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IGP Assures On Fight Against Corruption
The Inspector General of Police says the Police will take the war against corruption with all sense of commitment and seriousness for the development of the country.
The Acting IGP, Ibrahim Idris stated this yesterday, in Port Harcourt while presenting his paper at the NBA Police Lawyers Forum at the ongoing Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Idris who was represented by DIG Hycienth Dagara said,
“The Police under my leadership will no longer occupy a second place in the fight against corruption. To this end, the Nigeria police ‘X’ Squad, the Police Special Fraud Unit, the Inspector General of Police Special Investigation Panel, and the monitoring units have been reconstituted, re-invigorated and strengthened to lead the fight against corruption and abuse of office. The fight against corruption will not only focus on the corruption within the force but outside the force.”
Speaking further, IGP Idris noted that the responsibility of the Police is to ensure a secure environment, to guarantee economic development and well-being of the people.
Noting the security challenges facing the country, IGP said the Police force has re-strategised to fight and eliminate the menace from the system.
“Our current security challenges, for example, armed robbery, kidnapping, insurgency, militancy, murder and cattle rustling placed the responsibility on us to do more and to search for new ways to confront this menace.
“I and my force management team are committed and determined to reverse the trend. These vices will not only be stamped out of our national lives but perpetrators will be arrested and effectively prosecuted. This will send a strong signal to the criminally minded people and to the law abiding citizens that it is no longer business as usual.
He added that the support and cooperation of Nigerians informed his decision to establish the ‘eminent persons forum’in all the States, as part of community policing strategy.
He listed the adopted strategies to enhance security in Nigeria as: Technology-based policing,
capacity building, fight against corruption, transparency, accountability and responsiveness, fundamental rights-friendly policing, and full implementation of the new ACJ Act 2015.
He assured that the Police will collaborate with the Attorney General to ensure effective prosecution of all cases.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary of NBA, Police Lawyers Forum, DCP Igbodo David, said the maiden police session in the 56th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association was ractified and inaugurated by the National Executive Council of NBA in 2015
He said, “The police is the foremost security agency with over 35,000 personnel tasked with responsibility of prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of lives and property and due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged, and shall perform such duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them.
“As captured in Section 4 of the Police Act, it is the responsibility of police lawyers, among others, to guide investigation in the gathering, preservation and presentation of evidence, ensure respect for the rights of persons processed by the police, prosecute cases or liaise with the Ministry of Justice in the prosecution of cases investigated by the police, defend the numerous civil suits against the police, and foster close working relationship between the Bar, the Bench and the Police.
“It is a forum that will afford the Inspector General of Police an opportunity to inform the Bar and other invited guests, the operational strategic approach being adopted by the current Police Management Team, to tackle the various security challenges”, Igbodo added.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.