Nigeria police prepare for aerial surveillance during elections, train pilots, aircraft maintenance officers

The Nigeria Police have commenced preparations for aerial surveillance of the 2023 general elections, as the Inspector-General of Police, IG Usman Baba, gave approval for training for pilots and other Police Airwing Aircraft Maintenance Officers in  readiness for the 2023 polls.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja,  CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Sunday, indicated that 17 officers would benefit from the first batch of Bell 412EP B1.3 Type-Training Course.

He said that the training is expected to improve the technical expertise of the Aircraft Maintenance Unit of the Police Airwing.

The FPRO explained that the idea was to ensure concrete security arrangements and prevent operational mishaps during aerial surveillance operations during the elections.

He said the IG also approved the training of more pilots on Cessna Citation and the training and maintenance of a fully operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squad.

The FPRO stated that the approval also covered the training of more engineers on Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing as well as training for other auxiliary aviation staff.

He noted that the target was to streamline operational inadequacies, improve human resourcefulness and ensure enhanced operational efficiency and cohesive operations.

He said that the IG had also met with the leadership of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Squadron Commanders to appraise the internal security of the country.

According to the FPRO, “the meeting is to unravel the possible ways of positioning the Nigeria Police Force for effective service delivery through strategic restructuring.”

Adejobi said that the IG pledged to adequately restructure and equipped the PMF with effective  trainings to align it with its age-long tradition of basic unit concept and unit deployment.

The IG, he said, directed the Squadron Commanders to provide adequate security in their respective Areas of Responsibility, to support the conventional police.