With a promise to secure Nigeria, acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun yesterday assumed office at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja as the 22nd police boss.
The IG said the police will also strive for excellence, transparency and accountability.
He spoke while taken the baton from his predecessor Alkali Usman at the Louis Edet House, FHQ, Abuja.
Egbetokun, who was decorated at the State House on Tuesday by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, noted that much still needs to be done to improve policing in the country, adding that he was aware of the enormous responsibility that accompanies his appointment.
He said: “The Nigeria Police Force will strive for excellence, transparency, and accountability. We will also include a technology-driven approach to leveraging other techniques to ensure effective and efficient of resources. “We will provide support structures for police officers that would cater for their physical, and psychological needs. We will introduce programmes to strengthen the minds and hearts of every officer. We will secure the nation.”
Stressing the importance of community policing as one policy trust of his administration, he noted that he plans to strengthen the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the Force, as he further appealed for cooperation and teamwork, promising to run a transparent and integrity-driven regime.
IG Egbetokun also appealed to Nigerians to support the police in the fight against criminal activities, while noting that he hopes to build a stronger inter-agency collaboration and deepen the technology approach to guaranteeing internal security.
He also called for interagency collaboration among the nation’s security organisations to tackle crime.
The IG said: “We will provide support structures for police officers that would cater for their physical and psychological needs. We will introduce programmes to strengthen the minds and hearts of every officer. We will secure the nation.”
Handing over the baton, Usman said he was leaving the police better than he met it.
He asked for forgiveness where he might have offended any officer through his policies and urged all officers and men to support his successor.
THE NATION
