ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST-EVER NIGERIAN POLICE BROADCASTING SERVICE (NPBS); NIGERIA POLICE PARTNERS NIGERIA CONTENT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
ESTABLISHMENT
OF FIRST-EVER NIGERIAN POLICE BROADCASTING SERVICE (NPBS); NIGERIA POLICE
PARTNERS NIGERIA CONTENT DEVELOPMENT BOARD
24/11/2017
BY Pat PA Okon
THURSDAY, the Chairman/CEO of the
proposed Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS), Mr Edirin Jerry Wesley and
his team made a business visit to the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board, Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote, at Bank of
Industry (BOI) House, Abuja.
The visit was to formally introduce
the NPBS concept to the Local Content Board, as well as solicit for areas of
possible partnership agreements for the Police Broadcasting Service.
In his speech, the NPBS chairman
said that in its bid to step up security level in the country and also create
more job opportunities, the Federal Government through the NPF is about
commissioning the Nigerian Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS) and the Nigeria
Police Emergency Response CENTRE (NCECC) in the 36 states and the Federal
Capital Territory.
This initiative, according to him,
is in furtherance of President Muhammadu Buhari's quest for fighting
crime and criminality in Nigeria and at the same boost the Vice-President,
Yemi Osibanjo's campaign of job creation as a means of wiping out poverty in
Thee country.
Wesley added that the NPBS project
will broadcast nationwide on TV, radio, online and the National Emergency
Communication Command and Control Centre with its headquarters in Abuja and
locations in each of the 36 states to give it effective national coverage.
''The Nigeria Police is only
obligated under the MOU to provide land in the name 36 states and the FCT for
construction of the Television and Radio stations.
''Part of the benefit is that it
will serve and ensure that the Nigerian Public have access to an efficient and
effect 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 their
opinions and other concerns and effect improvements in service provision and
deliver an effective and efficient people oriented community police services
based on global best practices to build capacity of citizens so that informed
feedback and debate on police can freely and easily take place.
''The radio station will be based in
Abuja, initially at the Police Force Headquarters before moving to a purpose
built facility in Asokoro.The network station will run for 24 hours carrying
news and information in support of the NPF.The 30 regional stations will be
devoted to covering the security and information needs of each state.
The NPBS boss added that its modern
digital technology equipment have already arrived in the country,; with the
Nigeria Police having executed an MOU with Skytick International Limited, the
company that will operate the NPBS for a period of 20 years before handing over
to the Nigeria Police.
In his response, Engineer Wabote,
applauded the entire concept of NPBS and promised to render every possible
support to the NPBS, based on inputs they will make at the next budget
submission.
His words: ''The Nigerian Police
Broadcasting Service (NPBS) is a novel idea, and if professionally implemented
will go a long way in tackling the security challenges staring us in the face.
While promising to be an advocate
for the project, especially within the oil/gas industry, the NCDMB boss
requested for specific breakdowns that would be accessible for them to properly
partner with NPBS, wondering why the concept was not launched in the country
years before now.
The NPBS project is estimated to
cost about S500 million without the Nigeria Police contributing anything to the
fund.
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