Full List of Inspector General of Police in Nigeria — Abbreviated as IGP, the Inspector General of Police is the head of the Nigeria Police Force and the most senior officer in the chain of command.
The IGP role has been held by 23 officers since Nigeria’s pioneer IGP Louis Edet took office in 1964. The current Acting Inspector General of Police is AIG Tunji Disu, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on 25 February 2026 after the resignation of IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
Below is the complete list of every officer who has served as IGP, in the order they assumed office.
Also see: List of Senate Presidents in Nigeria From 1960 Till Date and Their Political Party
List of Inspector General of Police from 1964 Till Date in Nigeria
- IGP Louis Edet (1964 – 1966)
- IGP Kam Salem (1966 – 1975)
- IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (1975 – 1979)
- IGP Adamu Suleiman (1979 – 1981)
- IGP Sunday Adewusi (1981 – 1983)
- IGP Etim Inyang (1985 – 1986)
- IGP Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta (1986 – 1990)
- IGP Aliyu Atta (1990 – 1993)
- IGP Ibrahim Coomassie (1993 – 1999)
- IGP Musiliu Smith (1999 – 2002)
- IGP Mustafa Adebayo Balogun (2002 – 2005)
- IGP Sunday Ehindero (2005 – 2007)
- IGP Mike Mbama Okiro (2007 – 2009)
- IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (2009 – 2010)
- IGP Hafiz Ringim (2010 – 2012)
- IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubakar (2012 – 2014)
- IGP Suleiman Abba (2014 – 2015)
- IGP Solomon E. Arase (2015 – 2016)
- IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris (2016 – 2019)
- IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (2019 – 2021)
- IGP Usman Alkali Baba (2021 – 2023)
- IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun (2023 – 2026)
- AIG Tunji Disu (2026 – Till Date, Acting)
Profile of AIG Tunji Disu, Acting Inspector General of Police
Olatunji Rilwan Disu was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police on 25 February 2026 by President Bola Tinubu, hours after Tinubu accepted IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s resignation. He is widely described as Nigeria’s 23rd IGP. Substantive confirmation requires the Nigeria Police Council and Senate ratification.
Born on 13 April 1966 in Lagos, Disu enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force and rose through senior commands. Immediately before his elevation he served as Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. Earlier postings include Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).
Disu is a long-time intelligence and tactical operations specialist whose previous roles include leadership of the Inspector General’s Special Tactical Squad (IRT), the unit responsible for high-profile kidnap and counter-terror investigations.
Profile of Predecessor: IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun
Egbetokun served as the 22nd IGP from June 2023 until February 2026. President Bola Tinubu appointed him in an acting capacity on 19 June 2023 and the Police Council confirmed him substantively on 31 October 2023. Born on 4 September 1964 in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Ibadan and master’s degrees in Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan) and Security and Strategic Studies (National Defence College). He had served as Chief Security Officer to then-Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu between 1999 and 2003 and is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy.
His tenure was extended in 2024 following an amendment to the Police Act allowing him to serve beyond the statutory retirement age — a move that drew sustained legal and public debate before his February 2026 resignation.
What are the Duties of the IGP in Nigeria?
The Inspector General of Police is the most senior officer in the Nigeria Police Force and the principal authority for command across all formations. Orders, directives and operational instructions to officers and divisions originate from the IGP’s office, and refusal or disobedience of a lawful IGP order is a sanctionable offence under police regulations.
The IGP is appointed by the President of Nigeria from among serving officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General. The appointment is made on the recommendation of the Nigeria Police Council and confirmed by the Senate.
Related: Nigerian Police Salary
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