Police to launch $500m tv, radio stations, target 20,000 jobs

The Nigeria Police has announced plans to establish the Nigerian Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS)‎ and the Nigerian Police Emergency Response (NPER), estimated to cost $500 million but at no cost to the agency. The NPBS and NPER, which are the initiates of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,‎ are expected to take off January 30, 2019 in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. They will also broadcast nationwide on TV, radio, online and the National Emergency Communication Command and Control Centre, with headquarters in Abuja. Making this known in a presentation to the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Abuja Friday ‎ on behalf of the Police, Ono Akpe said the Nigeria Police would not be making any financial contribution to the $500 million project. According to Akpe, the Nigeria Police has executed an MOU with Skytick International Limited, which will “raise the required fund to construct, purchase and install all needed equipment, including the helicopter and drones for the effective operation of the project throughout the country. “The company, with the full complement of the police, will operate the NPBS for a period of 20 years before handing over to the Nigeria Police. The Nigeria Police is only obligated to provide land in the 36 states and the FCT for construction of the television and radio stations.” Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Skytick‎ International Limited, Edirin Jerry Wesley, stated that NPBS would ensure that the Nigerian public has access to an efficient and effective police service that meets their security and safety needs through delivery of its strategic objectives. It will also create a platform to interact with the public and provide them with an opportunity to voice opinions and other concerns towards effecting improvement in service provision, Wesley said, adding that the equipment were already arriving the country ahead of transmission commencement. Meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joshak Habila, said the agency was more encouraged that the initiative would be a success given the calibre of people involved in its implementation, adding that the stations would further improve the work of the police on security of lives and property. He said: “Through NPBS‎, we are going to do our best to educate people on security and protection of lives and property, especially those in the oil and crime zones. We need the support of all stakeholders in the implementation of this laudable initiative.”