President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Nigeria Police Force to remain professional and impartial in the discharge of its duties ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Tinubu gave the charge at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Perception
He said the Police must not be perceived as serving any political interest, stressing that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status, or location, should feel protected by the Force.
“The police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the Nigerian constitutional order,” Tinubu said.
The Message
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” the president said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led policing, and effective coordination among security and electoral stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Mr Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu assured the Police of the Federal Government’s continued support for strengthening its operational capacity and ongoing reforms.
He said election security went beyond protecting polling stations and electoral materials, adding that it also involved safeguarding citizens and electoral officials, ensuring peaceful campaigns, preventing violence and intimidation, and creating an environment where Nigerians could participate without fear.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to police reform, saying sustainable transformation of the Force would require continued investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, logistics, welfare, and institutional systems.
He urged the Police to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response time, deepen community engagement, deploy technology effectively, and enhance inter-agency collaboration to tackle emerging security threats.
Tinubu commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Police Management Team for their efforts to reposition the Force and respond to security challenges across the country.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices of police officers confronting kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism, and other violent crimes, including those who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
The President urged senior officers to sustain efforts to build public confidence through discipline, accountability, professionalism, and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.
He tasked participants at the retreat with producing a practical and implementable roadmap to strengthen election security and operational preparedness ahead of 2027, while laying the foundation for a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven, and citizen-centered police force.
Tinubu assured officers and men of the Force of the Federal Government’s continued support, while urging them to reciprocate with courage, integrity, discipline, and professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Credit: tribuneonlineng.com
