ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally decorated Tunji Disu with his new rank as the Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) during a ceremony at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The event, which took place at approximately 3:00 p.m. West African Time (WAT), officially marks the beginning of a new leadership phase for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the primary law enforcement agency for Africa’s most populous nation.
The 59-year-old officer, who was born in Lagos, now serves as the 23rd individual to lead the national police force. Tunji Disu arrived at the Presidential Villa, the official residence and office of the President of Nigeria, at about 2:50 p.m. WAT for the proceedings and a private consultation with the President.
This leadership change follows the resignation of the previous Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, who stepped down on Tuesday citing urgent family matters. President Tinubu accepted the resignation after Kayode Egbetokun, who had been in the role since 2023, submitted a formal letter.
As Okay News reports, the appointment of Tunji Disu is effective immediately, though it remains subject to official confirmation by the Senate, which is the upper house of Nigeria’s bicameral legislature. This process follows the guidelines set out in the Police Act 2020. Additionally, the Nigeria Police Council, a constitutional body that oversees police organization and administration, is expected to meet to deliberate on his permanent appointment.
Prior to this promotion, Tunji Disu held the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex located in Alagbon, Lagos. His career includes high-profile roles such as the Commissioner of Police for Rivers State in the Niger Delta region and for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He also gained international recognition for his time leading the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), an elite tactical unit.
Tunji Disu is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and enters the role with significant operational experience. Notably, his elevation occurs 48 days before his scheduled mandatory retirement at age 60. Under the 2024 amendment to the Police Act, the position of Inspector-General carries a fixed four-year tenure, though the resignation of his predecessor created the current vacancy.
The decoration ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the outgoing officer, Kayode Egbetokun. Family members of the new acting police chief were also present to witness the transition.
