Unbeknownst to many, the police college was not a nice place for trainees. It was really hard for those under-going basic training. The only good thing then was the food: I doubt if that holds true today. It was a place where recruits and cadets were kept busy all day under the sun most of the time and punctuated by hard classes. 1600hrs was the worst time of the day when trainees (men or women) served punishment by facing the glare and heat of the African sun for minor infractions such as smoking on uniform. Life as a Cadet after basic training was much better expectedly. Fortunately, we were well nourished and lived in clean quarters. That dilapidated dormitory was a beautiful place, both in the inside and on the outside. I know that place because I lived there as a recruit and later as a Cadet. Today, the basic training wing at Ikeja is looking like a hell hole. The building is dank at the Centre and as if that is not enough, it is punctuated here and there by images of sick looking recruits that are devoid of soul. They lack any sign of vigor and vivacity in the midst of this miasma of hopelessness that is punctuated by images of open air rest rooms. How do we solve the decay? How did we come so low? Where are all the daily inspections? What part of it is the fault of some administrator or contractor? One thing I knew was that the Commandant of the College traditionally had no hands in the business aspect of the College. I suspect that maintenance may have been done by some departments outside the College. My fear today is that money may have been voted for the maintenance of the dorms, but, someone somewhere failed to deliver. It is however not late to repair this campus that has contributed in no small measure to the continued existence of the Nigeria Police Force. The President has seen this eyesore personally and will hopefully tell the relevant agents to correct the situation in a hurry.