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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has assured residents of riverine communities across the country of improved security, following the donation of three gunboats to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).
Disu, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Olohundare Jimoh, gave the assurance at the weekend during the commissioning and handover of the gunboats to the Force at the Marine Police Unit in Lagos.
He described the donation as a game changer in the fight against maritime crimes, saying the boats were specially equipped to confront criminal activities on the waterways.
According to him, unlike the conventional patrol boats, the newly acquired gunboats are fitted with high-calibre equipment capable of tackling various forms of criminality on the waterways.
He said the donation would significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the Marine Police, particularly in combating piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping, smuggling and other crimes threatening maritime and riverine communities.
Jimoh commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mohammed Sheidu, for the intervention, noting that the equipment would enhance the ability of marine police operatives to secure the waterways and support other critical maritime stakeholders.
He also highlighted the role of the Marine Police in rescue and salvage operations, maintenance of boats and protection of movement along the waterways.
Recalling the contributions of the Marine Police to security during previous elections in riverine communities, Jimoh expressed confidence that the additional gunboats would strengthen security arrangements in difficult terrains ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He appealed to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to complement the intervention by providing six additional gunboats for the Marine Police.
The AIG assured that the newly acquired equipment would be properly maintained and deployed for the purposes for which they were provided.
Earlier, Sheidu said the donation was part of the Trust Fund’s efforts to address critical operational needs of the Police and improve its response to security threats across the maritime environment.
He stressed that the safety of the waterways was essential to protecting lives, economic activities and communities, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Sheidu urged officers who would operate the gunboats to ensure their responsible deployment and proper maintenance, adding that the impact of the investment should be measured by improved crime prevention and public safety.
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Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Force Marine Unit, Adepegba Adetoye, described the donation as an important step towards improving maritime policing and operational efficiency.
He noted that Lagos State and the country at large depended heavily on waterways for transportation, trade and other economic activities, making effective security of the maritime environment imperative.
Adetoye charged officers entrusted with the gunboats to deploy them strictly for crime prevention, protection of lives and property, and the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.
He acknowledged the contributions of security partners and other stakeholders to maritime safety, stressing the need for sustained collaboration to secure the nation’s waterways.
Speaking further, Jimoh said the Marine Police had continued to provide security at major seaports and critical maritime infrastructure across the country.
He listed the ports and facilities covered by the unit to include Warri Port, Calabar Port, Onne Port, Rivers Port, Tin Can Island Port and Lekki Deep Seaport, noting that police jetties in these locations remained functional.
He also disclosed that the Marine Police provided security along the Third Mainland Bridge corridor to prevent sabotage and ensure the free movement of people and vehicles.
According to him, the unit also protects critical infrastructure along the waterways and provides security for voters, electoral officials and ad hoc staff during elections, particularly in riverine communities.
Jimoh recalled that during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos, the Marine Police worked with other police formations to ensure that elections held peacefully in a riverine community despite threats by suspected hoodlums.
He said the intervention of the Marine Police would be particularly important in 2027, as voters and electoral personnel would need safe passage between mainland and riverine communities.
The AIG, who expressed confidence in the capacity of the Marine Police to maintain the newly donated equipment, said the intervention would encourage the Trust Fund to provide more operational boats.
He assured the Executive Secretary that the three gunboats would be put to proper use, adding that the Police had the personnel and technical capacity to maintain them and sustain maritime operations.
The Nigeria Police Trust Fund reiterated its commitment to providing operational equipment, infrastructure, training and welfare support to strengthen the capacity of the Force to respond to evolving security challenges.
