Nigeria’s President Tinubu Swears in 23rd Police Chief

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Tunji Disu as Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector-General of Police at the State House in Abuja, ushering in a new phase in the leadership of the country’s police force.

Held at the Council Chambers just before the Federal Executive Council meeting, the ceremony drew senior government officials amid rising discussions over national security, protest risks and the future of policing in Africa’s most populous nation.

The president also administered oaths of office to six commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and two members of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) during the ceremony.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the ceremony, Disu said the police are closely monitoring emerging security threats and are aware of various groups operating nationwide and their possible external influences. He added that patrols have been strengthened across the country to improve response and public safety.

On professional conduct, the new police chief stressed that heightened vigilance must be matched with discipline, warning officers not to take the law into their own hands and urging them to maintain the highest professional standards.

Disu also weighed in on the long-running debate over the establishment of state police, describing the reform as inevitable and emphasizing that it should function as a partnership rather than a challenge to the authority of the federal force.

His swearing-in follows his appointment as acting Inspector-General on February 24 after Kayode Egbetokun stepped down. The appointment was later confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council on March 2.