Osun monarch canvasses better funding for police

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, has lamented the poor funding of the Nigeria Police Force. The Oluwo is among the leading traditional rulers in Osun State because of the importance of Oluwo stool in Yoruba history.

The monarch, who was on a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Police command, urged the Federal Government to roll out special funding for the police if crime rate and terrorism must drop.

According to Oba Akanbi, the Nigeria police cannot perform magic when it is poorly funded. “Nigeria police is highly underfunded. Oversea, police is well funded because it is the mirror. Why should government not fund the police very well when they are the one tasked to protect lives and property?

“It is risky to underfund an institution armed with guns to protect lives. The life of the people are in the hands of the police, therefore, government must take their funding seriously. I pledge to import a container load of police accouterments and donate it to the Nigeria police as my contribution to security.”

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Fatai Owoseni, appreciated the monarch for partnering the Nigeria Police. “The Nigeria police have moved up with our new Inspector General of Police. We are partnering better now with members of the public. We would continue to seek your support and that of other traditional rulers in Nigeria,” he said.