By peterside Rejoice Eneky
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern call for sweeping reforms within the Nigeria Police Force, signaling a new era of accountability, professionalism, and integrity.
Speaking through Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the 2nd Annual Inspector General of Police Award and Commendation Ceremony held Wednesday night in Abuja, the president made clear that brutality, abuse of power, and corruption would no longer be tolerated.
“The power you wield is not for intimidation but for protection,” Tinubu declared. “You must be guided by the highest standards of accountability and professionalism.”
His remarks, delivered before top-ranking security officials, lawmakers, and civil society leaders, come amid growing public dissatisfaction with police conduct, particularly in the wake of the #EndSARS movement that erupted in 2020 in protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
Observers say the president’s strong tone marks a decisive shift from rhetorical condemnation to a more strategic approach to institutional reform.
Tinubu warned that no amount of training or investment in equipment can substitute for public trust, stating unequivocally: “Reject all forms of misconduct and corruption. Only then can we build a police force that is truly respected and trusted by the people it serves.”
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun echoed the president’s message, acknowledging deep-rooted challenges facing the force, including terrorism, kidnapping, and cybercrime. He emphasized that police legitimacy not just strength would determine long-term effectiveness.
“Without legitimacy, there is no effectiveness,” the IGP said. “We must return to the roots of our mandate: to protect with courage and serve with compassion.”
Egbetokun called for a pivot from reactive tactics to intelligence-led and community-based policing strategies, aligning with global best practices and reinforcing a cultural shift inside the institution.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernizing the police force through better tools, improved welfare, and ongoing capacity building. But he stressed that material upgrades must be matched with ethical discipline and cultural change.
“This ceremony is more than a moment of celebration,” he said. “It is a call to renewed service… The Nigerian people deserve a police force that is responsive, responsible, and respected.”
While the evening focused heavily on reform, it also served to celebrate outstanding officers who exemplified professionalism. Among the honorees were Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Henry Uche for excellence in cybercrime prevention, Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Lateef for strategic leadership, and Superintendent Josephine Adeh for exemplary public relations work.
The IGP noted that the award selection process was “rigorous and transparent,” aimed at moving away from favoritism and rewarding true merit. “This year’s award process was a bold symbol of our institutional shift from entitlement to merit, from routine to excellence,” Egbetokun said.
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