Police officers, families fume over pathetic state of police barracks (Photos)

– An account of how families of police officers survive in police barracks

–  Occupants cry out over alarming state of police barracks in Nigeria

Families of affected police officers have expressed displeasure over the bad state of police barracks in Lagos and other parts of the country.

As part of its investigative mission, Naij.com visited some of the barracks and sought the reactions of the occupants who obviously are displeased with the way the barracks have been neglected over the years.

A resident of Ijeh police barracks, Obalende, Lagos, who wants his identify undisclosed complained that the dilapidated facilities are not befitting for those who have sworn to serve the country.

Another resident, Joseph Ekugo disclosed that some flats in the barrack have no water while the drainage systems are in bad state so that they accommodate rodents and lizard, despite all efforts by the residents to put them in shape.

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The ugly state of facilities in Ijeh barracks of Obalende, Lagos also paints a picture of the sorry states of most military barracks in the country.

The police barrack in Ikeja, the Lagos state capital also wears a bad look.

Investigations revealed that the occupants also suffer as a result of bad roads, bad drainage systems and water scarcity inclusive while water vendors take advantage of the situation to exploit.

”We suffer from the scarcity of water supply in this area. There is no hygenic water in this environment. The barracks is not a conducive environment for bringing up kids. The barrack is just too rough and its making life unbearable. Most occupant pay about N7, 000 to N14, 000 every month for accommodations, ” a resident of the Ikeja police barrack who requested anonymity said.

Some serving officers have were discovered to be living either in shops, broken down vehicles, makeshift houses or squatting with other police officers.

The toilet facilities are sub-standard as well other social amenities in the barracks.

A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that in the last few months, he has to wake up as early as 5.a.m to take his bath before the day breaks.

Kunle Ibiyemi, a security expert sees the poor state of  most barracks in Nigeria as national embarrassment for the country.

Ibiyemi condemned previous administrations for not paying attention to refurbishing the facilities in the barrack.

”I wonder how you want these officers to give their best to the service of the nation if they are compelled to live in such dirty and dilapidated houses. Efforts have been made by past administration to fix the facilities but did not materialise. You only have unfulfilled promises from one administration to the other,” Ibiyemi.

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A group of other residents who spoke with this medium called on the Lagos state government and the Inspector-General of police to ensure that something is done to address the dilapidated states of police barracks in the country.

However, Bala Hassan, the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 assured at a public forum recently that the Inspector-General is doing all within its power to improve police officers’ welfare and the bad state of police barracks across the country.

Additional reports by Godday Eleojo

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