NPTF Begins Construction of Police Quarters in Enugu, Targets Improved Welfare, Security Efficiency
The Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) has commenced the construction of new rank-and-file police accommodation in Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, as part of efforts to enhance the welfare, morale and operational effectiveness of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
The project, involving the construction of modern police quarters along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, was unveiled on Tuesday at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by senior government officials, top police officers, community leaders and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NPTF described the initiative as a major milestone in the Fund’s mandate to bridge the long-standing accommodation gap confronting police officers nationwide. He noted that years of inadequate housing had adversely affected officers’ morale, efficiency and overall well-being.
According to him, the Ozalla project goes beyond the provision of physical structures, as it is designed to restore dignity, stability and a conducive living environment for police officers and their families.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained commitment to security sector reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and commended the Enugu State Government for providing the land for the project. The gesture, he said, symbolised partnership, trust and shared responsibility in strengthening internal security.
“A well-housed police officer is a more motivated, focused and effective officer,” the Executive Secretary said, adding that the Ozalla project forms part of a broader nationwide intervention by the Trust Fund. These interventions, he noted, include the construction and rehabilitation of police barracks, training institutions, operational infrastructure and other welfare-oriented projects.
He assured residents of Enugu State and officers of the Nigeria Police Force that the project would be executed with transparency, quality and speed, while ensuring value for money and long-term impact.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, conveyed the IGP’s appreciation to the Board and Management of the NPTF for the intervention.
The Commissioner said the Inspector-General was particularly pleased that the project aligned with the Federal Government’s emphasis on comprehensive police reforms, especially in the critical areas of welfare and improved working conditions.
He noted that the construction of the six-man rank-and-file quarters at the Ozalla Divisional Police Headquarters would enhance the working environment of officers, boost morale, improve operational efficiency and reinforce their commitment to constitutional responsibilities.
CP Giwa assured the Trust Fund of the full support of the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring the timely completion of the project, while urging contractors and engineers to adhere strictly to the highest standards of quality, professionalism and integrity.
While commending the initiative, the Commissioner appealed to the Trust Fund to extend similar interventions to other police facilities across Enugu State. He drew attention to the dilapidated condition of an existing six-man rank-and-file quarters adjacent to the project site, which he said required urgent renovation.
He also expressed concern over the state of the Agbani Area Command Headquarters, which oversees Ozalla Division and six other divisions, describing the structure as grossly unbefitting of an Area Command Headquarters. He called for the construction of a purpose-built facility, as well as interventions in other deteriorating divisional and area command offices and barracks across the state.
Consequently, he requested that the Trust Fund, in collaboration with the Officer-in-Charge of Works of the Enugu State Command, conduct an on-the-spot assessment of these facilities to guide future interventions.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Chief John Ogbodo, commended the police and the Trust Fund for what he described as a landmark development in strengthening security in the area. He said the project aligned with the security vision of Governor Peter Mbah, which has helped to attract economic activities and other development indices to the state.
Similarly, the traditional ruler of Ishi-Ozalla, Igwe Sylvester Okeke, said the community had consistently made land available for critical public infrastructure, citing the University Teaching Hospital as one of the benefits of its long-standing collaboration with government. He expressed optimism that the project would be executed to standard, in order to achieve its objective of sustained security in the area.
Speakers at the ceremony emphasised that sustained collaboration among the Federal Government, state authorities, host communities and strategic partners remains essential to building a better-equipped, better-motivated and more professional police force capable of safeguarding lives and property across the country.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
