▪︎As new developer gets set for massive renovation
Ahead of the exit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, from the Service early next month, a major crisis is now looming in the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, over the decision to sell off the multi-billion naira Police Officers’ Mess located at Onikan, Lagos State.
The edifice, as learnt, has also served as Transit Camp for Senior Officers in the Force over the years
The Onikan Lagos Officers’ Mess is said to contain about 40 chalets, two big halls, Squash court, Lawn tennis court renovated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, with about 40-room apartment being maintained ( by mostly civilian cooks, bar attendants, gardeners, cleaners and drivers, even electricians and plumbers)
However it was learnt that the civilian staff maintaining the place and Police personnel in the Inspectorate rank as well as other rank and file have been forced out of Lagos with indiscremate transfer to the Northern parts of the country.
Several attempts by successive IGPs to dispose off the multi-billion naira asset had been truncated until the fresh attempt by the outgoing IGP
It was learnt that already, a private developer had started moving equipment and materials to the site for renovation and reconstruction work as the civilans staff members and Senior Police Officers on the premises had been hurriedly chased out by the developer without alternative accommodation in place.
It was gathered that the matter had also caused crisis between the outgoing IGP and the members of the Police Management Team who reportedly raised concerns over the planned sale without following due process
Meantime, some concerned Senior Officers in the Force are not taking the matter lightly and would want the Presidency and the Police Service Commission, PSC, to intervene in the matter.
They want these bodies to rein the outgoing IGP and prevail on him to halt the process in the interest of peace in the Force
A concerned officer said: “This is a serious matter that the Presidency and the Police Service Commission, PSC, have to intervene in. Why now? the IGP is going in a few weeks’ time
“Several attempts made in the past under previous IGPs failed woefully and so also the fresh plot will not succeed. This illegal act is not limited to the Officers Mess at Onikan, it applies to other Police choice landed property in such areas as Ikeja, Falomo, Surulere and Apapa, among others.
“We will go to any lawful length to stall the illegal act. Why the sales in the first instance? This cannot and will never happen in the Military; it is only in the Nigeria Police Force
“Fresh information at our disposal revealed that the occupants of the edifice had just been made to contribute various amounts of money for the renovation of the Mess before the developer came up sunddenly even without the knowledge of the Force Commissioner of Works who incidentaly occupied an apartment in7 the building
“Findings revealed that the deal is being done secretly but we are appealing to the prospective buyer to keep off as it will not stand the test of the time after the exit of the outgoing IGP, because we are not in a Banana Republic where anything goes.”
The Force Public Relations, FPRO, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, has yet to speak on the issue.
However, a top Police Officer said that the plot was real and called on well-meaning Nigerians including the current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, who was also a former IGP, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwani Akinolu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, as well as the Presidency to wade into the matter without further delay.
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