Jonathan okays purchase of 2,500 patrol, bomb disposal vehicles

Following the promise by the Police High Command to ensure a hitch-free elections and checkmate all manner of violence, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, commissioned 263 patrol vehicles for the Nigerian police even as he appealed to supporters of political parties to eschew violence at the polls.

Represented by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said approval for the acquisition of 2,564 operational vehicles was given with the intention to see that the Police “provide the needed security and enhance their operation to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections.”
Jonathan’s words: “The procurement of these vehicles is aimed at boosting the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to deliver effectively, efficiently and appreciably.
“A well-equipped and adequately motivated police force will assist in no small measure to assist in ensuring the security needed in the drive to economic growth and development of Nigeria.
“In view of the strong commitment of government to provide for the NPF within available resources, it is my hope that the gesture by government will be reciprocated by assisting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring it conducts free elections this month.
“It is also expected that the deployment of these operational vehicles will translate to enhanced surveillance of our communities in order to improve security.”


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