Acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, assumed office, calling for interagency collaboration among the nation’s security organisations to tackle crime.
Recall that Egbetokun was decorated at the State House on Tuesday by the vice president, Kashim Shettima, as the 22nd IGP.
The new IGP also promised to secure the nation, adding that the Nigeria Police Force will also strive for excellence, transparency, and accountability to citizens.
Speaking during the official handing and taking over ceremony between him and the former IGP, Usman Baba, Egbetokun said that much still needed to be done to improve policing in Nigeria, adding that he was aware of the enormous responsibility that accompanies his appointment.
The IGP said, “The Nigeria Police Force will strive for excellence, transparency, and accountability. We will also include a technology-driven approach to leveraging other techniques to ensure effective and efficient of resources.
“We will provide support structures for police officers that would cater for their physical, and psychological needs. We will introduce programmes to strengthen the minds and hearts of every officer. We will secure the nation.”
Speaking on the importance of community policing as one policy trust of his administration, Egbetokun noted that he planned to strengthen the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Force as he further appealed for cooperation and teamwork, promising to run a transparent and integrity-driven regime.
He further appealed to Nigerians to support the police in the fight against criminal activities, while noting that he hoped to build a stronger inter-agency collaboration and deepen the technology approach to guaranteeing internal security.
Meanwhile, the former IGP, Baba, stated that he believed he has left the police in a better place than he met it, noting that he focused more in the beautification of the Nigeria Police Force.
It would be recalled that during his time as the IGP, Baba planted flowers at the Force headquarters car park and stopped all manner of cars from coming into the Force headquarters apart from very senior Police officers.
