Abuja, March 4, 2026 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday officially swore in Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP), marking a key transition in Nigeria's security leadership. The ceremony took place at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, shortly before the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of the year.
Disu, who had been serving in an acting capacity since late February 2026, took the oath of office at exactly 2:53 pm. The State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Abiodun Oladunjoye, read his citation before the President administered the oath. The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, cabinet ministers, senior government officials, security chiefs, and members of Disu's family.
President Tinubu arrived at the Council Chambers at 2:48 pm, after which the National Anthem was sung, followed by the presentation of citations for the appointees. Immediately following Disu's swearing-in, the President also administered oaths to newly appointed commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
The FCSC commissioners sworn in include Prof. Ngbea Gabriel (Benue State) and Omoregie Idahagbon (Edo State). For the RMAFC, the new commissioners are Abubakar Wamakko (Sokoto), Senator Marafa Abba (Taraba), Ahmed Waziri (Adamawa), Hadizatu Mustapha (Borno), Helen Bob (Bayelsa), and Oladele Gboyega (Osun).
Disu's confirmation as substantive IGP followed the unanimous endorsement of his appointment by the Nigeria Police Council on Monday, March 2, 2026. The Council, chaired by President Tinubu and comprising all 36 state governors, the FCT Minister, and other key stakeholders, provided broad support for the transition. This paved the way for the formal swearing-in, bypassing the need for Senate confirmation in line with established procedures for the IGP position.
The ceremony preceded the FEC meeting, which commenced at 3:01 pm. Dignitaries in attendance included Vice President Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Police Affairs Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Head of the Civil Service Esther Walson-Jack, Chairman of the Police Service Commission Tunji Olaopa, and family members of the new IGP.
Disu's appointment as substantive IGP comes just over a week after he was named acting IGP on February 25, 2026, following the resignation of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, on February 23, 2026. Egbetokun, who had served since June 2023 with a tenure originally set to end in 2027, officially cited "family issues" requiring his undivided attention in his resignation letter, as confirmed by the Presidency's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
However, credible reports from sources within the Presidency and security circles indicate that the resignation was prompted by deeper factors. These reportedly included disagreements over the withdrawal of police officers from Very Important Persons (VIP) protection duties, opposition to the rapid implementation of state policing—a reform strongly supported by the Tinubu administration—and alleged internal disputes and administrative lapses within the Force, such as delays in fund allocations to state commands amid rising insecurity in several regions.
During his decoration as acting IGP last week at the State House, President Tinubu charged Disu to prioritize discipline, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force. In response, Disu pledged to enforce zero tolerance for corruption, impunity, and human rights violations, emphasizing professionalism and accountability.
In one of his first major actions as substantive IGP, Disu on Wednesday inaugurated an eight-member Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police during his inaugural conference with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Chaired by Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, the committee includes senior officers such as CP Bode Ojajuni (Secretary), DCP Okebechi Agora, DCP Suleyman Gulma, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho, and CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd).
Disu tasked the committee with developing policy frameworks, operational guidelines, and mechanisms for training, recruitment, resource allocation, oversight, and inter-governmental coordination to support the decentralization of policing. He described the initiative as "significant and timely," highlighting the need for localized responses to Nigeria's varied security challenges, from banditry in the North-West to militancy in the South-South and urban crime elsewhere.
The new IGP also reiterated his commitment to empowering independent internal oversight units, including the Public Complaints Unit and the X-Squad, to promote transparency and discipline within the Force.
Disu's swift moves signal the Tinubu administration's determination to advance security sector reforms amid persistent national security concerns. His background as a career police officer, including his previous role heading the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Lagos, positions him to lead these efforts.
The swearing-in and subsequent actions have drawn commendations from various quarters, including communities in Rivers State, where Disu hails from, hailing the appointment as a step toward more effective policing.
As Nigeria grapples with multifaceted security threats, Disu's leadership is expected to focus on building a more responsive, accountable, and community-oriented police service, with state policing as a potential cornerstone of future reforms.
