By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged Commissioners of Police (CPs) across the country to strengthen strategic communication, improve media relations and build public trust as part of efforts to enhance policing and the image of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the IGP gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day workshop themed “Enhancing Strategic Communication and Media Relations” for CPs drawn from police commands nationwide.
The workshop, held at the Nigeria Police Public Relations School (NPPRS), Abuja Centre, was attended by members of the Force Management Team, resource persons and senior police officers.
The IGP said the training was aimed at addressing a communication gap among senior officers, noting that media engagement had not traditionally been a major component of the career progression of many officers before attaining the rank of Commissioner of Police.
He stressed that the office of a CP extended beyond the prestige attached to the position, describing Commissioners as managers who must provide visible and effective leadership.
He urged the officers to lead from the front by maintaining strong relationships with their host communities, attending social functions, visiting schools and creating lasting legacies in their areas of command.
The police chief also charged the CPs to take ownership of the media space, describing internal security as the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and reaffirming the Force’s position as the country’s foremost security agency.
The IGP also urged the officers to be proactive rather than reactive in their communication approach, build their character and media presence, and regard journalists as partners in advancing public safety. He advised them to establish relationships with the media before crises occur, respond swiftly to unfolding situations and engage the public with humility.
“Guns protect lives, but your voices protect our reputation,” Disu stated.
He commended police officers nationwide for their dedication and operational successes, particularly clearance operations led by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force and Commissioners of Police in Kogi and other states.
Earlier, the Provost of the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), said the institution had grown from its former location in Kulende, Ilorin, through Lafia, to its current Abuja Centre.
Ojukwu explained that Police Public Relations Officers do not create the image of the Force but manage it, noting that the true face of the police is reflected through the professionalism and conduct of officers who interact directly with the public.
He urged the Commissioners of Police to ensure that lessons from the workshop were cascaded to junior officers in their respective commands, adding that seven resource persons had been assembled for the engagement.
The Nigeria Police Force said the workshop was part of ongoing efforts to equip senior officers with the communication skills required to project a professional, accessible and people-oriented police institution nationwide.
