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In his maiden press briefing, Okiro said roadblocks were major avenues of corruption and embarrassment to the Police.
He explained that observation posts on the highways would replace the dismantled roadblocks. He therefore called on Nigerians to support the Police to make the new system work.
His words: "These roadblocks have come to represent everything evil in the Police. They are bastions of corruption and other negative vices associated with the police. It is one of the areas that police have generated so much bad image because of some of the unethical practices that characterise the men posted to man such beats.
My administration will encourage the erection of more observation posts on our highways to be complemented by effective motorise patrols."
The new Police chief maintained that operating under a democratic dispensation requires that the process of law must take its normal course.
He stressed: "In all our actions, due process must be followed. There is no room for arbitrariness. Law and law alone must be our guiding principle when acting in furtherance of our statutory duties. The Constitution provides for the freedom and liberty of citizens, which can only be abridged as required and provided for by law.
"The law also presumes the innocence of suspects unless proven otherwise. I must, therefore, warn that wrongful arrests and detention will not be tolerated as this would be visited with appropriate sanctions."
As part of the reorganisation, Okiro stressed that the current Police orders are outdated and long overdue for amendment because they are no longer in tandem with new realities.
For those who lobby their way to juicy posts, Okiro said hard times awaits such "cut-corner Police officers," as postings would henceforth be based strictly on professional competence.
To reduce corruption to the barest minimum within the Police, Okiro stated that 12 anti-corruption teams would soon be established in the six geo-political zones of the country.
According to him, the teams would be provided with GSM numbers, which will be known to the public.
Okiro added: "All complaints against the police bordering on extortion, whether along the highways or at police stations should be reported via the GSM lines. Prompt action would be taken to address the problem.
Any person who offers bribe to the police to evade justice would also be arrested and prosecuted. Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from offering bribe to policemen."
He listed the eight cardinal guidelines of his administration to include transparency and accountability, war on corruption and crime, crime prevention, intelligence and crime data upgrade, training, police public image and public relations.
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