The Nigeria Police Council, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, confirmed the appointment of Olukayode Egbetokun as the 22nd substantive indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, revealed this to State House correspondents after a meeting of the council at the Aso Rock Villa.
Gaidam said Egbetokun’s confirmation followed his satisfactory discharge of duties in the past three months since his appointment on June 19 and decorattion by Vice President Kashim Shettima a day later.
He explained, “We just had a meeting with Mr President of the National Police Council. The meeting bordered on the confirmation of the Inspector General of Police for his confirmation as substantive Inspector General of Police.
“He (Egebtokun) had been in an acting capacity since he was appointed three months ago. Based on our records and what we have basically observed with him, he has a very rich CV. He has attended several police and security processes and he is imminently qualified to be confirmed as a policeman.
“In my short period as Minister of Police Affairs, I have worked closely with him. I found him to be very honest, transparent and hard-working. So, we consulted Mr President and we said he should be confirmed IGP. He was so confirmed.”
He noted that Egbetokun presented a blueprint for ensuring the security of the country, which indicates his suitability for the office.
Consequent upon the IGP’s presentation, President Tinubu set up a special committee to assess the shortcomings in the 1999 constitution to enhance coordination and align technology and manpower resources towards strengthening the police.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, told State House correspondents that Egbetokun’s confirmation led to extended deliberations concerning the Nigeria Police Force.
Mohammed said, “The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force and the President has formed a special committee to look at all the gaps in the 1999 Constitution with a view to bringing harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigeria Police Force.
The new committee has the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, explained the rationale behind the committee’s formation, saying the Force had not seen meaningful reforms since its creation in 1861.
He cited the IGP’s presentation at the council meeting and the urgent need for reforms, saying, “We observed that there have been no meaningful reforms since the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force. He addressed us on the state of policing in Nigeria. Amongst other things he highlighted, he spoke about the need for technology-driven policing.
“The need for community-based policing, the need to ensure that required budgetary provision is provided for community-based policing, which has been proven to be very effective
“The IGP also remarked on the professionalism of the police, canvassing that each policeman will have endowed certain qualities and they should be encouraged to follow those qualities so that they will be professional.”
Abiodun said the newly-confirmed police chief harped on funding, promising that the “committee of four to five will look at these issues that border on reforms” by “coming up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterise the new Nigeria Police force.”
