Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has met with all the Heads of Police Medical Facilities across the country at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan International Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The inaugural National Meeting/Conference, themed “Transforming Policing in Nigeria: The Evolving Role of the Directorate of Force Medical Services,” brought together medical commanders, senior officers, partners, and critical stakeholders in the Nigeria Police healthcare system. This was contained in a statement signed by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, anipr, mipra, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In his address, the IGP reaffirmed that the wellbeing of personnel remains the backbone of operational readiness and national security and therefore occupies a central place in his policing vision. He emphasized that the historic upgrade of the Nigeria Police Medical Services to a full-fledged Directorate in August 2025 was a strategic milestone aimed at strengthening officer welfare, enhancing medical capacity, and guaranteeing standardized healthcare delivery across Commands and Formations.
The IGP highlighted that the Nigeria Police Force today boasts one of the most extensive, geographically diverse, and functionally active law enforcement medical networks on the African continent, a system comprising 164 hospitals, clinics, and medical posts serving officers, their families, and often members of surrounding communities. This wide coverage, he noted, is a key enabler of his administration’s commitment to building a modern and professionally competent Police Force.
In her presentation, the Force Medical Director, AIG Nkechi I. Eze (BDS, MPH, FsPsp), the first Assistant Inspector-General of Police to head the Directorate, expressed profound gratitude to the IGP for his consistent support and visionary reforms. She provided an overview of the Directorate’s expanded mandate in preventive medicine, trauma and emergency care, medical training, and national health response. She expressed confidence that the continued commitment of the IGP and development partners will accelerate the modernization of Police healthcare services.
A major highlight of the meeting was the formal flag-off of the “Know Your Numbers” Campaign, a nationwide preventive health initiative approved by the IGP. The campaign urges officers to routinely monitor vital health indicators, such as blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse rate, and hepatitis/HIV status, to reduce avoidable morbidity and promote longevity within the Force.
The Inspector-General of Police reaffirmed his tireless resolve to entrenching a resilient, responsive, and professionally competent policing system, where officer welfare, especially health, remains a core pillar of institutional strength.
END
