Jane Salihu
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has challenged officers of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the ideas, values and professional standards championed by the late Inspector-General of Police, Solomon E. Arase, continue to shape policing in Nigeria.
Disu gave the charge on Monday in Abuja while paying tribute to the late former IGP at the inaugural memorial lecture held in his honour at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi.
The IGP described Arase as an exceptional police officer, cerebral leader, consummate professional and mentor whose contribution to police reform, professional development and institutional strengthening left an enduring mark on the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, Arase’s greatest strength was not only his intellectual capacity but his ability to combine professional excellence with humanity and a deep understanding of the people at the centre of policing.
“Policing is ultimately about people, protecting their lives, respecting their dignity and building their confidence in the Police,” Disu said, stressing the importance of maintaining a people-oriented approach to law enforcement.
The IGP, who spoke of his personal relationship with the late police chief, said Arase was more than an officer who attained the highest rank in the Force, describing him as a mentor, counsellor, gentleman and friend whose warmth and wisdom touched the lives of those around him.
He noted that Arase firmly believed in the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to evolve, adding that his contributions to policing and institutional development remained relevant to the Force’s continuing efforts to strengthen professionalism.
Disu said the death of the former IGP represented a major loss to the Police Force and the country, but urged Nigerians and serving police officers to look beyond mourning and focus on preserving the values that defined his life and career.
“Today, however, we are not gathered merely to mourn his passing. We are gathered to celebrate a life of service, intellect, integrity, humanity and sacrifice,” he said.
The IGP maintained that the most meaningful tribute to Arase would be for those he left behind to live by the principles that guided his service rather than merely celebrate his accomplishments.
He commended the Police Veterans Foundation for organising the inaugural memorial lecture, describing the initiative as an important platform for keeping Arase’s memory alive while using his legacy to sustain conversations on the future of policing in Nigeria.
The memorial lecture, according to Disu, should therefore serve a purpose beyond remembrance by encouraging a new generation of police officers to embrace professionalism, intellectual development, integrity and respect for human dignity.
He expressed appreciation to Arase’s family, friends, colleagues and associates for preserving his legacy and ensuring that his contributions to policing remain part of national discourse.
The IGP concluded by observing that although Arase’s voice had fallen silent, his ideas, example and impact continued to speak, urging the Police Force to keep those values alive in its service to the nation.
The inaugural memorial lecture was organised in honour of the late IGP Solomon Arase, who served as the 18th Inspector-General of Police of Nigeria, and brought together members of the Police community and other stakeholders to reflect on his life, career and contributions to policing.
