The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to building a policing system that recognises, protects and includes persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups across Nigeria.
The IGP made the commitment on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, when he received a delegation from TAF Africa, led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jake Epelle, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation included the CEO of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Mrs Brenda Anyanwu; Executive Director of TAF Africa, Mr Mayowa Aderibigbe; Chairman of the Nigeria Association of the Blind, Mr Agaba Jacob; and other representatives.
During the engagement, Dr Epelle commended the police leadership for its efforts towards inclusive policing and called for the development of a smart security architecture that deliberately incorporates persons with disabilities.
He also sought the IGP’s support for the proposed first Inclusive Security Summit, expected to be funded by the European Union.
One of the strongest points from the meeting came from Mr Agaba Jacob, who challenged the Nigeria Police Force to look beyond seeing persons with disabilities only as people who need protection.
He advocated the participation of PWDs in policing itself, particularly in areas such as intelligence gathering and other roles where disability does not prevent competence or effective service.
He also drew attention to the vulnerability of persons with disabilities to crimes, including sexual and gender-based violence, and called for stronger mechanisms for their protection.
Responding, IGP Disu described the engagement as eye-opening and pledged to strengthen the training and retraining of police officers on how to interact with persons with disabilities appropriately, effectively and with dignity.
The IGP also promised greater disability inclusion in policing ahead of the forthcoming general elections, stressing that persons with disabilities must be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote without intimidation, discrimination or humiliation.
This is an important commitment.
But the real test will be in implementation.
Inclusive policing must go beyond meetings, photographs and promises. Police stations must become physically accessible. Emergency communication systems must accommodate Deaf persons. Officers must understand how to communicate with people with different disabilities. Persons with disabilities must be recruited into roles they are qualified to perform. Reporting mechanisms must also be accessible to blind persons, Deaf persons, wheelchair users and people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities.
Most importantly, the disability community should be involved in designing these reforms.
Nothing about persons with disabilities should be developed without their meaningful participation.
The commitment by the IGP presents an opportunity for the Nigeria Police Force to establish a new standard for disability-inclusive security in Nigeria.
We hope the promises made at this meeting will translate into policies, training, recruitment, accessible police facilities and measurable actions across police formations nationwide.
#InclusivePolicing #DisabilityInclusion #NigeriaPoliceForce #PWDs #PersonsWithDisabilities #AccessibleJustice
