-graft agencies in the country, particularly in the area of security, adding that ACAN would provide the necessary assistance to make them more focused and effective in their quest for a corruption-free Nigeria.
He also briefed the IGP on the various initiatives and workshops being put together by the Academy and solicited his help to clean up the nation’s Aviation Sector of corruption and other social vices that are impacting negatively on the image of Nigeria.