The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated the Nigeria Police Radio, 99.1FM which, he said, was aimed at promoting community policing and bringing the police closer to the people.
He said the radio station was a legacy project conceived, nurtured and actualised by the Force as part of strategies designed by his administration as the nation’s 20th IGP to combat crimes and stabilise security across Nigeria.
He said the aim was to ensure smooth information flow with a view to strengthening the bond between the citizens and the police.
He said the radio station had since commenced test transmission in line with the National Broadcasting Commission code and operational regulations.
Adamu said the station would serve as a veritable avenue for the Force to engage, enlighten and inform the public on policing activities and other security related matters.
He the station would also air phone-in programmes to involve the citizens in the security of their localities especially on how to spot and report crimes and other necessary steps to take in the event of a crime or security emergency.
“As part of the implementation processes, we appreciated the need to bolster partnership and good working relationship between the police and the people in our various communities.
“One of these strategies is the construction and settibg up of this community based radio station, the Nigeria Police 99.1FM Radio, targeted at bringing the police closer to the people,” Adamu said.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the establishment of the police radio station indicated that Nigerians now had a station where credible, accurate and timely information about security and other issues could be aired.
He said: “It cannot be said that the police radio is airing fake news.
“When people listen to all other radio stations, they’ll tune to police station to have a confirmation of the news they’ve heard elsewhere.”