In a significant move towards strengthening internal security through international collaboration, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, also Chairman, West African Chiefs of Police Committee (WAPCCO), on Tuesday hosted a high-level delegation from INTERPOL led by its Executive Director of Police Services, Mr. Cyril Gout.
The visit was a milestone one as the Nigeria Police Force officially assumed the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) from INTERPOL, which had been handed over to it by the Ministry of Police Affairs on behalf of the Government of Nigeria.
In a press statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the WAPIS platform now hosted by the Nigeria Police aims to improve law enforcement in the West African sub-region by way of harmonisation of data systems, improvement in information sharing, and improvement in crime-fighting.
The IGP commended INTERPOL for its invaluable role in global collaboration on security and announced Nigeria’s firm commitment to implementing the WAPIS programme nationwide. He emphasized the NPF’s readiness to fully utilize all three tiers of the system, adding that it would be a “game-changer” in Nigeria’s fight against crime.
