News
Disu Takes Over As New IGP …Declares Total War On Corruption, Impunity
President Bola Tinubu has charged the newly decorated acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to make the Nigeria Police Force better than he met it, as the country grapples with banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities.
The President, who personally decorated Disu with his new rank at the State House, Abuja, said the appointment comes at “a defining moment for our nation’s security,” expressing confidence in the new police chief’s ability to restore public confidence in the Force.
“The commitment that I expect from you is for you to make it better than you met it. And I’m sure you can do it. Nigeria is challenged right now with banditry, terrorism and all sorts of criminal activities,” Tinubu stated during the decoration ceremony on Wednesday.
The President, who drew on his personal knowledge of Disu from his tenure as Lagos State Governor, said he believes in the dedication the new IGP exhibited while serving in Lagos.
“I know your record. I believe in the dedication that you’ve exhibited while you were in Lagos and I was the Governor of Lagos State.
“Now you assume this responsibility at a defining moment for our nation’s security,” the President said.
Tinubu outlined specific expectations for the new police chief, emphasising discipline, professionalism, and inter-agency collaboration.
“I expect you to strengthen the discipline, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police.
“Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that safety of lives and property remains your highest priority,” he charged.
Acknowledging the magnitude of the task ahead, the President assured Disu of his full support.
“It is a daunting challenge. I know you can do it.
“You have my full support as you advance the security pillars of the Renewed Hope agenda.
“You are a straightforward individual, committed and respected. You have sufficient discipline,” Tinubu stated.
The President urged the new IGP to draw from the experience of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, who attended the ceremony.
“You can draw from the experience of Kayode Egbetokun who had been there before you.
“You have been part of the thinking, and you’ve been part of the innovation.
“The challenge as you hold the baton of this leadership is the belief that you will excel and Nigeria will prevail,” he said.
Tge President expressed gratitude to the former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun for his service while linking his legacy to the success of his successor.
“To the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, I extend the gratitude of the entire country.
“Nigeria, we are a grateful nation to you for your dedication in service, expression of good leadership attributes within the Force.
“You have served with commitment and distinction, and Nigeria appreciates your contribution to maintaining law and order in our country,” the President said.
He added, “What you should look back and remember is this: you have not succeeded without a good successor.
“Therefore, the success of Tunji Disu as IGP, when confirmed, is part of your responsibility and the joy you should look forward to.”
Tinubu noted that Disu’s previous role as Principal Staff Officer to Egbetokun positioned him well for the new assignment.
“Having been part of your Principal Staff Officer, I have no doubt he understands the ins and outs of the operation.
“He will only improvise. He’s an operational person from what I know,” the President stated.
The decoration ceremony, which took place at 4:00 pm at the President’s office, had in attendance Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.
President Tinubu personally pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform, marking the formal transfer of leadership of Africa’s largest police force.
In his response, Disu pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him, vowing to end impunity and enforce zero tolerance to corruption within the Force.
“The President mentioning a lot of activities about me, mentioning areas I’ve worked, mentioning successes I’ve recorded as a policeman, brought emotion to me, almost brought me to tears,” Disu told State House correspondents.
He added, “I will let them know that the era of impunity is over. I will ensure that I train them and encourage them to follow human rights. I will ensure that they know that I will try to follow a regime of zero tolerance to corruption.”
The new police chief emphasised that Nigerian citizens are the ultimate bosses of the police.
“One of the first lectures I’m going to have with my men, I’m going to talk to them, let them know that the citizen, the citizen of the country, are the boss. No police anywhere in the world can succeed without the cooperation of members of the public,” Disu stated.
Egbetokun, in his remarks, expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to surpass his achievements.
“I invested in likely successors in the Nigerian Police Force, and I’m happy that one of those that I’ve invested in has been found most suitable for the job. I have so much confidence that he would surpass what I have done,” Egbetokun stated.
The decoration came barely 24 hours after Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday, citing family issues that require his undivided attention.
The new Police Chief later proceeded to the Police Headquarters to assume duty following his decoration by President Tinubu earlier in the day.
He took his first salute as Inspector-General from members of the Quarter Guard and other officers at the Force Headquarters after returning from the Presidential Villa at about 4:15 p.m. He thereafter proceeded to the official handover ceremony with Egbetokun.
Disu outlined three priorities for his tenure: professionalism and modernisation; accountability and integrity; and community partnership.
However, multiple Presidency sources told our correspondent that Egbetokun was asked to step down during a meeting with the President on Monday evening at the Presidential Villa.
Disu’s appointment came just 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
However, under the amended Police Act, which allows Inspectors-General of Police to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, Disu may remain in office until 2030.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.
Born on April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island, Lagos State, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and has served for over three decades across multiple operational and leadership roles.
He rose to national prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos State, where he served for six years. Under his leadership, the unit won the Best Anti-Crime Squad award in West Africa in 2016.
On August 2, 2021, he was appointed to head the Intelligence Response Team, replacing the suspended Abba Kyari.
