The Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have agreed to collaborate in rebuilding 25 dilapidated barracks in the state.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the project in Lagos on Wednesday, May 3.

Adejobi said the project of giving officers and men befitting accommodation, an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has started in some states, where some houses have since been inaugurated.

He said other states in the country would also have similar projects carried out either by current IGP or his successors.

The police spokesperson said the barracks affected in Lagos include Adekunle, Agege, Alausa, Area F, Bar-Beach, Bourdillon, Falomo, Federal Highway Patrol, MTX Highway, and Ijeh Police Barracks.

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Others are Ijora, SQ MTX Ijora, SQ MTX Iponri, K 9 police Barracks, Kam Salem, SQ MTX McCarthy, Mopol 2 Keffi, Mounted Troops, Obalende Barracks, Police Officers’ Mess Obalende, and Women Barracks, amongst others.

Adejobi said police officers living in the affected barracks listed were requested to vacate their quarters within the next 30 days, starting from Monday May 1 to pave way for seamless demolition and redevelopment of the buildings.

He said there would be census of the residents in barracks to ascertain genuine officers living in those facilities, stressing that they will be given money to secure accommodation for two years, which the project was expected to last.

Adejobi said police officers would not be asked to vacate their apartments until money was paid to them for new accommodation.

“We have not forced any one out of the barracks. They are expected to move out between May 1 and 30th. They will not be asked to move until their money is paid for a new accommodation,” the Force spokesman said.

The IGP had ordered the evacuation of police officers and others in dilapidated structures in Lagos, after the recent collapse of a building at Sango Police Barracks in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

In a signal dated April 26 to Zonal and State Police Commands, the IGP said the barracks rehabilitation became necessary in view of the danger the structures posed to the officers and men.

Baba said the order was to forestall further occurrence of police building collapse and prevent loss of lives and property of police personnel in the barracks.

The Star