Inspector General of Police Tunji Disu has directed all police officers nationwide to wear visible name tags on their uniforms while on duty, in a move aimed at boosting accountability and public trust.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with senior officers in Abuja, Disu said the directive applies to all ranks from constables to commissioners, with only undercover operatives exempted. “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard,” he said. “Even me as the IGP, I have my name tag on me.”
The IGP stressed that proper identification is key to building confidence in the force and noted that the absence of name tags among some operatives falls below expected standards. According to police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, the directive is not optional and covers every operational setting, including patrols, checkpoints and station duties. “Every officer must wear their name tag visibly at all times. Failure to comply will result in immediate sanctions,” Adejobi said. The force has given officers a seven-day grace period to obtain or replace missing tags, with enforcement teams from the Force Provost Marshal’s office set to begin random spot checks nationwide after May 11, 2026.
The directive aligns with Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, which mandates that all personnel “shall at all times carry identification cards and wear name tags while on duty.” Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong welcomed the move but urged consistent enforcement, saying, “Name tags are a basic tool of accountability, but without consistent monitoring and punishment for violators, it becomes mere window dressing.”
On the issue of state police, Disu said the Nigeria Police Force has already submitted its position to the National Assembly following signals from the federal government on the planned establishment of state policing. “Since we got the signal that the Federal Government of Nigeria intend to establish State Police and since we are the federal police, we decided to take the bull by the horn and put down our own side of what we believe on how the state police should be run,” he said. “A lot of things were taken into consideration, a lot of comparative analysis was done and it has been transmitted to the National Assembly.”
The IGP also announced a restructuring of the police anti-crime framework, including the creation of a new Violent Crime Response Unit to replace the existing Special Weapons and Tactics teams. The unit is intended to enhance operational efficiency and oversight.
During the same meeting, Disu addressed an alleged extrajudicial killing in Delta State, describing it as unlawful and a violation of professional standards. He assured that those found responsible would be held accountable in line with the law.
