Dilapidated Police Barracks: IGP Disu Partners LASG to Renovate Decrepit Structures for Improved Accommodation
By Raheem Ibrahim
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has partnered with the Lagos State Government (LASG) to renovate dilapidated police barracks and hospitals in Lagos for the betterment of personnel welfare.
IGP Disu, who expressed dismay after a five day tour of the deplorable state of the buildings, revealed that the Force had partnered with the Lagos State Government to commence renovation works soon.
The IGP, however, praised police personnel for their patience and perseverance in living in the barracks despite the sorry state of the buildings, assuring them that he would do everything within his powers to facilitate the redevelopment of the facilities.
He told journalists who accompanied his team that about 600 housing units had already sprung up, while a headcount of personnel had commenced to determine the number of new structures required.
According to him, money would be provided to personnel who would be displaced to enable them secure alternative accommodation. Meanwhile, in other barracks where redevelopment had reached an advanced stage, personnel would simply move from their old houses into the new ones.
He revealed that the Nigeria Police Force was being assisted by the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders to achieve the redevelopment.
He said, “We’ve been on this tour of police barracks since Monday, going round the barracks to see things for myself, and I can tell you that we have been able to visit about 21 police barracks at different stages of development. This is very vital to us in the Nigeria Police because it bothers on the welfare of officers. Our jobs are very difficult; protecting lives and property is a very difficult task.
“And I must tell you that this project has been on. Most of the buildings have been taken down because of the dangerous stages they were in and because they’ve been there for donkey years, and that culminated in why they were brought down.
“I am not too happy with the various stages they are in. Officers are eager, and they have been patient enough for a long time. That’s why I’m around to see things for myself and have discussions with them, especially our partners, the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders, to see how we can quickly turn things around for the betterment of our personnel,” he added.
Reacting on behalf of the state government, Toke Benson Awoyika, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said the renovation of the barracks started when she was the Personal Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Housing.
She added that the state was partnering with the Nigeria Police Force for the redevelopment of police barracks across Lagos.
According to the commissioner, “The project is a very strategic one for us. We are bringing private developers and equity funds to develop the barracks and put them in good shape.
“From time to time, the governor buys vehicles for the police in the state, and we felt that was not enough. We need to also look into their welfare, accommodation and where they stay because, under our LagosHOMS housing project, we provide housing for people in society.
“We thought we could also provide housing for the police, and that’s how we came up with the initiative of partnering with the police, bringing in private investors and equity funds to redevelop the police barracks.”
