Police-NIPR alliance targets professionalism, transparency and strategic communication ahead of 2027
By Chioma Vivian James
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to rebuild and sustain public confidence in the police ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the NIPR, led by its President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku, at the Force Headquarters.
The Inspector-General stressed that public trust in the police is shaped not only by operational effectiveness but also by the everyday conduct, professionalism and communication of police officers.
According to him, the Police and NIPR have a shared responsibility to strengthen the relationship between the Force and the public through professionalism, transparency, fairness and effective communication.
He therefore sought the Institute’s support in providing specialised communication training for police personnel, as well as developing a coherent messaging framework that would enable the Force to communicate more effectively with the public.
Disu noted that strategic communication was essential to helping Nigerians better understand the sacrifices, responsibilities and contributions of police officers to public safety, national security and the protection of citizens.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to policing by consent and to building a service-oriented culture anchored on professionalism, empathy, accountability and respect for human rights.
The IGP’s position comes at a time when public confidence and institutional credibility are increasingly important considerations in policing, particularly as Nigeria approaches another general election cycle in 2027.
For the police, effective communication can serve as a bridge between law-enforcement operations and the communities they are mandated to protect, helping to address misconceptions, explain police actions and promote greater cooperation between officers and citizens.
In its response, the NIPR delegation sought the support of the Nigeria Police Force in security planning and coverage for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum and Africa Charter Forum, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The high-profile international gathering is expected to attract more than 3,000 delegates from 126 countries, placing significant demands on security coordination and public communication.
The Institute also invited the Inspector-General of Police to deliver a keynote address at the event and encouraged police officers to participate as registered delegates.
The engagement between the two institutions highlighted the growing importance of strategic communication in modern policing, where operational capacity must be complemented by public engagement, institutional accountability and credible information.
As Nigeria looks towards the 2027 elections, the proposed Police-NIPR partnership could provide an important platform for strengthening police communication, improving public understanding of police operations and promoting a culture of trust between the Force and the communities it serves.
