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The Inspector General of Police is the head of the Police Force and the most senior and highest-ranking officer in the police service. The person who appoints the IGP is usually the President by recommendations from the Nigeria Police Council.
The current inspector general of police is IGP Kayode Egbetokun. He has been in office since June 19, 2023. This brought the count of IGPs to 22 since Nigeria was in control of the force in 1964.
Chief Louis Edet is the first indigenous Nigerian to occupy the office of Inspector General of Police. The Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja is named after him as “Louis Edet House”.
The Current Inspector General of Police
Born on 4 September 1964, Kayode Egbetokun is the current IGP of the Police. He was appointed as “acting” by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023. Kayode Egbetokun is a native of Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He was first enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 3 March 1990 as a Cadet ASP (Course 16).
Aside from his Police duty, IGP Kayode Egetokun is an academic scholar, having received several degrees from Universities across Nigeria. From the University of Lagos, he has two degrees — a Masters in Engineering Analysis and a Bachelors in Mathematics. He earned his PhD certificate in Peace and Security from Al-hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Before his appointment, the IGP served in the various commands, formations and departments of the Nigeria Police Force. One of particular significance was when he served between 1999 and 2005 as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor of Lagos State, who was at the time Bola Tinubu.
The IGP’s got hobbies too. He loves reading and playing Table Tennis. He’s also a fan of Chelsea FC.
List of Past Inspector General of Police in Nigeria from 1964
Below, we’ve listed in order of year every Inspector General of Police appointed since the country’s independence in 1960.
- IGP Louis Edet: 1964–1966
- IGP Kam Salem: 1966–1975
- IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu: 1975–1979
- IGP Adamu Suleiman: 1979–1981
- IGP Sunday Adewusi: 1981–1983
- IGP Etim Inyang: 1985–1986
- IGP Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta: 1986–1990
- IGP Aliyu Atta: 1990–1993
- IGP Ibrahim Coomassie: 1993–1999
- IGP Musiliu Smith: 1999–2002
- IGP Mustafa Adebayo Balogun: 2002 – 2005
- IGP Sunday Ehindero: 2005–2007
- IGP Mike Mbama Okiro: 2007–2009
- IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo: 2009 – 2010
- IGP Hafiz Ringim: 2010 – 2012
- IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubarkar: 2012 – 2014
- IGP Suleiman Abba: 2014 -2015
- IGP Solomon E. Arase: 2015 – 2016
- IGP Ibrahim Idris: 2016-January 15, 2019
- IGP Abubakar Mohammed Adamu: January 15, 2019 – April 6, 2021
- IGP Usman Ali Alkali Baba: April 6, 2021 – June 19, 2023
- IGP Kayode Egbetokun (Acting): June 19, 2023 – till date.
S/N | Name of Inspector General | Tenure Span | Appointing President |
---|---|---|---|
1 | IGP Louis Edet | 1964-1966 | Azikiwe |
2 | IGP Kam Salem | 1966-1975 | Gowon |
3 | IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu | 1975-1979 | Murtala & Obasanjo |
4 | IGP Adamu Suleiman | 1979-1981 | Shehu Shagari |
5 | IGP Sunday Adewusi | 1981-1983 | Shehu Shagari |
6 | IGP Etim Inyang | 1983-1986 | Buhari |
7 | IGP Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta | 1986-1990 | Babangida |
8 | IGP Aliyu Atta | 1990-1993 | Babangida |
9 | IGP Ibrahim Coomassie | 1993-1999 | Abacha & Abubakar |
10 | IGP Musiliu SMith | 1999-2002 | Obasanjo |
11 | IGP Mustafa Adebayo Balogun | 2002-2005 | Obasanjo |
12 | IGP Sunday Ehindero | 2005-2007 | Obasanjo |
13 | IGP Mike Mbama Okiro | 2007-2009 | Yar’Adua |
14 | IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo | 2009-2010 | Yar’Adua |
15 | IGP Hafiz Ringim | 2010-2012 | Jonathan |
16 | IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubakar | 2012-2014 | Jonathan |
17 | IGP Suleiman Abba | 2014-2015 | Jonathan |
18 | IGP Solomon E. Arase | 2015-2016 | Buhari |
19 | IGP Ibrahim Idris | 2016-2019 | Buhari |
20 | IGP Abubakar Mohammed Adamu | 2019-2021 | Buhari |
21 | IGP Usman Ali Alkali Baba | 2021-2023 | Buhari |
22 | IGP Kayode Egbetokun | 2023-till date | Bola Tinubu |
What is the duty of the Inspector General of Police?
As the highest-ranking official, the Inspector General of Police in Nigeria sets strategic direction, enforces policies, and provides leadership to the police force.
Hence, the IGP’s key responsibilities include resource management, accountability, interagency cooperation, and community engagement to ensure public safety and trust in law enforcement across all states and local government areas.
Kayode Egbetokun is the current Inspector General of Police. He displaced Usman Alkali Baba as the IGP when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him on June 19, 2023. This makes him the 22nd Nigerian Inspector General of Police.
The first Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force was Chief Louis Edet. He served from 1964 to 1966. The Calabar man was appointed on April 1, taking over from the last expatriate in person of Mr. J.E, Hodge.
The immediate past IGP is IGP Usman Alkali Baba. He handed over the baton to IGP (acting) Kayode Egbetokun on June 19, 2023. He replaced Mohammed Adamu in February 2021.
Wrap-up
That’s it! We hope this comprehensive helped you in your research into past Nigerian IGPs. You can tell us in the comment section.
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Abdulbasit Toriola is a versatile freelance writer. On this blog, he writes keenly about Nigeria and Nigerians who are breaking the odds. He tweets @blackboymusings.
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