Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Rilwan Olatunji Disu, has emphasized that education, research and technology are indispensable to building a modern, intelligence-led police force equipped to confront the country’s evolving security threats.
Disu made this known during a meeting with Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary Sonny Echono in Abuja on Thursday, where he pressed for sustained institutional support to expand and modernize police training facilities.
He argued that most public grievances against the force stem from educational deficiencies. “We realise that we cannot do our jobs without education. Every complaint against the police ultimately traces back to gaps in training and professional development,” he noted.
The IGP stressed that contemporary policing demands a scientific and specialized approach, with expertise in forensics, criminology, cybersecurity and data analytics replacing outdated methods.
He revealed that the force is already deploying officers trained in artificial intelligence, drone operations and crime analytics, and is increasingly using predictive tools to get ahead of criminal activity. “We can anticipate crimes before they happen. Data shows us patterns — spikes in fraud and accidents at certain periods — and that intelligence shapes how we respond,” he explained.
Disu described the planned police university in Ogun State — approved by President Bola Tinubu — as a landmark step in the force’s reform drive, and called on TETFund to invest in academic infrastructure, ICT facilities, laboratories and staff development across police institutions.
Echono pledged the agency’s unwavering support, confirming that funds for the Ogun campus have already been released. He urged the police leadership to fast-track the institution’s elevation to full university status, which would unlock direct annual TETFund allocations. “Once it achieves that standing, it will enjoy the same sustainable funding as every other beneficiary institution,” he said.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​