Tunji Disu, 59, has taken over as acting IGP following Kayode Egbetokun’s resignation. Decorated by President Tinubu
Tunji Disu Takes Charge as Acting IGP: Vows Professional, Accountable Policing for Nigeria
Nigeria’s police force has a new leader at the helm. On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu formally assumed office as acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) during a handover ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja’s Louis Edet House.
The transition followed President Bola Tinubu’s decoration of Disu earlier that day at the Presidential Villa, just 24 hours after appointing the 59-year-old Lagos-born officer to replace Kayode Egbetokun, who resigned citing pressing family considerations.
In his first address as acting IGP, Disu—formerly head of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and most recently in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos—laid out a clear vision centered on three pillars. “My tenure will be built on three clear commitments: professionalism, modernism, and accountability,” he declared before a gathering of senior officers, family members, and staff.
He made a direct appeal to the rank-and-file across the country. “To all officers, I will demand the best from you because the people we serve deserve nothing less. Integrity, compassion, courage—these are not optional qualities; they are the job. But I make this promise in return: I will fight for your welfare, your dignity, and the conditions you need to serve effectively. You will not be asked to perform miracles with nothing,” Disu said firmly.
Emphasizing visible and credible leadership, he added: “Leadership in this service from this day forward must be visible, accountable, and worthy of being followed.”
Brushing aside the wave of congratulatory messages that followed his surprise appointment, Disu stressed action over ceremony. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is not the end of a ceremony. This is the beginning of the work,” he said, thanking President Tinubu for the trust placed in him.
Outgoing IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who handed over the reins, expressed confidence in his successor and urged continuity. “As I hand over to my successor—one chosen among the best—I do so with confidence in his competence, experience, and strategic capacity. The foundation has been reinforced; the system recapitulated; the reform trajectory clearly defined,” Egbetokun stated.
He charged Disu to build on recent gains, including stronger inter-agency collaboration, enhanced accountability, improved officer welfare through timely promotions, insurance, housing, and training, and targeted operations that disrupted kidnapping and criminal networks. “Public trust cannot be commanded by authority; it must be earned through integrity, transparency, and measurable results,” Egbetokun remarked. “In progress must not pause; it must accelerate.”
At the decoration ceremony, President Tinubu voiced strong backing for Disu, drawing on his track record during Tinubu’s time as Lagos governor. “I made this decision for you to assume this responsibility. I know your record. I saw the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor. Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level, and ensure that the safety of lives and property remains our highest priority,” Tinubu told him.
The president further urged innovation amid Nigeria’s security challenges. “Nigeria is challenged with banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities. You will be part of the thinking and innovation to overcome them,” he said, according to a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
Born April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island, Disu enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. His career spans roles as Divisional Police Officer in multiple states, head of the Intelligence Response Team (previously led by Abba Kyari), Commissioner of Police in Rivers and FCT, and AIG promotion last year. A member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Disu now steps into one of Nigeria’s most demanding security roles with a mandate to modernize and restore public confidence in policing. Read More
