How Destiny Linked My Career With Egbetokun

How Destiny Linked My Career With Egbetokun – Disu
Disu explained that at the time, Egbetokun served as Chief Security Officer to the governor, he served as the governor’s Aide-de-Camp
Disu noted that neither of them could have imagined at the time that Egbetokun would later become the Inspector-General of Police

The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has been praised for his years of service and reforms within the Nigeria Police Force, as his successor reflected on their long professional relationship, Eko Hot Blog reports.

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Speaking during an event in honour of the outgoing police chief, the new Inspector-General, Olatunji Disu, recalled how their professional paths first crossed during the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he served as Governor of Lagos State.

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Disu explained that at the time, Egbetokun served as Chief Security Officer to the governor, while he served as the governor’s Aide-de-Camp.

According to him, they worked closely together under demanding conditions to ensure the safety of the governor and the Lagos State Government.

“A defining chapter in his professional life was his service in Lagos State Government House, where he served as Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Lagos State when Senator Bola Tinubu was governor,” Disu said.

“While IGP Egbetokun served as Chief Security Officer, I had the honour of serving as Aide-de-Camp to the same governor. Together we shared the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of the Governor and the Government of Lagos State.”

Disu noted that neither of them could have imagined at the time that Egbetokun would later become the Inspector-General of Police and that he would eventually succeed him in the same office.

“At that time, neither of us could have imagined that years later destiny would place him at the helm of the Nigeria Police Force as Inspector-General of Police, and that I would have the honour of succeeding him in that office,” he said.

How Destiny Linked My Career With Egbetokun - Disu — Tunji Disu

The police chief highlighted Egbetokun’s steady rise through the ranks, noting that he served in several command, operational and training roles across the country.

According to him, the former police boss previously commanded the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, led operations within the Police Mobile Force and served as Area Commander in Osogbo and Gusau.

Disu also commended Egbetokun’s contributions to police training and development, pointing to his tenure as Commandant of the Police Training School in Ikeja and later as Deputy Commandant of the Police College in Ikeja.

He added that Egbetokun’s tenure as Inspector-General was guided by a vision of building a professional, service-oriented and rule-of-law-compliant police force.

According to Disu, the former police chief introduced reforms aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, improving professionalism, developing personnel and enhancing public confidence in policing.

He said Egbetokun prioritised intelligence-driven policing, strengthened training programmes and reinforced institutional values such as discipline, accountability and service.

In his remarks, Egbetokun highlighted several reforms introduced during his tenure as Inspector-General of Police.

He said the Intelligence Bureau was expanded into a full department headed by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, while the Legal and Medical units were upgraded to directorate level to improve institutional efficiency.

The former police chief also disclosed that the Force developed its cybercrime centre into a more advanced facility capable of monitoring activities within Nigeria’s cyberspace and supporting modern investigations.

He added that the Nigeria Police improved investigative capacity through the enhancement of the National Criminal Database and expanded professional training for officers across commands up to the divisional level.

According to him, operational presence was strengthened through the creation of additional Police Mobile Force squadrons, new Area Commands and Divisions, and the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad.

Egbetokun also cited progress in police infrastructure, including the redevelopment of police barracks in Kano and Kaduna and the commissioning of modern state command headquarters in Ogun and Adamawa states.

Egbetokun was appointed Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu. He stepped down on February 24, paving the way for Disu’s appointment.

His continued stay in office had sparked controversy in 2024 after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4, but his tenure was later extended following an amendment to the Police Act.