Abuja — As efforts to reform the Nigeria Police Force continues, the inspector-general of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has said that the success of the force depended on the level of cooperation it receives.

Onovo stated this at an interactive forum with journalists in Abuja.

According to him, "The Nigeria Police owes its legitimacy to the people. The success of our job, therefore, depends on the level of cooperation we receive from members of the fourth estate of the realm and trust of the citizens.

"I acknowledge the contribution of the press towards the achievements we have been able to record during this period. I solicit your continued support as the force intensifies efforts in dealing with police -related problems in the country.

While acknowledging occasional frictions between the Police and the press in the attempt to undertake our different responsibilities, we will continue to appreciate your unbiased reporting of events, having the greater good of the Nigeria Police Force and the entire nation in mind.

He explained that his administration was focusing on returning the Nigeria Police to its core values in line with the objectives of the federal government to bequeath a peaceful environment that is vital to the well-being of every Nigerian and conducive for lawful economic activities by our people and international investors.

"We shall continue to play very important roles in global peacekeeping operations which have made Nigeria the largest police contributing country in Africa and third in the whole world after Jordan Bangladesh.

"In order to continue to fulfill this mandate, the force has increased the capacity of its peacekeeping training school in Wuye, Abuja to maintain a pool of personnel for deployment on short notice," the police boss stated.

Onovo commended Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for ensuring that the federal government met its financial commitment to the force, even as he expressed appreciation for the support the Nigeria Police receive from stakeholders in public and private sectors.

While reassuring Nigerians of their commitment to diligent discharge of duties, he enjoined the media to partner with the police to ensure that crime was reduced.