The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has commended young police officers who recently completed the Nigerian Law School programme and were called to the Bar, describing their success as a boost to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the nation at large.
Speaking at a meeting with the officers in Abuja, the IGP congratulated them for their achievements, noting that one of the officers graduated with First Class Honours—an exceptional feat that brought pride to the Force.
“The Nigeria Police Force is not just an enforcement institution; it is the frontline defender of law and order in this country. We cannot carry out that duty effectively without officers who understand the law in depth and can apply it with clarity,” he said. 
The IGP stressed that the officers’ legal expertise was an asset not only to the NPF but also to Nigeria, adding that their knowledge must be put to practical use to strengthen prosecutions, protect the Force from legal vulnerabilities, and improve policy formulation.
He highlighted the recent upgrade of the Police Legal Section into the Force Directorate of Legal Services, now headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, noting that the elevation was strategic and aimed at delivering sharper legal direction and more effective prosecutions.
Charging the officers, the IGP urged them to strengthen prosecutions, uphold integrity, give authoritative legal advice, drive reforms in line with constitutional and human rights standards, and serve as role models to other officers. 
“The Nigeria Police Force does not need lawyers in uniform for decoration. We need officers who add value—lawyers in uniform who will defend this institution with skill, courage, and integrity,” he declared.
He further reminded them that their call to the Bar placed a double responsibility on their shoulders—to the Force, the legal profession, and the Nigerian people—warning that mediocrity would not be tolerated.
The IGP concluded by urging the officers to combine discipline with humility in their service, stressing that their performance would shape the standing of the Nigeria Police as a professional law enforcement institution.
LV