President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, neutrality and impartiality in the discharge of its responsibilities ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The President gave the charge at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Tinubu stressed that the Police must not be perceived as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution committed to serving Nigerians and protecting the constitutional order.
Tinubu said every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location, must feel protected by the Police, noting that the neutrality and professionalism of the Force were essential to public confidence and the credibility of the nation’s democracy.
“The police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the constitutional order,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” the President said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, intelligence-led operations, professionalism, impartiality and effective coordination among security and electoral stakeholders.
He assured the Police of the Federal Government’s support to enable the Force effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, election security goes beyond protecting ballot papers and polling stations, stressing that it also involves protecting citizens, electoral officials and materials, ensuring peaceful campaigns, preventing violence and intimidation, and creating an environment where Nigerians can participate in the democratic process without fear.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to police reforms, saying meaningful reform requires sustained investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional systems.
He urged the Force to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, embrace technology and enhance inter-agency cooperation in tackling increasingly sophisticated security threats.
The President commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Police Management Team for their efforts to reposition the Force and respond to emerging security challenges.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices of police officers confronting kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the country, including officers who had paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
Tinubu, however, reminded the Force that Nigerians’ expectations remained high, urging officers to build public confidence through discipline, accountability, professionalism and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.
He tasked the senior officers attending the retreat to develop a practical and implementable roadmap for strengthening election security, improving operational preparedness and deepening public confidence.
The President said the roadmap should also look beyond the 2027 elections towards building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred Police Force.
He assured officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that the Federal Government valued their sacrifices and remained committed to supporting them, while stressing that such support must be matched by courage, integrity, discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
