Tinubu swears in Disu as substantive IGP, chief inaugurates up state police committee

Tinubu swears in Disu as substantive IGP, chief inaugurates up state police committee

 

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, as the new police chief immediately inaugurated a committee to drive the implementation of state policing.

Disu took the oath of office at 2:53pm after his citation was read by the State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye.

The brief ceremony, witnessed by Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top government officials, preceded the FEC meeting, which commenced at 3:01pm.

Among dignitaries present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam; FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike; and Head of Service, Mrs Esther Walson-Jack.

The President also swore in newly appointed commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Federal Civil Service Commission.

Disu’s confirmation followed his unanimous endorsement by the Nigeria Police Council on Monday, barely a week after Tinubu appointed him acting IGP in the wake of the resignation of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, on February 23, 2026.

At Monday’s Police Council meeting, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reportedly commended Disu’s track record, particularly his tenure as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos between 2015 and 2021.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, also described the appointment as merit-based, while Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, seconded the motion endorsing him.

Disu, 59, joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on May 18, 1992. Before his elevation, he served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit and the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Lagos. He previously held key roles in Lagos and Rivers states.

 

Hours after his inauguration, the new IGP held his first formal engagement with senior officers, during which he announced the constitution of an eight-member committee to oversee the implementation of state policing.

Professor Olu Ogunsakin was named chairman of the committee.

Addressing the force hierarchy, Disu said leadership was “not about position but responsibility,” stressing that professionalism, discipline and accountability must guide policing nationwide.

He underscored the need for restraint in the exercise of authority and respect for human rights, insisting that all Nigerians must be treated with dignity and fairness irrespective of status.

The IGP also pledged to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms, directing that the Public Complaint Unit and the X-Squad be empowered to operate independently.

On decentralisation, Disu said state policing would enable different tiers of government to play more active roles in addressing security challenges across the country.