President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun.
Mr Disu’s appointment comes just 48 days before he would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Appointment Close to Retirement
Born on 13 April 1966, Mr Disu enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on 18 May 1992.
Under existing police regulations, officers must retire upon reaching 60 years of age or completing 35 years of service, whichever comes first. Without the new appointment, Mr Disu would have retired in April 2026 upon attaining the age limit.
Although he will only complete 35 years in service in May 2027, his elevation to the position of IGP entitles him to a statutory four-year tenure, unless he resigns or is removed by the president.
Similar Precedent Under Egbetokun
A similar situation occurred under Mr Egbetokun, who was appointed the 22nd IGP on 19 June 2023. Though initially set to retire upon attaining 60 years, amendments to the Police Act by the National Assembly now allow an Inspector-General to complete a four-year tenure regardless of age or years of service.
Mr Egbetokun’s appointment was confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council in October 2023, and he was expected to remain in office until October 2027 before resigning on Tuesday.
Who Is Tunji Disu?
Mr Disu is a career police officer with over three decades of operational and leadership experience.
Born on Lagos Island, he holds:
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A bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University (LASU)
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A postgraduate diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies
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A master’s degree in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University
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A master’s degree in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from LASU
He has undergone professional training in areas including small arms smuggling, internet fraud, forensic intelligence and strategic leadership, both locally and internationally.
Career Highlights
Mr Disu has served in multiple strategic roles across the country, including:
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Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in various states
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Commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) between 2015 and 2021
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Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT)
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Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
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Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos
In 2005, he led Nigeria’s first police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), serving as Acting Chief of Staff in Darfur.
Before his latest appointment, he was attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) at Force Headquarters, Abuja, before being posted to Lagos earlier this month.
What the Appointment Means
Mr Disu’s appointment marks a significant leadership transition within the Nigeria Police Force. With a four-year tenure now in view, he is expected to oversee ongoing reforms, internal restructuring and national security coordination efforts.
The development also reinforces the impact of amendments to the Police Act, which now allow an IGP to complete a full four-year term irrespective of age limitations.
