By Adewole Kehinde
Public discourse thrives on facts, not conjecture. Unfortunately, the recent opinion by Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, titled “Tinubu Has a Police Palaver,” is riddled with inaccuracies that risk misleading Nigerians about the ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
For the sake of truth, institutional integrity, and the morale of serving officers, these claims must be addressed with clarity.
1. The IGP Did Not Hide the Numbers, He Announced Them Loudly and Clearly
Odinkalu claimed that the IGP “cleverly failed to say how many had complied” with the directive withdrawing police personnel from VIP protection. This is simply false.
The IGP was explicit: 11,566 police personnel have been withdrawn from VIPs, in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This statement was made publicly, factually, and without ambiguity.
This figure stands in sharp contrast to the baseless social-media rumour of 120,000, which some people appeared to elevate over the official record. Nigerians deserve verified information, not inflated numbers crafted to provoke outrage.
2. No Police Personnel Survive on “Crumbs from VIPs” Under Egbetokun
Another misleading claim in the essay suggests that police officers are dependent on “crumbs from the table of VIP benefactors for survival and subsistence.”
This narrative is outdated, inaccurate, and unfair.
Under IGP Egbetokun, welfare reforms have strengthened officers’ financial stability, living conditions, training access, and operational equipment. Officers are no longer left vulnerable to the patronage system that may have existed in previous eras. Their loyalty is to the Constitution, not to VIP employers.
To recycle this stereotype is to undermine the professionalism of thousands of hardworking officers.
3. Nigeria Police Training Facilities Are Functional and Improving
Odinkalu also claimed that there are “no functional police training facilities” and that many officers have been denied basic training. This is again false.
IGP Egbetokun has been emphatic and proactive in revitalising training institutions across Nigeria. Significant improvements have been made to:
* The Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, Kano – with upgrades in infrastructure, training technology, and academic programmes.
* Police Colleges in Ikeja (Lagos) and Kaduna – rehabilitated and equipped to support modern policing modules.
* Police Staff College, Jos – strengthened to enhance strategic leadership and advanced professional courses.
* Specialized and state-level training schools in Ogun, Kwara, Rivers, Oyo, and other states, all receiving improvements for both basic and advanced courses.
These developments directly contradict Odinkalu’s claim. Officers today have better access to professional training than in many previous administrations.
4. No Police Officer Would Prefer Desertion Over Following Presidential Orders
The claim that officers may opt for desertion rather than comply with presidential directives is both alarmist and disrespectful.
The welfare, morale, and professional grounding of officers have significantly improved under the Egbetokun-led management team.
With higher motivation, clearer commands, and working conditions that are gradually improving, no responsible officer will choose desertion over lawful service.
5. The Police Do Not “Commercialize Human Assets” for Informal Funding
Odinkalu insists that the Nigeria Police relies on ‘the market it has created in the commercialization of its human assets” for funding.
This is yet another baseless assertion.
The Nigeria Police Force is funded through constitutional budgetary allocations from the Federal Government. While challenges in resource allocation persist, like in many security institutions, there is no evidence that the Force depends on informal commercialization for survival.
Painting the entire Police Force as a market-driven entity is a disservice to the officers who risk their lives daily for the nation.
Conclusion: Facts Must Guide the Conversation
Misinformation, especially from respected public commentators, can weaken institutions, demoralize personnel, and distort public perception.
Odinkalu’s piece fails to acknowledge the ongoing reforms under IGP Egbetokun, reforms that are steadily professionalizing various departments and rebuilding public trust.
Constructive criticism is welcome.
False narratives are not.
Nigerians deserve accurate representation of the progress their Police Force is making. Officers deserve to have their dedication recognized rather than undermined. And the security reforms initiated under the current leadership deserve objective assessment—not distortion.
As we continue strengthening security institutions, the truth must remain our compass.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com X: @kennyadewole
