Osinbajo decorates acting IGP Usman Alkali Baba

 

• tells him you are assuming office at turbulent times

 

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday decorated a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, as the acting Inspector-General of Police.

The event took place at Aso Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari through the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, had on Tuesday appointed Baba to succeed Mohammed Adamu.

Adamu, whose tenure ended in February after completion of his mandatory 35 years of service, got a three-month extension by the President but he had only spent about two months out of the three-month extension when he was replaced.

Osinbajo told the acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, that he was assuming office at a turbulent time, hence the need for him to hit the ground running.

Osinbajo spoke shortly after he decorated Baba with his new rank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “You are assuming office at a very turbulent time in the life of our people. There are multiple threats to law, order and public safety.

“The role of law enforcement agencies, particularly that of the police force as primary agency charged with maintaining law and order, has never been more important.

“The police force is our institution of first resort, the first line of defence against crime and anarchy and the first sign of the strength of the state.”

Osinbajo told the new IGP that the challenges before him would test his mettle, adding that the organisation he is leading is in itself facing several challenges.

He noted that policemen still work in extremely difficult condition while some face the threat of physical harm by terrorists and hostile non-state actors while in the line of duty.

In a brief interview with State House correspondents, Baba admitted that he came on board at a challenging time.

He however promised to improve on the performance of his predecessor.

He said while the police management team led by Adamu tried its best, there was still a need for improvement.

The acting IGP said, “Nigerians will see improvement on where my predecessor has left. I came in at a very challenging time. I know it. I recognise it and I will work on how to improve from where my predecessor has left.

“I have been a member of the management team. We have tried to do our best, but it’s not enough. There is room for improvement.”

 

Born in 1963, Baba, an alumnus of Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Maiduguri, joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1988.

He holds a Teacher’s Grade II Certificate (TC II) from Teachers College, Potiskum, Yobe State in 1980.

He obtained a degree in Political Science from Bayero University, Kano in 1985.

The Acting IGP also has a Masters in Public Administration obtained from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State in 1997.