Mine is a general comment on the recent performances of the Nigerian Police.It is also to commend both the leadership and the men and women serving in the force for their contributions to the safety of lives and properties in the country. When I left the country many years ago the security situation was in tatters.
After disembarking from the aeroplane at Kotoka Intl Airport in Accra Ghana in 2012 I decided to travel to Nigeria by road so as to familiarise myself with development in the West African subregion. My experience on that trip was quite informing.
My personal, unbiased observations show clearly that the Ghanaian and Nigerian Customs and Immigration Services had improved tremendously and are far more professional and less corrupt than their Togolesse and Benenois counterparts. At the borders of these latter two countries, bribes were openly demanded and received from drivers and their passengers! I mention this not only because very shameful but because it can deter investors from investing in the sub-region.
My bias against the Nigerian Police changed after my first hand experience in 2012. Though I left Accra on Saturday at 4am, I only got to Lagos at about 9.30pm the same day and from there I got to the notorious Iwo road junction at Ibadan after 1.00 Sunday morning as a result of traffic hold-up. The police patrol at Ibadan was very patriotic and thorough, the police came to those of us who were stranded many times to ask questions and make verifications, coming back for follow ups, etc.
The police patrol continued till about 5am when the over hundred stranded people, including me, departed.
To the entire Nigerian Police, as well as the Immigration and Customs officers at Murtala Muhammed and Kotoka which are the main international gateways to Nigeria and Ghana, I am saying bravo and well done for your good work and professionalism.
Please keep up this good work so as to revamp the economy of the sub-region and ensure its development through the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments.
