The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, today declared open a two-day workshop themed “Enhancing Strategic Communication and Media Relations” for Commissioners of Police (CPs) drawn from commands nationwide. Held at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS), Abuja Centre, the workshop was attended by members of the Force Management Team, resource persons, and senior police officers.
This was contained in a statement signed by CS Aniete Okokon Edem Iniedu force public relations officer, force headquarters Abuja issued to newsmen.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the School, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), mnipr, fana, fnpa, fnisma, traced the institution’s growth from Kulende, Ilorin, through Lafia, to its present Abuja Centre. He reminded participants that Police Public Relations Officers do not create the image of the Force but manage it, noting that the true face of the Police remains its field officers, whose professionalism ultimately wins public affection. He charged the CPs to cascade lessons from the course down to junior officers at their commands, and disclosed that seven resource persons had been lined up for the engagement.
In his remarks, IGP Disu commended police officers nationwide for their daily dedication and successes, noting that media engagement has not traditionally featured in the career path of many officers ahead of their elevation to CP, a gap this workshop is specifically designed to close. He told the gathering that the office of a CP extends far beyond its outward prestige, stressing that CPs are, first and foremost, managers who must lead from the front. He urged them to attend social functions, visit schools, and leave lasting legacies in their host communities.
The IGP charged the CPs to dominate the media space, describing internal security as the NPF’s core mandate and reaffirming its standing as the foremost security agency in the country. He commended the clearance operations led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force and the Commissioners of Police of Kogi and other states.
He urged the CPs to be proactive rather than reactive, build their character and media presence, and treat journalists as partners rather than adversaries. He charged them to engage the public with humility, respond swiftly to unfolding situations, and build relationships with the media before crises occur. “Guns protect lives, but your voices protect our reputation,” the IGP stated.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to equipping its senior officers with the communication skills required to project a professional, accessible, and people-oriented police force nationwide.
