The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has released insurance benefits totalling N17.66m to beneficiaries of deceased and affected police personnel serving under the Abia State Command.
The 21 insurance cheques, valued at N17,662,896.70, were presented to the beneficiaries on behalf of the IGP by the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi.
The payments were made under the Nigeria Police Force Insurance Scheme and covered benefits provided through the Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accident schemes.
Speaking during the presentation, Afolabi said the intervention demonstrated the IGP’s commitment to the welfare of police personnel and their families, particularly families dealing with the death of officers or losses sustained in the course of police duties.
He urged the recipients to handle the funds responsibly and use the payments in ways that could provide sustainable financial support.
According to him, beneficiaries could consider investing part of the money in existing businesses or using it to establish and expand productive ventures.
The recipients expressed gratitude to the police authorities for facilitating the payment, saying the financial support would provide relief at a difficult time.
They also pledged to manage the funds carefully and deploy them toward purposes that would improve their financial circumstances.
The insurance payment came alongside a separate engagement involving the Police Officers’ Wives Association, Abia State Command, which paid a courtesy visit to the state police commissioner.
The visit underscored the association’s continuing role in supporting serving police officers and their families.
Leading the delegation, the Chairperson of POWA in Abia, Abigail Afolabi, thanked the commissioner for his support and leadership, particularly in matters affecting the welfare of police personnel and their households.
She said the association would continue to strengthen initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing of police families.
Among the areas highlighted were family welfare, education, emotional intelligence, healthcare and community development.
Responding, the Abia police commissioner praised POWA for its contribution to the welfare of officers and their families.
He noted the significance of the role played by police officers’ wives in supporting their spouses and helping to raise their children, describing their contribution as an important part of sustaining police families.
The insurance payments form part of the welfare support available to police personnel and their beneficiaries through the force’s insurance arrangements.
For families of officers who die or suffer covered losses in the line of duty, such benefits can provide financial assistance during periods of significant personal and economic difficulty.
The Abia presentation therefore brought together two aspects of police welfare: the payment of insurance entitlements to affected families and continued institutional support for the households of serving personnel.
The N17.66m disbursement to the 21 beneficiaries also reinforces the role of the police insurance schemes in providing financial protection to personnel and their dependants when covered circumstances arise.
