Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have partnered to rebuild 25 police barracks in Lagos that are in deplorable conditions.
This initiative is aimed at providing befitting accommodations for police officers in Lagos state. The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, initiated this project.
At a press briefing in Lagos, Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the barracks to be redeveloped are Adekunle, Agege, Alausa, Area F, Bar-Beach, Bourdillon, Falomo, federal highway patrol, MTX highway, and Ijeh police barracks. Others include Ijora, SQ MTX Ijora, SQ MTX Iponri, K 9 police barracks, Kam Salem, SQ MTX McCarthy, Mopol 2 Keffi, Mounted Troops, Obalende barracks, Police Officers’ Mess, and Women barracks.
Adejobi stated that police officers living in the affected barracks were asked to vacate their quarters between May 1 and 30 to enable the rebuilding activities to commence.
He assured that officers living in the affected barracks would be given a particular amount of money to rent temporary accommodations for two years, which is expected to last the duration of the project.
“We have not forced anyone out of the barracks. They are expected to move out between May 1 and 30. They will not be asked to move until their money is paid for a new accommodation,” Adejobi said.
In her remarks, Oritoke Benson, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Housing, stated that the Lagos state government decided to partner with the police force headquarters because some police barracks in the state had been crying for attention.
She noted that some of the buildings in the barracks had been marked for demolition by the state government because they were no longer safe for habitation.
“We looked at various police barracks in Lagos State, we wondered if officers and men actually come out of those buildings. This could affect how they address or respond to citizens in the course of their duties. Some are coming out from buildings that are collapsing. When such officers see people in air-conditioned cars, there may be angry that they have been neglected by the state. I am glad that the state and federal governments are yielding to the call for reform. The police in Lagos and other states deserve better accommodation, better schools for their children, and better amenities,” Benson said.
