Nigeria police boosts capacity to counter weapons of mass destruction

The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, respond to, and investigate Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, CBRN, and explosive threats.

This reaffirmation followed the hosting of the Final Phase of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, C-WMD, Curriculum Development Workshop for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, EOD-CBRN, Command.

The workshop was organized by the Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN Command, CP Hauwa Ibrahim, in partnership with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DTRA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

The DTRA delegation was headed by Major Brittany Brown, while Mrs. Pamela West led the ONSA delegation.

The program represented the conclusion of a series of Train-the-Trainers workshops designed to institutionalize the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum across involved security agencies and to bolster Nigeria’s readiness against emerging CBRN and explosive threats.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, characterized the initiative as a strategic investment in the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Police Force.

He emphasized that the evolving nature of Weapons of Mass Destruction threats necessitates that law enforcement agencies remain proactive, well-trained, and operationally equipped, while also highlighting the significance of ongoing inter-agency collaboration and international partnerships in ensuring national security.

DIG Nadada expressed the Inspector-General of Police’s gratitude to the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, facilitators, and all partner agencies for their unwavering commitment to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force.

He emphasized that the ongoing support, technical expertise, and knowledge transfer from the partners have greatly improved the Force’s ability to safeguard lives, protect vital national infrastructure, and respond adeptly to changing security threats.

The Deputy Inspector-General further urged participants to engage in the workshop with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, highlighting that the knowledge and skills gained should be effectively disseminated within the Force to ensure that the National C-WMD Curriculum becomes a lasting element of the training framework for EOD-CBRN personnel, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness throughout the Nigeria Police Force.

EOD-CBRN Command reiterated its dedication to incorporating the curriculum into the Nigeria Police Force training system to guarantee that officers develop the necessary competencies to effectively tackle emerging CBRN and Weapons of Mass Destruction threats.

The Command also conveyed optimism regarding the ongoing support from its strategic partners, particularly in the realms of specialized equipment, technical assistance, and advanced capacity building, to further enhance the operational capabilities of the EOD-CBRN Command in addressing modern security challenges.

Nigeria police boosts capacity to counter weapons of mass destruction