President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday decorated Tunji Disu with his new rank as acting Inspector-General of Police during a ceremony at the Presidential Office in State House, Abuja.
The event, held around 4 p.m., was attended by key government officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the immediate past IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.
President Tinubu charged the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to restore peace and strengthen security nationwide.
“For you to assume this responsibility, I know your record,” the president said.
“I believe in the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor,” he added.
Tinubu described the appointment as coming at a defining moment for national security.
“You assume this responsibility at a defining moment for our nation’s security. I expect you to strengthen discipline, enhance inter-agency collaboration and restore peace,” he said.
The president urged him to rebuild public confidence in the police.
“Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that safety of lives and property remains our highest priority,” Tinubu said.
“It’s a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my word; you have my full support,” he added.
Tinubu said Nigeria was confronted with banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities.
“You will be part of the thinking and innovation to overcome them. Nigeria will prevail,” he said.
The president also paid tribute to the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“To the outgoing Inspector-General, we are a grateful nation. Nigeria appreciates your contribution to maintaining law and order,” he said.
Responding, Disu thanked the president esident for the confidence reposed in him.
“It came at a time I was not expecting it. I thank the president for finding me fit to be appointed as Inspector-General of Police,” he said.
He told State House Correspondents that the president’s remarks about his career were deeply moving.
“It shows the president took his time to monitor officers working across the country. It is a challenge for me to do what I am known for,” he said.
Disu pledged to prioritise citizens’ welfare and police professionalism.
“I’m going to let my men know that the citizens are the bosses. No police anywhere can succeed without the cooperation of members of the public,” he said.
He promised zero-tolerance for corruption and impunity within the force.
“I will ensure they follow human rights and maintain a regime of zero tolerance to corruption,” Disu vowed.
He acknowledged the extant security challenges and promised to boost morale to tackle insurgency and other threats.
“All I need to do is channel their morale and thoughts to make things better,” he said.
Disu’s appointment came 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he would attain the mandatory retirement age of 60. However, the amended Police Act allows an Inspector-General of Police to serve a four-year tenure irrespective of age, meaning he could remain in office until 2030.
During the ceremony, Tinubu commended Egbetokun for his service to the nation after the former police chief submitted his resignation, citing family reasons. A statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the President accepted the resignation and announced Disu’s appointment.
Disu will serve in an acting capacity pending confirmation by the Nigeria Police Council, after which his name will be forwarded to the Senate for approval.
Also Read: DIGs may retire as Disu becomes IGP
His appointment is expected to trigger the retirement of several senior officers, including some Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, in line with the tradition that senior officers vacate positions when a junior colleague becomes IGP. Sources within the Police Service Commission suggested that between 15 and 20 senior officers could exit the force as a result.
Born on April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992 and has served for more than three decades in various operational and leadership roles. He studied English Education at Lagos State University and holds master’s degrees in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University and in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.
Disu gained national prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, where he led reforms that earned the unit regional recognition. In August 2021, he was appointed head of the Intelligence Response Team, replacing Abba Kyari.
He has served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory and, before his elevation, was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.
Beyond policing, Disu is an accomplished judoka, holding a third-dan black belt and winning medals at national and international competitions, including the U.S. Open Judo Championship.
His leadership during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, where Rapid Response Squad ambulances were deployed to assist injured demonstrators, drew public commendation.
Disu is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
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