Francis Okeke
8 January 2009
The Police authorities yesterday said noninclusion of N767.5 million in the 2009 budget proposals for feeding of their dogs and horses might lead to their death.
Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro said this in Abuja while defending the police 2009 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Police.
The I-G said in spite of the budgetary provision of N202 billion in 2009 budget for the police, the Force still needed additional N50 million to buy more dogs and horses for its operation.
Speaking against the backdrop of inadequate funding of the police, Okiro said if the money was not provided for in the budget, all the horses and dogs would die within a week.
He said all the police operational vehicles would also be grounded as part of the money was meant for the maintenance of vehicles.
"Mr Chairman, security is so important to any nation to the extent that the whole budget of Nigeria would not be enough to have effective policing," he said.
Okiro cited a city in U.S. with only 30,000 population, but with 10 functional helicopters as against Nigeria with more than 140 million that could not boast of five functional helicopters.
He pleaded with the committee to help the police with additional funds for them to serve the nation better and enhance their efficiency.
Rep. Abdul Ningi, the Committee Chairman, said security was an important aspect of national development. which was the reason why the lawmakers placed high premium on it.
Ningi said the committee would look into how it could assist the police in achieving their desired goals of securing the citizens.
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