By Nkechi Eze
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, declared open the Conference of Heads of Police Healthcare Facilities Nationwide, delivering a strongly worded charge on the future of medical services within the Nigeria Police Force and their expanding role in shaping modern policing.
The conference, held with the theme “Transforming Policing in Nigeria: The Evolving Role of the Directorate of Force Medical Services,” brought together senior police medical professionals from across the country to review current realities, assess institutional progress and reposition the Force Medical Services for enhanced efficiency.
In his keynote remarks, the IGP said the future of policing now depends not only on strategic operations and logistical preparedness but also on the physical, emotional, and psychological resilience of personnel. He described the gathering as another demonstration of the Force’s commitment to safeguarding the well-being of officers, who, he noted, work daily on the frontlines of national security.
Tracing the institutional history of police medical services, Egbetokun recalled that the establishment began in August 1975 at Alagbon, Lagos, and has expanded steadily over the last five decades. He noted that the system now boasts 64 police healthcare facilities spread across the country, providing medical services to police personnel, their families, and persons in lawful custody. This growth, he said, underscores the essential role of specialised healthcare in sustaining police operations and maintaining officer morale.
The IGP further highlighted the significance of August 2025 when exactly fifty years after its creation, the Force Medical Services was elevated to a full Directorate. He noted that this elevation was not a ceremonial gesture but a strategic move that acknowledges the centrality of healthcare to operational readiness, professional effectiveness, retention of skilled personnel, and overall policing outcomes.
Egbetokun used the platform to outline the renewed expectations for the Directorate, stressing the need for a major shift from a merely supportive medical system to one that prioritises preventive care. He called for the development of coordinated medical frameworks, the strengthening of clinical specialisations within police hospitals, and the evolution of a fully networked and professional healthcare system across all facilities.
He commended flagship institutions such as the Police Hospital Falomo in Lagos and the Police Hospital Akure in Ondo State, describing them as exemplary centres that continue to offer specialised services while also contributing to national development by training intern nurses and house officers. Such institutions, he added, should serve as models for other police hospitals nationwide.
As the conference commenced its technical sessions, the IGP urged participants to think broadly and innovatively as system builders. He called on them to address critical issues such as digital health integration, mental health support for officers, emergency response coordination, trauma and critical-care preparedness, sustainable staffing, professional accreditation, and continuous medical training.
Egbetokun also paid tribute to officers serving within the medical directorate, applauding their dedication and describing their often unnoticed contributions as indispensable to the operational strength of the Nigeria Police Force. He emphasised that effective policing cannot thrive without a healthy, motivated, and medically supported workforce.
Declaring the conference open, the IGP charged the participants to ensure that their deliberations go beyond routine discussions and yield measurable outcomes that will strengthen the police medical architecture for future generations.
“Let this conference be a turning point, one defined by strategy, purpose, and results,” he said, signalling a renewed commitment to building a robust, modern, and responsive healthcare system within the nation’s premier law enforcement institution.
