... As Force PRO Underscores Vital Role of Communication
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has called for stronger relationships with the media, civil society, community leaders, and international partners, stressing the importance of collaboration and mutual respect.
IGP Egbetokun made this call on Monday while declaring open the 2025 Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officers’ Conference, charging police communicators across the country to take command of public narratives and strengthen trust between citizens and the Force.
He also underscored the need for robust internal communication, saying officers must be well-informed about reforms and institutional expectations to serve effectively
Speaking at the Police Resource Centre, Abuja, the IGP described the annual conference as a “strategic national engagement” aimed at reinforcing the capacity of Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) to manage information, counter misinformation, and project the true image of the Force.
He emphasized that modern policing is driven not only by operational capability but by transparency, communication quality, and public trust, noting that Public Relations Officers now serve as “frontline commanders” in the nation’s information space.
Egbetokun highlighted the increasing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and perception manipulation, stating that the battle for public confidence is as critical as crime-fighting.
“No public institution in Nigeria has suffered more reputational damage from misinformation than the Nigeria Police Force,” he said, urging PPROs to respond swiftly and responsibly to false narratives, especially those spreading on social media.
He directed officers to take “firm, strategic hold” of the digital space, stressing that the Force must lead public conversations instead of reacting to them.
The IGP announced ongoing investments in modern communication infrastructure, digital tools, staff enhancement, and capacity-building programmes to empower PR units nationwide.
He noted that recent postings of Public Relations Officers across commands and the increasing operational autonomy being granted to PR units were part of deliberate reforms to strengthen the Force’s communication framework.
“Your responsibilities go far beyond issuing press releases,” Egbetokun told the officers. “You are strategic advisers, crisis communication managers, and custodians of the image of the Nigeria Police Force.”
Egbetokun reiterated the Force’s commitment to wide-ranging reforms anchored on fairness, accountability, community partnership, and respect for human rights. He charged PPROs to clearly interpret these reforms to the public and promote stories of compassion, service, and sacrifice by police officers nationwide.
He warned against careless communication, urging officers to balance transparency with operational security and protect sensitive investigations at all times.
“Every statement you make can build confidence or fuel suspicion,” he said.
Egbetokun urged participants to approach the conference with seriousness and return to their duty posts better equipped to manage narratives and deepen public confidence in the Police. With a call for recommitment to professionalism, excellence, and integrity, the IGP formally declared the 2025 Police PROs’ Conference open.
“Together, we will secure Nigeria not only through operational strength but through our ability to communicate with wisdom, humility, and vision,” he said.
Speaking while welcoming participants to the 2025 Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officers Conference, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, charged police spokespersons across the country to strengthen their communication strategies to build greater public trust and counter the growing wave of misinformation.
Hundeyin described this year’s theme, “Empowering Communication, Enhancing Trust,” as not only timely but imperative. According to him, the era where misinformation travels faster than facts demands a more proactive, skilled, and compassionate communication approach from the police.
“Effective communication has become the oxygen of modern policing,” he said. “We are gathered here to sharpen our skills, deepen our strategies, and recommit ourselves to telling the Nigeria Police story with clarity, courage, and compassion.”
CSP Hundeyin emphasized that public perception can strengthen or weaken institutional credibility, adding that PROs must be deliberate in shaping accurate narratives, promoting transparency, and engaging citizens constructively.
He further pledged that the Nigeria Police Force would intensify efforts to project the achievements of the present administration under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
“We will do more to showcase the giant strides of this administration. We will bring the police closer to the people, and together, we will lead the charge against fake news, disinformation, and malicious narratives targeted at our noble institution,” he stated.
Mrs. Lawal highlighted that although the Nigeria Police Force plays a central role in maintaining peace, security, and public order, its work can easily be misinterpreted without clear and strategic communication. She commended the workshop as a significant step toward harmonising communication strategies across all commands and formations, adding that it reflects the police leadership’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, and community-oriented policing.
A council member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) also raised concerns over the escalating threat posed by artificial intelligence–driven misinformation, noting that fake news has now “been taken to the next level” with the rise of AI-generated content.
He stressed that proactive strategies must be developed to curb the damage such misinformation inflicts on the public space, warning that the credibility of information ecosystems is increasingly at risk.
Speaking in his capacity as a council member of the NIPR, the regulatory body for spokespersons in Nigeria, he emphasised that every spokesperson must embody what he described as the “seven Cs.” These, he said, are competence, confidence, capacity, conviction, character, and critical thinking—qualities he believes are essential for communicators to effectively navigate today’s complex information landscape.
The annual conference brings together Public Relations Officers from commands and formations nationwide to review communication strategies and chart pathways for improved policing-public engagement.
The week-long conference will feature sessions on crisis communication, digital media strategy, perception management, ethical standards, stakeholder engagement, and audience-focused messaging.
