By Lawal Dogara, Kaduna

Governor Mohammed Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State has called on the American Government to support President Umaru Yar'Adua in his effort toward ensuring the development of the country with a view to making Nigeria one of the top 20 economies by the year 2020.

Governor Sambo, who made the call while handing over of 150 Bicycles donated by the US Government to the Nigeria Police Force, held at the Police College, Kaduna, said in order to achieve a desired result US government should support Nigeria particularly in the area of security.

He commended the cooperation of the US government on security in Kaduna state which he said would go a long way in attracting development to the state, explaining that "security plays an important role in the attainment of development in the society and therefore any effort at attaining security must be appreciated and commended."

Governor Sambo explained that the state government is working to ensure that the Police Force gets all necessary support it deserves it to achieve the basic role of providing security and total elimination of crimes in the society.

Handing over the bicycles, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders, said the American government's supports Nigeria and Nigerians in many ways including the community policing project, which began more than four years ago.

Ambassador Sanders said as demonstrated by the US investment in the community policing project, the people and government of the US are committed to partnering with the government of Nigeria's efforts to strengthen the capacity of the nation's law enforcement agencies.

She added that the police exists to serve and protect the people and must therefore be a good friend to the people, saying while the trends and patterns of crimes may change over the time the need for strong cooperation between the police and people in catching and prosecuting criminals does not change.

According to her, "bicycle patrols as part of community policing are one such ways in which the police and the people can effectively work together. Police bicycling community patrols have been used in other parts of the world including the United States with huge success. We anticipate similar success in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where communities are often hindered by lack of resources to purchase fuel for vehicles."

Receiving the bicycles, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, represented by Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tambari Yabo, commended the US government for the effort at improving the police force, a gesture which he said would greatly enhance the service of the police force in providing effective crime control in Nigeria.