President Bola Tinubu officially decorated Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police and charged him to make the Nigeria Police Force better than he met it. The ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja at a time the country is battling banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes.
Tinubu said Disu’s appointment comes at a defining moment for Nigeria’s security and urged him to strengthen discipline, promote professionalism and restore public trust in the Force. He asked the new police chief to lead firmly but fairly, improve collaboration with other security agencies and make protection of lives and property his top priority.
The President expressed confidence in Disu, recalling his performance during his time in Lagos. He also appreciated the outgoing IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, for his service, saying Nigeria remains grateful for his leadership and dedication to maintaining law and order.
In his response, Disu promised zero tolerance for corruption and impunity within the Force. He said officers would be reminded that citizens are their “boss” and that human rights must be respected at all times. He vowed that disciplinary actions would apply to all ranks without exception.
Disu admitted there are challenges within the police, including public distrust, outdated systems, limited resources and cases of misconduct. He said these issues must be addressed to reposition the Force as a trusted institution.
The new police boss outlined three main priorities: professionalism and modernization, accountability and integrity, and stronger community partnership. He said the Force would adopt intelligence-led policing, improve forensic capacity and embrace digital tools to enhance operations.
On accountability, Disu declared that the era of impunity is over, stressing that any officer who abuses the badge will face consequences. He also promised to strengthen internal oversight systems and make processes more transparent.
Disu further called on Nigerians to support the police by reporting crimes and cooperating with officers. He assured personnel of improved welfare and better working conditions as part of efforts to boost morale.
Born on April 13, 1966, Disu joined the Police in 1992 and has served in several key roles. He previously headed the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos and later led the Intelligence Response Team before becoming Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. Under the amended Police Act, he may serve a four-year tenure if confirmed by the appropriate authorities.