Governor Alex Otti has called for a fresh approach to mobilizing Abians for police recruitment to ensure they fill the state’s allocated quota.
Hosting a Police Service Commission (PSC) delegation, he emphasized the need for targeted communication, including radio campaigns, to raise awareness.
Addressing concerns like lack of interest and drug-related disqualifications, Governor Otti pledged to work with security agencies to tackle substance abuse, linking it to crime reduction efforts.
Governor Otti reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing Abians’ participation in national security efforts.
“We need to think outside the box on how we communicate with our people, that the Police Force is a force belonging to the whole of Nigeria, and we need to enrol.
“We did that with the military, and it worked last year. I don’t know when next you are recruiting.
“We need to do exactly what we did with the military. We went on campaigns; sometimes people don’t even know; no matter how much you advertised it, they may not know. Communicating with some of them is very difficult, except they listen to the radio. So, if you are not on the radio, they won’t hear the announcements.
“We used different strategies and different media platforms to let them know. So, next time you are starting the recruitment, let us know and we will join the campaign.” Governor Otti assured
On drug abuse, the governor said, “On the issue of drugs, it is very unfortunate. We keep doing our best in fighting the dangerous menace.”
He frowned at what he described as the “democratization of drugs,” when the drugs are rampant.
He said that it was not so in the past when you would have to spend a lot of money to get the drugs because they were scarce and the dealers sold them secretly.
“They have even discovered that painkillers can be drugs, like codeine and others. Codeine used to be for pain, but today, they take it in excess, and they become high.
“It’s a major war that we are fighting. We are working very closely with NDLEA, Homeland Security, and other security agencies because you cannot divorce drugs from crime. They are linked together; there is no way you fight crime without fighting drugs,” Governor Otti explained.
He assured the PSC delegation that the state government would continue to work with them until they get the result they want, which is also the result that the government wants.
Earlier in her address to the Governor, the leader of the delegation, Mrs Uche Wokocha, commended Governor Otti for supporting and ensuring that Abia Children in Police Academy are well taken care of and for being the first governor from the state to do that.
She also commended the governor for providing a place for Abians who want to join the force to document their details and called for government support in mobilizing Abians in police enrollment.
Mrs Nwokocha expressed the hope that with the approval of the Federal Government for the establishment of a police college in our neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, more Abians who are scared of going far would be encouraged to join the police.
The PSC delegation commended his administration for supporting Abia recruits and urged further government involvement in mobilization.