The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged Commissioners of Police (CPs) across the country to strengthen strategic communication, build stronger relationships with the media and enhance public confidence in policing through proactive engagement.
According to an official signed statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, the IGP gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Enhancing Strategic Communication and Media Relations” for Commissioners of Police at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS), Abuja Centre.
The workshop was attended by members of the Force Management Team, resource persons and senior police officers from commands across the country.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), traced the institution’s evolution from Kulende, Ilorin, through Lafia, to its current Abuja Centre.
Ojukwu reminded participants that Police Public Relations Officers do not create the image of the Force but manage it, stressing that the true image of the Nigeria Police Force is shaped by the conduct and professionalism of officers on the field. He urged the Commissioners of Police to transfer the knowledge gained from the workshop to officers under their commands and disclosed that seven resource persons had been assembled to facilitate the training.
Addressing the participants, IGP Disu commended police personnel nationwide for their dedication and operational achievements, noting that media engagement has not traditionally been part of the career progression of many officers before their appointment as Commissioners of Police.
He explained that the workshop was designed to bridge that gap by equipping senior officers with the communication and leadership skills required to effectively engage the public and the media.
The Inspector-General reminded the CPs that their responsibilities extend beyond the prestige of office, describing them as managers and leaders who must remain visible within their communities. He encouraged them to participate in social events, visit schools and leave enduring legacies in their areas of responsibility.
IGP Disu further urged the Commissioners of Police to take ownership of the media space, describing internal security as the Nigeria Police Force’s primary constitutional mandate and reaffirming its position as the country’s foremost security agency.
He also commended the clearance operations led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, as well as the Commissioners of Police in Kogi and other states, for their operational successes.
The Inspector-General called on the CPs to be proactive rather than reactive in their engagements, cultivate strong personal credibility and regard journalists as partners in promoting public safety rather than adversaries.
He urged them to communicate with humility, respond promptly to emerging situations and establish relationships with media practitioners before crises occur.
“Guns protect lives, but your voices protect our reputation,” the IGP said.
The workshop forms part of the Nigeria Police Force’s ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic communication and equip senior officers with the skills required to project a professional, accessible and people-oriented Police Force nationwide.
