President Muhammadu Buhari’s new media aide, Tolu Ogunlesi, has corrected reports about the president granting state and local governments approval to operate their own independent police.
Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Chairman Presidential Panel on Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Reform, Anthony Ojukwu, had presented a report on Monday to Mr Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Among the recommendations in the report was the establishment of state and local government police.
Buhari afterwards directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Ministry of Justice, and NHRC to “work out modalities for implementation within three months.”
Several media erroneously reported that the President had by that directive approved state and local government police.
But Mr Ogunlesi wrote on Twitter Monday that the ceremony was for submission of the panel’s report and that no approval was made.
“Fake News. There were no ‘approvals’ given. Ceremony was for submission of Panel Report (more than 2,000 pages long) – which made several recommendations. President received Report & directed IGP, Min of Justice & NHRC to “work out modalities for implementation within 3 months,” Ogunlesi said.
