By Samuel Ike, Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will build on lessons from previous elections to ensure professionalism and improved performance before, during and after the 2027 general elections.

Disu gave the assurance after a conference involving commissioners of police and other senior officers, where the Force reviewed its performance in recent elections, identified shortcomings and examined areas requiring improvement. He said the experience gained would guide preparations for the forthcoming polls, expressing confidence that the police would meet public expectations and uphold professional standards throughout the electoral process.

The IGP spoke at the launch of The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force, authored by 96 year old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Stella Okuyiga, one of the first 20 female officers recruited into the Force in 1955. He described the publication as an important contribution to preserving institutional history and ensuring that the sacrifices and achievements of pioneering women officers are documented for future generations.

Disu disclosed that the police would make copies of the book available to training institutions to enable officers to learn from the experiences of the pioneers. He said the publication celebrated courage, determination and service, while encouraging young women to pursue careers and leadership positions in law enforcement. He also recalled promising Okuyiga that he would support the publication after meeting her and learning about her efforts to document the history of female policing.

Okuyiga expressed gratitude for the support she received, describing the book as a lasting record of her experiences and those of the women who helped shape the Force. She observed that policing had changed considerably since her recruitment in 1955, particularly because of population growth and evolving security challenges. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, commended her for preserving this important history and supported the book launch with a donation of ₦20 million.

Also speaking at the event, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Force Gender Adviser, AIG Aishatu Abubakar, highlighted the growing importance of women’s contributions to intelligence gathering and contemporary policing. She stressed that tackling crimes such as kidnapping, terrorism and sexual violence requires sound judgement, intelligence and effective engagement, alongside operational capacity. The event reinforced the importance of institutional learning, gender inclusion and professional development as the police prepare for the 2027 elections and confront Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.