Less than 24 hours after being sworn in as Nigeria’s 23rd indigenous Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu has hit the ground running.
On Wednesday March 4, 2026, IGP Disu inaugurated an eight member committee to oversee the implementation of state police and the rollout of his broader policing vision for the country, his first major official act since assuming the role substantively.
Professor Olu Ogunsakin, the pioneer Director General of the National Institute of Police Studies in Kano, was appointed to chair the newly inaugurated committee. The committee is expected to develop the policy frameworks and operational guidelines that will define how state police functions across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
Speaking at his first formal engagement with the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force, Disu declared that leadership is not about position but responsibility, stressing that professionalism and accountability must now guide police operations in every command across the country. He added that justice and respect for the rule of law must define policing under his watch.
The new IGP also announced plans to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms, directing that the Public Complaint Unit and the X-Squad be empowered to operate with greater independence to ensure transparency and discipline within the force.
On the question of state police arguably the most consequential reform on his desk, Disu was unambiguous. He explained that decentralising police functions will enable state and local authorities to take active roles in safeguarding their communities, noting that security challenges vary across regions and require local participation for effective solutions.
The committee’s inauguration comes on the back of a swift confirmation process. The Nigeria Police Council unanimously ratified Disu’s appointment on Monday March 2, 2026, during a meeting at the State House presided over by President Tinubu and attended by state governors, the Vice President, the National Security Adviser and senior ministers.
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who spoke glowingly about the new IGP, cited Disu’s tenure as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos between 2015 and 2021 as evidence of his capacity for operational excellence.
He succeeds Kayode Egbetokun, who resigned in late February citing pressing family considerations.
With the state police framework now having a dedicated implementation committee and a new IGP who moved on it within hours of assumption of office, the question is no longer whether state police will happen but how quickly and how effectively.
