President Bola Tinubu on Monday presided over a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to formally consider the appointment of Olatunji Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The meeting, which began around 2:15 pm at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, complies with the Police Act 2020, requiring the Police Council to deliberate on the nominee before the President transmits the name to the Senate for confirmation.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the council convened following the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun last Tuesday.
The Police Council is chaired by the President and includes all 36 state governors, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector-General of Police. Key attendees at Monday’s meeting included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Head of Civil Service Didi Walson-Jack, and several state governors. Ministers of the FCT, Police Affairs, and Interior were also present.
Disu, 59, has been serving in an acting capacity since his appointment last Wednesday following Egbetokun’s exit. Sources indicated that Egbetokun was asked to resign due to his resistance to the President’s directive to withdraw police officers from VIP protection duties, his opposition to state policing reforms championed by Tinubu, and alleged conflicts with colleagues, including Disu.
During Disu’s decoration ceremony, President Tinubu tasked him with making the Nigeria Police Force “better, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of Nigerians.”
“Today, we hand you the responsibility of leading the Nigeria Police Force at a critical time in our nation’s journey. You must lead with integrity, prioritise the welfare of your officers, and work tirelessly to restore confidence in the police as a force for good,” the President said.
A native of Lagos Island, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University and master’s degrees in Public Administration and in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology.
Like Egbetokun, Disu served under Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State Governor (1999–2007), acting as the President’s Aide-de-Camp while Egbetokun served as Chief Security Officer. Once confirmed by the Senate, Disu will become the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
