The Nigeria police have embarked on a sanitation exercise and free medical outreach nationwide as part of activities to mark the 2026 National Police Week.

The programme is aimed at strengthening police-community relations while promoting health consciousness and environmental responsibility among citizens.

Leading the exercise at Anioma Market, the Delta State Commissioner of Police (CP), Yemi Oyeniyi, said the activities aligned with this year’s theme, ‘Community Partnership: Building Trust’.

He emphasised that modern policing must extend beyond enforcement to include community service and engagement.

According to him, officers were deployed to clean public spaces, clear drainages and participate in other forms of environmental sanitation.

Simultaneously, medical outreach programmes were held at designated centres, including the Police Headquarters, where residents received free health checks, consultations and medications.

CP Oyeniyi said the initiative was a step towards rebuilding public trust, hence the exercise cut across all nine area commands in the state.

The clean-up was designed not only to improve environmental hygiene but also to foster closer ties between officers and the communities they serve.

Residents were urged to adopt better sanitation habits, with the police chief stressing that “cleanliness is next to godliness.”

The medical outreach, which drew dozens of residents, offered basic healthcare services at no cost, an intervention he said is part of its broader responsibility to public welfare.

In Ebonyi State, the week-long activities include a walk-a-thon aimed at promoting physical fitness among officers and increasing public visibility of policing efforts, and a sensitisation campaign to address key societal concerns, including traffic regulation compliance and electoral integrity.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise in Abakaliki, the spokesperson for Ebonyi Police Command, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the initiative forms part of a nationwide programme to strengthen police-community relations while promoting health consciousness and environmental responsibility among citizens.

According to him, the sanitation exercise, which was simultaneously conducted at the state command headquarters and the busy Sperando axis of Abakaliki capital city, targeted the removal of accumulated waste and environmental hazards that pose risks to public health and security.

“The command deemed it necessary to bring this exercise to Sperando due to its strategic importance as a commercial hub and its high human and vehicular traffic. The volume of refuse evacuated from the area reflects the urgent need for sustained environmental hygiene,” Ukandu stated.

Indiscriminate waste disposal, including plastics, water sachet and food containers, according to him, not only degrades the environment but also contributes to public health challenges and obstructs urban safety management systems.

Along with the environmental sanitation, the command is conducting a free medical outreach at the Police Officers’ Mess, offering essential health services to both police personnel and members of the public.

The outreach includes screening for vital health indicators such as blood pressure, blood glucose levels, HIV and hepatitis B, among other routine medical checks.

Ukandu emphasised that the health initiative was designed to promote early detection and prevention of non-communicable and infectious diseases, thereby enhancing the overall well-being and operational readiness of officers while extending critical healthcare access to the community.

“This outreach is open to the public. We encourage residents to take advantage of the opportunity to assess their health status and receive professional medical advice,” he added.

As part of the week-long activities, the command has scheduled a walk-a-thon to promote physical fitness among officers and increasing public visibility of policing efforts.

The exercise will involve officers traversing major routes within the Abakaliki metropolis, reinforcing the message of a people-oriented police force.

Additionally, a sensitisation campaign is planned to address key societal concerns, including traffic regulation compliance and electoral integrity.

The programme will engage transport operators, commuters and critical stakeholders in discussions on road safety, lawful conduct and the prevention of electoral offences such as ballot snatching and violence.

The command reiterated that the National Police Day activities were replicated across state commands nationwide as part of a coordinated strategy to deepen public trust, enhance civic responsibility and reaffirm the Force’s role in safeguarding lives, property and public health.

It assured continuous collaboration with relevant agencies and community stakeholders to sustain the gains of the exercise and promote a cleaner, safer and healthier environment across Ebonyi.

In Anambra State, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ikioye Orutugu, led the rank and file on a sanitation exercise and free medical outreach across the eight area commands and 56 divisional police headquarters.

Orutugu stressed that“the command remains dedicated to community-oriented policing” and would continue to engage in initiatives that foster trust and collaboration with the public.

He enjoined residents to continue supporting the police in their efforts to maintain peace and security across the state. (The Guardian)

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