Before his elevation to IGP, Disu was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. He was also a Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBE) has trained 1,000 newly recruited teachers with a view to raising standards in public primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
The two-day orientation and capacity building programme held in Port Harcourt introduced the teachers to civil service rules, classroom management practices, and professional conduct expected of educators in the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, told the newly recruited teachers that teaching demands more than academic qualifications, and called for discipline, diligence, and a strong commitment to service.
He described teaching as a noble profession that is central to the development of the state.
The recruitment, he said, reflects the government’s investment in children and long-term development.
“Education is the foundation of societal progress, and basic education is where that foundation is laid,” Nwagor stated.
He urged the teachers to shape the values and character of pupils during their most formative years.
He pledged continued support from the Ministry of Education through training, resources, and an environment that allows teachers to perform effectively.
Nwagor directed RSUBEB to reject transfer requests from rural to urban schools, saying the newly employed teachers have an obligation to serve where they are posted and help strengthen education in those communities.
In his opening remarks, the RSUBEB Chairman, Hon. Sam Oge, explained that the recruitment process began in 2023 under the previous board, adding that after assuming office, he consulted widely and secured Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s approval to complete the exercise.
Oge said the selection was competitive, with 1,000 candidates chosen from more than 5,000 applicants, and urged the teachers to treat the opportunity seriously and avoid lobbying for reposting.
He directed the teachers to resume at their assigned schools immediately, saying request for reposting will not be entertained.
The former RSUBEB Chairman, Ven. Dr. Fyneface Akah, who delivered the keynote address, described the orientation as the teachers’ formal entry into the civil service.
He urged them to be creative, purposeful, and open to learning on the job.
Akah stressed that teachers have a role in restoring values lost to moral decline, and urged them to model national values and see their work as a calling with lasting impact on the society.
He thanked the State Government for approving the recruitment, noting that the exercise will improve access to quality basic education across the State.
Akujobi Amadi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that no fewer than 1.4 million members of the National Youth Service Corps will be deployed for the 2027 general elections.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig Gen Olakunle Nafiu, at the Yakubu Gowon House, headquarters of the scheme, in Abuja.
Amupitan, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, described the meeting with the NYSC senior management team as more than a formal courtesy visit, saying it was also a mission of gratitude.
According to him, the NYSC remains a critical pillar in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He noted that corps members had participated in virtually every election cycle since 1999, stressing that, “INEC cannot conduct elections in Nigeria without the NYSC.
“As the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I am honoured to discuss our collaborative efforts toward ensuring seamless and credible elections in Nigeria.
“You provide the heartbeat of our field operations. When we speak of election manpower, we are essentially speaking of corps members.
“They are the most dedicated, educated and patriotic election duty staff we have, and their presence at polling units brings a level of neutrality and public confidence that is irreplaceable.
“They form the backbone of our election processes, especially as ad hoc staff, whose dedication, discipline and patriotism are critical to the success of our elections,” he added.
Amupitan said institutional data from the 2023 general election showed the importance of the partnership between INEC and the NYSC.
He explained that INEC deployed about 1.2 million ad hoc staff for the 2023 elections, with over 70 per cent, nearly 850,000 personnel drawn from corps members and student volunteers.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 elections, the INEC chairman said more than 1.4 million ad hoc staff would be engaged, with corps members making up the majority.
“For the 2027 general election, we will require 707,384 ad hoc staff for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
“The same number will be needed for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027, making a total of 1,414,768,” he said.
He added that INEC would also require 52,446 corps members for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as by-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano states.
Amupitan said corps members accounted for nearly 90 per cent of Registration Area Officers and Presiding Officers in many states during previous elections.
“These young Nigerians did not just facilitate voting; they protected the sanctity of the ballot in 176,846 polling units across some of the most difficult terrains in the country,” he said.
He further praised the corps members for their role in off-cycle elections, particularly the Anambra governorship election and the FCT Area Council polls.
According to him, their digital proficiency contributed significantly to the seamless operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
“In those exercises, it was the digital proficiency of corps members that ensured the seamless performance of our BVAS, proving they are the tech-savvy backbone of our modern democracy,” he added.
Amupitan acknowledged the sacrifices made by corps members during elections and assured that INEC would continue to work with the NYSC and security agencies to strengthen safety measures and welfare packages for them.
As the 2027 general election approaches, we are committed to ensuring adequate mobilisation and preparedness of NYSC members for this important national assignment,” he said.
He also noted that the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, scheduled for June 20 and August 15, respectively, alongside several by-elections, would serve as tests for innovations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding, Brig. Gen. Nafiu thanked INEC for its continued collaboration with the scheme.
He recalled that the Memorandum of Understanding between both organisations was signed in 2011 and had been periodically renewed.
Nafiu described corps members as credible, reliable and easily trainable manpower.
“The last batch of millennials will soon exit the scheme, leaving behind Gen Z corps members known for their digital savviness, which will benefit INEC,” he said.
He assured the commission of the NYSC’s continued support in both the 2027 general elections and upcoming off-cycle elections.
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