RismadarVoice Reporters, July 22, 2026
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has declared open a two-day workshop on Strategic Communication and Media Relations for Commissioners of Police (CPs), urging senior officers to strengthen public engagement and build productive relationships with the media.
The workshop, held at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS), Abuja Centre, brought together Commissioners of Police from commands across the country, members of the Force Management Team, resource persons, and other senior police officers.
Declaring the workshop open, IGP Disu said effective communication had become an essential leadership responsibility for Commissioners of Police, noting that media engagement had not traditionally formed part of the career progression of many officers before they were appointed CPs.
He described Commissioners of Police as managers who must lead from the front, urging them to actively engage with their host communities by attending social functions, visiting schools, and leaving enduring legacies wherever they serve.
The IGP charged the CPs to dominate the media space, describing internal security as the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and reaffirming its position as the country’s leading security agency.
He commended the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force, as well as the Commissioners of Police in Kogi and other states, for their successes in ongoing security clearance operations.
IGP Disu further urged the senior officers to be proactive rather than reactive, cultivate strong character, and see journalists as strategic partners in policing.
“Guns protect lives, but your voices protect our reputation,” the Inspector-General emphasised the need for prompt public communication and sustained media engagement before crises arise.
Earlier, the Provost of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu, traced the evolution of the institution from Kulende in Ilorin through Lafia to its permanent Abuja Centre.
He reminded participants that while Police Public Relations Officers manage the image of the Force, the conduct of officers on operational duties ultimately shapes public perception of the Nigeria Police.
Ojukwu urged the Commissioners of Police to replicate the knowledge acquired during the workshop within their various commands and disclosed that seven resource persons had been engaged to facilitate the training.
The Nigeria Police Force said the workshop underscores its commitment to equipping senior officers with the strategic communication skills required to promote professionalism, enhance public confidence, and strengthen police-community relations nationwide.
