IGP Disu’s inaugural speech signals new era for Nigeria Police – Ex-DIG Zanna

A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, has praised the inaugural speech delivered by the new Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, describing it as a pivotal moment that could signal a new chapter of people-oriented policing in Nigeria.

Responding to the IGP’s first official address, Ibrahim said the strong focus on personnel welfare, housing, pensions and professional standards has revived cautious but sincere optimism about meaningful reform within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly at a period when public confidence has been deeply shaken by longstanding institutional difficulties.

The former DIG noted that the true weight of the speech rests not only in its delivery but in its acknowledgement of a critical reality — that a force battling low morale cannot adequately safeguard the country.

“For too long, national conversations about policing have focused almost exclusively on crime statistics and enforcement operations,” he noted. “But officers who are uncertain about their welfare, retirement security, or living conditions cannot be expected to operate at their highest professional standards. Internal reform is the foundation of external credibility.”

Ibrahim stressed that building a genuinely people oriented police institution depends on trust, which must be earned through professionalism, fairness in enforcement, and firm accountability where misconduct occurs.

He advised the new police leadership to ensure that reform pledges are swiftly translated into concrete, measurable outcomes.

Outlining what he described as four essential pillars for the administration’s success, Ibrahim began with the urgent need to formalize welfare reforms. He said housing initiatives, pension management, healthcare access and improved working environments should move beyond policy declarations and be embedded in structured, transparent frameworks with clear timelines and monitoring systems. “When officers feel valued, morale improves and with it, performance,” he added.

Secondly, he highlighted the importance of deepening professional standards across the Force. Ongoing training in community policing strategies, intelligence-led policing, technology-based crime detection and strict compliance with human rights principles, he argued, are indispensable in addressing contemporary security challenges.

On accountability, Ibrahim maintained that there must be zero tolerance for impunity. According to him, restoring public trust requires not just reducing crime rates but ensuring visible sanctions for wrongdoing within the Force. “Impunity erodes legitimacy; accountability restores it,” he warned, advocating prompt, transparent and equitable internal disciplinary processes.

The fourth pillar, he said, should centre on strengthening engagement with communities. Establishing structured dialogue forums, effective citizen feedback channels and proactive communication mechanisms are crucial to repositioning police officers as collaborators in public safety rather than adversaries.

Despite the renewed enthusiasm, the retired DIG cautioned that progress could easily be reversed by political interference, broken promises or selective enforcement, all of which could rapidly diminish public trust.

“The success of this tenure will depend not merely on vision, but on consistency, courage, and the willingness to institutionalize reforms that outlive one administration,” he said.

Ibrahim concluded that the country requires far more than superficial adjustments to policing structures, insisting that only deep-rooted institutional reform can restore lasting confidence. If the IGP sustains his commitment to welfare, professionalism, accountability and community partnership, he said, the current moment could represent a historic shift for law enforcement nationwide.

“Hope has been rekindled,” he stated. “The task now is to convert that hope into enduring reform.”