By Anthony Akaeze
Monday, September 19, 2005

The state of police barracks across the country has continued to attract attention. This is because many of the barracks are in poor states of disrepair. In most of the barracks visited by Newswatch recently, the environments are squalid and the infrastructure, either overstretched or in poor conditions. The result is an image which even the police personnel are not proud of.

In one of the barracks at the Surulere area of Lagos, the toilet facilities like soak-away, pipes, windows and doors were dilapilated. Also there is the problem of overcrowding. The vicinity is dominated by trading shops or sales outlets like beer parlours and restaurants. This worsens the environmental condition since used waters from the restaurant are poured out indiscriminately with food particles littering the whole place.

At one of the residence at the Surulere barracks, a police officer, bemoaned the condition of the environment when he said: "Nobody is proud of this place, but what can one do? It was in similar condition when I took up residence here. But don't forget also that this barrack is old. You can see that yourself. Hence the condition of the facilities have deteriorated over time. The only reason I chose to remain here is the security I enjoy. Here, one is assured of hundred percent security. That's just the advantage. Otherwise I cannot live here." Asked why he and his mates cannot mobilise themselves to carry out periodic cleaning exercise, he replied "My brother, where will one start? But of course, we do try our best. We do. But there are too many problems on ground. There is hardly any cooperation here. Will you force somebody to partake in cleaning the environment in which he lives? That is partly the problem. The impression seems to be that, because many inhabitants met the same condition on ground, they are not willing to do much to give the place a face-lift."

Another resident, however, thinks that it is the duty of government to ensure cleanliness since the major problems lie with the malfunctioning of facilities. He said: "The barrack accommodation is not free of charge. Accommodation money is deducted from our salaries every month. We are, therefore, surprised that the government is finding it difficult to maintain the facilities. They should use the money we pay to them to maintain what belongs to them anyway."

Fred Onwudinjo, a civilian, who lives near the Ikeja barracks said that the impression seems to be that, being police barracks, both the environment and structures within are government property and thus should be left to the discretion of government officials to manage. He said most of the people who live there are not concerned enough. That is why police barracks are virtually the same everywhere.

But there is cheering news from the police force headquarters, Abuja. Haz Iwendi, the new force public relations officer, told Newswatch that the police high command has approved funds for the renovation work to commence in some police barracks nationwide. He said: "Everything is now in place. Renovation work will be carried out in two mobile police barracks in each of the six geo-political zones. For the regular police, two barracks shall be rehabilitated in each state. Also, two 'four man' barracks shall be built in each state. Money has been made available for this," he told Newswatch.

This will no doubt gladden the hearts of many concerned citizens. But of paramount importance too, is the need to put in place, machinery that will be charged with maintaining these facilities.