Cleen Foundation opens new office in Owerri soon

August 27, 2009

From Atiku S. Sarki, Abuja .

In an effort to promote public safety, security and justice in Nigeria, Cleen Foundation, a Non Governmental Organization with its head office in Lagos and Abuja has assured to open another new office in Owerri to cater for the states in the South-South and South – East before the end of this year.
The Deputy Executive Director, Cleen Foundation, Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo disclosed this at the interactive forum on informal policing an Human Rights, organized by the Foundation in collaboration with Federation Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command and Abuja Municipal Area Council.

She said the CLEEN FOUNDATION’S main focus since its establishement II years ago has been in the area of police reform with a view to improving police service delivery to meet the safety and security needs of the people.

According to her, the objective of interactive forum which was the first in a series of forums within the Federal Capital Territory, was to bring together major stake- holders that have a role to play in ensuring that informal policing groups operate within the laws of the land and make contribution to integrating community quota to ensure that the Seven Point Agenda of Mr. President which is part of the on-going police reform is achieved.

Mrs. Kemi also hoped that issues relating to funding of the activities of the informal policing groups, periodic trainings, sensitization of members of the community and passing of the bye laws that have been developed to regulate within the area councils would also be discussed at the forum.

The Deputy Executive Director of CLEEN FOUNDATION while presenting the code of conduct to assist in guiding the operations of the informal policing groups within the FCT, also assured that her Foundation would continue to organize this periodic engagement so that policing needs of people within Abuja Municipal Area Council and other Councils in the FCT would identified and take steps to address their policing concerns.

In his paper presentation by the Commissioner of Police in the FCT Police Command, Mr. Haruna John, he said that the collaboration between the police and the informal policing groups will in no small way increase or improve the local knowledge of the police personnel to reduce and check crime and other anti-social behaviors in the society.


The commissioner of police who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charged of Administration in FCT police command, Mr. Steven Ekpei also observed that for the police to be more proactive that can lead a well-secured environment where citizens and foreigners can carry out their businesses unmolested, as well to create employment opportunities for the citizens, they have to evolve and maintain a standardized engagement protocol with the informal policing groups.

According to CP Haruna, the society is governed by set of rules without which there will be anarchy and police in every society are saddled with the responsibility of enforcing laws.


In his remarks, the chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. (Dr) Zephaniah Jisalo expressed his happiness and commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force particularly officers and men of the force in the FCT police command for almost making Abuja free crime society, noting that people in the FCT most especially in his Area Council are sleeping with their two eyes closed.

The chairman who also commended CLEEN FOUNDATION for its initiative in organizing the forum observing that the forum will further create how best security can be operating in the FCT Abuja.
Dr. Zephaniah stressed that in 2005 his Area Council purchased some vehichles for the police in the FCT while this year about ten other vehicles have been purchased by his council in an effort to combat crime in Area.

Also in his remark at the forum, the chairman of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mr. Goddy Ibidinabo recalled that the programme of police community relations committee started about five years ago when the British Council came to Nigeria and initiated the programme.
While calling on the CLEEN FOUNDATION to work hand- in-hand with the PCRC, the chairman of the PCRC also called on his members to support the programme of the CLEEN FOUNDATION to promote security in our environment.