…All State Commands to Implement Directive
..Women Officers Now 12% of Force — Gender Advisor
By Kingsley Omonobi
As part of activities marking 70 years of women policing in Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has approved a symbolic one-day takeover of all Police Management Team offices at the Force Headquarters by female officers on December 4, 2025.
The directive, announced by the Force Gender Advisor, AIG Aishatu Abubakar Baju, also mandates all state command headquarters across the country to hand over their command offices to female personnel for the same day.
According to AIG Abubakar, the IGP further approved December 4 as All Women Police Duty Day at the Force Headquarters. Female officers will not only occupy the management offices but will also handle all security operations involving the IGP, including dispatch riding and escort duties.
She noted that the initiative is part of efforts to highlight the evolution and contributions of women in the force since 1955, when the first 20 female recruits were assigned roles such as serving tea, operating telephones, and cleaning offices.
AIG Abubakar said women in the Nigeria Police Force have since risen to occupy strategic and operational leadership positions, including the command of major police training institutions such as PTS Lagos, Oji River, Kaduna, and the Police Detective College—all headed by female Assistant Inspectors General.
She revealed that women currently constitute between 10% and 12% of the force’s personnel, a significant improvement from the early years, though still below the United Nations benchmark of 35%.
“This year marks a historic milestone in the annals of the Nigeria Police Force—the 70th anniversary of women in policing,” she said. “From those humble beginnings, women officers have played indispensable roles in maintaining law and order, promoting community safety, and upholding justice.”
The anniversary, themed “70 Years of Courage and Service: Honouring Women in Policing, Inspiring the Future,” will hold on December 4 and 5, 2025.
Key events include a grand opening ceremony featuring the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as Special Guest of Honour. The keynote address will be delivered by the Chief of Police of the Bahamas, Ms. Shanta Emily Knowles.
AIG Abubakar said the celebrations aim to:
Recognize the contributions of women police officers
Strengthen police–community trust
Inspire young women to pursue policing careers
Deepen partnerships with civil society organizations on gender equity
She commended the IGP’s commitment to gender inclusion, describing the Nigeria Police Force as increasingly gender-sensitive and aligned with global standards, including the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
“Under the visionary leadership of the IGP, the force has embraced gender mainstreaming as essential to effective policing,” she said. “It enhances operational efficiency, promotes inclusive decision-making, and strengthens our ability to respond to the diverse needs of the communities we serve.”
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