President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday charged newly appointed acting Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to make the Nigeria Police Force better than he met it, as the country grapples with banditry, terrorism and other criminal threats.
Tinubu personally decorated Disu with his new rank at the State House, describing the appointment as “a defining moment for our nation’s security.”
“The commitment that I expect from you is for you to make it better than you met it. And I’m sure you can do it,” Tinubu said, urging the new police chief to strengthen discipline, enhance inter-agency collaboration and restore public confidence in the Force.
The president drew on his knowledge of Disu from his tenure as Lagos State governor, noting his dedication while serving in the state. He also urged him to learn from his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, who attended the ceremony.
“To the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, I extend the gratitude of the entire country,” Tinubu said. “The success of Tunji Disu as IGP, when confirmed, is part of your responsibility and the joy you should look forward to.”
Disu, who formally assumed duty after the decoration, vowed to end impunity and enforce zero tolerance for corruption within the Force. He also emphasized the importance of community partnership.
“One of the first lectures I’m going to have with my men is to let them know that the citizens of this country are the boss,” Disu told reporters. “No police anywhere in the world can succeed without the cooperation of the public.”
Disu outlined three priorities for his tenure: professionalism and modernization; accountability and integrity; and community partnership. He pledged to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms, embrace intelligence-led policing, improve training and equipment, and promote transparency in line with the rule of law.
Egbetokun expressed confidence in his successor, saying, “I invested in likely successors in the Nigerian Police Force, and I’m happy that one of those I’ve invested in has been found most suitable for the job.”
Disu’s appointment comes 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, but under the amended Police Act, which allows Inspectors-General of Police to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, he may remain in office until 2030. The Nigeria Police Council is expected to formally consider his appointment for confirmation by the Senate.
Disu, born on April 13, 1966, joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and has served in multiple operational and leadership roles, including as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos and head of the Intelligence Response Team.
The decoration ceremony at the Presidential Villa was attended by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other senior officials. Disu later took his first salute as acting IGP at the Force Headquarters, followed by the official handover from Egbetokun.
