The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) wants to clear up some confusion about police officers moving out of Falomo Police Barracks in Lagos. There were some stories that got things wrong about the barracks being rebuilt.
In Abuja, a police spokesperson named ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi spoke about these issues during a news talk.
Some said that officers were kicked out suddenly, but that’s not true. The NPF wants everyone to know that no one was made to leave by force. The officers got plenty of warning, help to move, and even some money.
What the Media Said
Some news stories talked about police officers being pushed out of the Falomo Barracks quickly so the place could be fixed up. People got worried about how the officers were treated.
To clear things up, the NPF said, “Some stories about the work at Falomo Barracks aren’t right. We promise no officer was forced out. Each one got N2,000,000 to help them move, plus they will still get money for rent every month while the building work goes on.”
Plan to Fix the Barracks
The police explained that the Falomo Barracks were getting old and needed a new look. The idea is to make the place better and safer for police officers. This big job started with a former police leader, Usman Baba Alkali, and is being done with help from the Lagos State Government and private companies using something called a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
A Public-Private Partnership is when the government and private businesses team up to pay for and manage building projects. For Falomo Barracks, the police and private investors are working together to make the barracks nice again. It’s not just in Nigeria; other places use this plan too for things like police housing.
Current leader, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, said it’s very important for police officers to have better places to live. “Our officers’ safety and happiness come first. Fixing Falomo Barracks is a big part of our plan to ensure they have good homes,” he said.
Looking Around the World for Ideas
This team-up plan, or PPP, isn’t new. Countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have used it to fix police buildings. In April 2024, the NPF had a meeting about police housing to find good ways to help officers all over Nigeria get better homes.
“All over the world, teaming up with businesses has helped police get new homes. We’re doing this to make life better for our officers,” said the police leader. Places like South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco have also used such partnerships to fix police housing issues.
The NPF found out that less than a quarter of officers have good places to live and that most barracks across the country are not safe and need fixing.
So, fixing places like Falomo Barracks as soon as possible is very important. This task matches what’s done around the world and shows that the police force cares about their workers’ well-being.