The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, says training programmes for police personnel this year have been put on hold because facilities are in shambles.

Mr. Abubakar said this in Uyo on Tuesday while addressing officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force on his maiden visit to Akwa Ibom command after his appointment as the IGP.

He said while every officer in the police was entitled to training courses, failure at courses after second attempts would not be tolerated.

“Our training institutions are so bad enough, I will not allow my officers to go on courses and use their money to buy water, bread and other needs.

“We are making efforts to change the police uniform to a better uniform that will make you to be respected.

“There is need for national rebirth in the Nigeria Police, the era of corruption is over. We will allow competence and merit to take place,” Mr. Abubakar declared.

He said that posting in the police would henceforth be based on the individual’s capacity to deliver while promotion would be based on performance at promotion courses.

“We must redouble our effort in changing the damaging image that we have in the police today.

“There is need for you to change your attitude to work, there is need for us to go back to the basis of policing in this country. So many things have been done unprofessionally,” the IGP said.

He, however, commended the Akwa Ibom Police Command for reducing the crime rate in the state and urged the command to be proactive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IGP, who was the immediate past Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of Zone Six, Calabar, was on a working visit to Akwa Ibom.

During the visit, he inaugurated a special crime-fighting squad funded by the state government and code-named Quick Response Squad (QRS).

He also inaugurated a fleet of 50 vehicles equipped by the state government for the QRS scheme at Government House, Uyo.