President Bola Tinubu has decorated Tunji Disu with his new rank as the acting Inspector-General of Police at the State House, Abuja.
The ceremony, which took place at 4 p.m. at the President’s office, was attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; and the immediate past IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.
Tinubu, who pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform, commended the outgoing IGP Egbetokun for his service to the nation.
Disu’s appointment came just 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. However, under the amended Police Act, which allows Inspectors-General of Police to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, Disu may remain in office until 2030.
The decoration ceremony came barely 24 hours after Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter to the President on Tuesday. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu accepted the resignation and expressed appreciation for Egbetokun’s service, while announcing Disu’s appointment.
Disu will serve in an acting capacity until his confirmation by the Nigeria Police Council, in accordance with the Constitution. Onanuga stated that President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive IGP, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation.
The appointment is expected to trigger the retirement of at least nine Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, in line with the tradition that senior officers vacate their positions when a junior colleague is appointed IGP. A source within the Police Service Commission said between 15 and 20 senior officers senior to Disu may be affected.
Born on April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and has served for over three decades. He rose to national prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos State, where he served for six years and rebranded RRS officers as “The Good Guys.” Under his leadership, the unit won the Best Anti-Crime Squad award in West Africa in 2016.
Disu has served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Before his elevation, he was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. He also served as Principal Staff Officer to Egbetokun.
