President Bola Tinubu has appointed his former Chief Security Officer, DIG Egbetokun Olukayode, as the acting Inspector General of Police.
This decision comes just three months after the Police Service Commission approved Egbetokun’s appointment as a Deputy-Inspector General of Police, representing the South-West geopolitical zone.
The announcement of Egbetokun’s appointment as IG was made through a statement by the Director of Information at the Office of the Secretary-General to the Federation, Willie Bassey, on Monday.
For those unfamiliar with the newly appointed acting IGP, here are six key things to know about him:
- Egbetokun previously served as the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, showcasing his experience in handling security matters in one of Nigeria’s most populous and dynamic states.
- He will be stepping into the shoes of Usman Baba, the former Inspector General of Police, who has now been succeeded by Egbetokun.
- In 1999, Egbetokun was appointed as Chief Security Officer to President Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos State. This role not only highlights his competence but also demonstrates the longstanding trust placed in him by the President.
- Egbetokun’s career in the police force has been diverse and impactful. He has held various positions including Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, Squadron Commander of Mopol 5 in Benin City, Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Fraud Unit in the FCT Command in Abuja, and Chief Superintendent of Police in the Administration department of the Lagos State Command Head Quarters in Ikeja. Additionally, he has served as Area Commander in Osogbo, Osun State Command, and Gusau, Zamfara State Command, among other notable roles.
- Egbetokun earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos in June 1987. Prior to joining the police force, he briefly lectured Mathematics at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.
- Notably, Egbetokun possesses an impressive educational background. He holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Analysis from UNILAG, a Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University in Abraka, and an MBA from Lagos State University in Ojo.
