Tunji Disu, the acting inspector-general of police (IGP), says his elevation to the top job is humbling and deeply emotional, coming at a time he least expected.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Disu as the 23rd IGP on
Tuesday, following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun on the grounds of
“pressing family issues”.
After a briefing at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday,
the president decorated Disu with his new rank.
Speaking shortly after taking charge at the force
headquarters, Disu said the development means a great deal to him, expressing
gratitude to Tinubu for finding him worthy of the position.
“The appointment means a lot to me because of my love for
the profession and for the country. I was not expecting it, and I thank the
president for finding me worthy,” he said.
He described the president’s public remarks about his career
as both touching and encouraging, adding that the acknowledgement of his past
assignments and achievements shows close attention to officers serving across
the country and challenges him to deliver even more.
Disu pledged to prioritise peace, stability and national
cohesion, stressing that citizens remain the “real bosses” of the police.
He said one of his first engagements with officers would
focus on reminding them that policing anywhere in the world cannot succeed
without public cooperation.
The acting IGP also promised to prioritise the welfare of
officers, noting that motivated personnel are better positioned to give their
best.
On discipline and accountability, Disu declared that the era
of impunity is over, pledging strict adherence to human rights standards and a
zero-tolerance stance on corruption within the force.
While acknowledging the country’s current security
challenges, including banditry and insurgency, he commended officers for their
hard work and vowed to boost morale, improve coordination and strengthen
operational effectiveness.
Also speaking, Egbetokun, the immediate past IGP, expressed
gratitude to Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him over the years — from his
time as chief security officer (CSO) during his tenure as governor of Lagos and
when he was appointed as IGP.
Egbetokun described the handover as significant, noting that
he shares a long history of mentorship with Disu under Tinubu’s leadership.
He recalled a lesson from Tinubu during his days as Lagos
governor — that a good leader must have a succession plan and invest in likely
successors.
Egbetokun said he deliberately invested in capable officers
within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and expressed satisfaction that one of
them has now emerged as acting IGP.
He highlighted Disu’s role in key assignments under his
administration, including intelligence coordination, inter-agency
collaboration, dismantling criminal syndicates and implementing presidential
directives such as the withdrawal of police personnel from unauthorised very
important personality (VIP) protection.
Expressing confidence in his successor, Egbetokun said he
believes Disu will not only continue ongoing reforms but also surpass his
achievements.
He described the transition as a continuation of shared
goals aimed at strengthening intelligence response, discipline and
professionalism within the force.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com