The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged Commissioners of Police (CPs) across the country to adopt a proactive approach to policing, strengthen their personal and institutional media presence, and cultivate healthy working relationships with journalists.
The IGP gave the charge on Tuesday while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Enhancing Strategic Communication and Media Relations” for Commissioners of Police drawn from commands nationwide. The workshop, held at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS), Abuja Centre, brought together members of the Force Management Team, resource persons, and senior police officers.
Addressing participants, IGP Disu stressed that effective communication is critical to modern policing, urging the CPs to engage the public with humility, respond promptly to emerging issues, and establish strong relationships with the media before crises arise.
In a release made available to Theluminenews, the force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, noted that the IG emphasized that Commissioners of Police should view journalists as partners in promoting public safety and accountability rather than as adversaries.
“Guns protect lives, but your voices protect our reputation,” the IGP said, underscoring the importance of strategic communication in enhancing public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
The Inspector-General noted that media engagement has not traditionally formed part of the career development of many officers before their promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police, explaining that the workshop was designed to bridge that gap.
He reminded the participants that the responsibilities of a Commissioner of Police extend beyond operational leadership, describing them as managers expected to lead from the front, connect with their communities, and leave lasting legacies wherever they serve.
IGP Disu also encouraged the CPs to participate in community activities, including social events and school engagements, while maintaining visibility and accessibility within their respective commands.
He commended police officers across the country for their dedication to duty and applauded recent security operations led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, as well as Commissioners of Police in Kogi and other states.
Earlier, the Provost of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu, traced the institution’s evolution from Kulende in Ilorin through Lafia to its permanent Abuja Centre.
He reminded participants that Police Public Relations Officers do not create the image of the Force but manage it, stressing that the conduct and professionalism of officers on the field remain the true reflection of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ojukwu urged the Commissioners of Police to replicate the knowledge gained during the workshop within their respective commands, noting that seven resource persons had been assembled to facilitate discussions on strategic communication and media relations.
The two-day workshop is part of the Nigeria Police Force’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the communication capacity of its senior officers and promote a more professional, transparent, and people-centred policing culture across the country