Jane Salihu
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has challenged Commissioners of Police across the country to prioritise public trust and strategic communication, stressing that effective policing depends not only on operational success but also on meaningful engagement with citizens and the media.
The charge came on Tuesday in Abuja as the IGP declared open a two-day workshop on “Enhancing Strategic Communication and Media Relations” for Commissioners of Police drawn from commands nationwide at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS).
Disu said police leaders must embrace proactive communication, cultivate strong relationships with journalists, and engage communities before security challenges arise, rather than waiting until crises occur.
According to him, the office of a Commissioner of Police is more than a symbol of authority, describing CPs as leaders and managers who must remain visible in their communities through school visits, social engagements, and initiatives that leave lasting positive impacts.
The IGP urged the senior officers to strengthen their public image by taking ownership of the media space, noting that the Nigeria Police Force’s responsibility for internal security also requires transparency, accountability, and consistent public engagement.
He reminded the commissioners that while firearms are essential for protecting lives, communication remains critical to safeguarding the reputation of the Force, urging them to see journalists as partners in promoting public safety rather than adversaries.
Disu also commended police officers across the country for their commitment to duty and acknowledged the successes recorded in ongoing security operations, particularly the clearance operations led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force alongside Commissioners of Police in Kogi and other states.
Earlier, the Provost of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu, traced the institution’s development from Ilorin through Lafia to its permanent Abuja Centre.
Ojukwu stressed that the image of the Nigeria Police Force is shaped primarily by the conduct of officers in the field, while public relations officers are responsible for managing and communicating that image. He urged the commissioners to replicate the knowledge gained from the workshop among officers in their respective commands and disclosed that seven resource persons had been assembled to facilitate the training.
The workshop forms part of the Nigeria Police Force’s broader efforts to strengthen leadership communication, improve media relations, and promote a more professional and people-centred approach to policing across the country.
