Nigerians Count On You – Buhari Tasks IGP Baba On Insecurity, Crime

• Says 16 days UK medical trip “went very well”

BY EDMOND ODOK – Back to Nigeria from his two weeks medical visit to the United Kingdom (UK), President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Acting Inspector-General (IG) Usman Baba not to disappoint Nigerians in the fight against insecurity and crime in the country

For the President, IGP Baba cannot afford to fail Nigerians in these trying times given their high expectations and demand of his office as the nation’s new Police helmsman.

President Buhari, who spoke with reporters after his plane touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at about 4.45 pm, said having been part of the system for years, the new IGP has all it takes and the required experience to secure the country.

Hinting on the selection process that threw up Baba as acting IG, the President said: “Well, we went through the system. There was a committee by the Minister of Police Affairs. They gave me some names and he happened to be the one chosen.

“He knows his job. He has been in it for a long time. He went through all the training and has the necessary experience. So, we have a high expectation from him”.

On the Service chiefs’ performance so far, the President said they are already putting in their best to rid Nigeria of current debilitating security crises, expressing the hope that their best would be enough to stabilize the country.

“Oh yes, they have been in the system all the way; they know what is wrong; they know what is right and I think they are doing their best. I hope their best will be good enough for Nigeria”, he said

The President, who also offered insight on his UK medical mission, said: “It went very well”, promising that his return to full presidential duties would witness continuity in the country.

Dignitaries at the airport to welcome Mr President include his Chief of Staff (CoS), Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammed Bello National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-General Babagana Monguno; and the Service Chiefs.

Also present were Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i; Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; among other top government functionaries.

The presidential aircraft conveying the president and some presidential aides landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja at about 4.45 p.m.

Mr President left Abuja on March 30, 2021 for London, United Kingdom, on a routine medical check-up which lasted for 16 days.