President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tasked the Nigeria Police Force with ensuring that the 2027 General Elections are conducted in an atmosphere of peace, security and confidence.
Tinubu gave the charge on Monday at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, where he stressed the need for careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality and intelligence-led policing ahead of the elections.
Represented at the conference by a senior government official, the President said the police had a central role in protecting voters, electoral officials and materials, while preventing violence, intimidation and other threats capable of undermining the democratic process.
He said, “Every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location must feel protected by the police.”
The President urged the Force to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, embrace technology and enhance inter-agency cooperation, noting that criminal networks were becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Tinubu also charged the police to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality, stressing that the Force must be seen as a national institution serving Nigerians rather than any political interest.
He commended Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the leadership of the Force for efforts to reposition the police and respond to emerging security challenges, including kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and violent crime.
The President said the Federal Government would continue to support police reforms through investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional systems.
He urged senior police officers at the retreat to develop a practical and implementable roadmap that would strengthen election security, improve operational preparedness and deepen public confidence.
According to him, the roadmap should also look beyond the 2027 elections towards building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred police service capable of responding to Nigeria’s evolving security needs.
Tinubu assured police personnel that the Federal Government recognised their sacrifices and remained committed to supporting them, while urging them to reciprocate with courage, integrity, discipline and professionalism.
He said the ultimate responsibility of the Force was to protect Nigerians and safeguard the country’s democratic future.
