President Bola Tinubu presided over a brief but decisive meeting of the National Police Council on Monday that unanimously endorsed the appointment of Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police.
The presidency’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the council’s decision to correspondents at the State House, Abuja.
This is a pivotal moment for the Nigeria Police Force. Tunji Disu, 59, has been serving in an acting capacity since his appointment last week. He now moves from acting boss to the nominee. His name will be transmitted to the Senate for formal confirmation.
The Police Act 2020 requires the Police Council to consider such appointments before the President refers them to the National Assembly.
What Happened At The State House
The council meeting opened shortly after President Tinubu arrived at about 2:15pm and concluded in roughly 40 minutes.
Present were the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The National Security Adviser and the head of the civil service were also present. Additionally, a clutch of state governors and several cabinet ministers attended.
The attendance list underlines the political weight the presidency placed behind the endorsement. Onanuga told our correspondent the council had “unanimously endorsed Disu as IGP.”
Why The Change Matters
Tunji Disu’s elevation is not just administrative. The Force enters this year under intense public scrutiny. Citizens demand measurable results on kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and the protection of civic space.
Disu’s career includes intelligence, operations, and a stint at the Force Criminal Investigations Department, among others. These accomplishments will now be tested against those hard benchmarks.
Observers will watch how quickly the new inspector-general translates endorsement into operational clarity and institutional reform.
The Exit That Preceded It
Former IGP Kayode Egbetokun submitted a resignation last week that the presidency formally described as prompted by “family issues.”
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter spoke to several national outlets. These sources said that Mr. Egbetokun was summoned to the Presidential Villa. He was informed that he had to step down.
The official explanation contrasts with the accounts from inside the Villa. This has fed speculation about an abrupt management reset at the top of the Force.
What To Expect Next
With the Police Council endorsement complete, the presidency will transmit Disu’s name to the Senate for confirmation.
That legislative process is usually pro forma but not entirely automatic.
Senators may probe the new nominee on strategy, personnel changes, and the circumstances that led to his rapid elevation.
The Senate’s approach will signal how much latitude the new IGP will have in reshaping the Force’s priorities.
Immediate Tests For Disu
The new substantive IGP inherits some immediate operational and political tests.
First is the need to stabilise senior command. Rapid leadership changes can hollow trust within the Force’s ranks and with the public.
Second is the imperative to show measurable progress on high-profile security challenges that are causing daily headlines and electoral anxiety.
Third is the task of balancing demands from state governors. It also involves the Police Service Commission and the federal executive. This is done while preserving professional independence.
How Disu negotiates those pressures will define his early tenure.
A Short Probe Into The Man
Tunji Disu is a career police officer with long service in operational commands and investigative roles. Colleagues describe him as steady and operationally minded.
If those assessments hold, his immediate priority will be to articulate a concise operational plan. The plan should have clear milestones. It should also include stronger public communication.
The Force can’t rely on personnel changes alone to fix systemic problems. Leadership must be coupled with transparent targets and accountability.
Political Layering And Risks
This appointment shows how policing and politics remain tightly bound in Nigeria. The President chairs the Police Council; governors sit on it; the appointment process therefore carries an inherently political logic.
That proximity can be a source of strength. It allows for coordination across federal and state governments. But, it also poses a risk if policing is seen primarily as an instrument of political advantage rather than a public service.
The new IGP must work early to dispel such perceptions.
What Journalists And Citizens Should Watch
- The Senate confirmation hearing — questions asked and answers given.
- Any immediate reshuffle of the senior command and the rationale offered.
- A published or public roadmap for addressing kidnapping, banditry, cultism, and urban crime with timelines and metrics.
- Engagement with state governors on joint operations and funding for policing at the subnational level.
- Signals on police conduct, human rights and public accountability mechanisms.
Conclusion
The Police Council’s unanimous endorsement supports Tunji Disu. It provides the political cover for him to assume Nigeria’s top policing job on a substantive basis. But endorsement is the start not the finish.
The Force faces an unforgiving set of security and reputational challenges. The task now is to convert political approval into practical, measurable safety for Nigerians. The country will judge the new IGP by results.
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