Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has called for a change of strategy in communicating and mobilizing Abians for Police enrolment to ensure that Abians fill the quota allocated to the State
Governor Otti made the call on Tuesday, 4th March, when he received in audience, a delegation from the Police Service Commission (PSC) in-charge of Police recruitment in the State led by Mrs. Uche Wokocha, a Deputy Director of Procurement in the Commission. The team came to the State to conduct medicals in continuation of the ongoing Police recruitment exercise which started last year for which some have passed out from the Police Academy.
While responding to some of the concerns raised by the PSC delegation on the reason Abians do not fill up the quota allocated to the State during police recruitment exercise, which include lack of interest, failing medical tests as a result of substance abuse, etc, the Governor said that the lack of interest in the Police force is historical, noting that before now, our people feel that those forces were not meant for them.
“We need to think outside the box on how we communicate our people, that the Police Force is a force belonging to the whole Nigeria and we need to enroll. We did that with the military and it worked last year. I don’t know when next you are recruiting.
“We need to do what we did exactly 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 radio, they won’t hear the announcements.
“We used different strategies, 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 will have to spend a lot of money to get the drugs because they were scarce and the dealers sell them secretly.
“They have even discovered that pain killers 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 drug 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 that want to join the force to document their details and called for Government support in mobilizing Abians in police enrolment.
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.
In his vote of thanks, DCP Ike Nwosu thanked the Governor for the hospitality they have enjoyed since they arrived the State. He also thanked Governor Otti for making them proud to say that they are Abians as Abia has become a reference point for good governance across Nigeria.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
05-03-2025.
