***Hosts Peace & Security Studies Postgraduate Alumni, Al Hikmah University
By Miriam Humbe
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, on Thursday, 14th August 2025, received the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Mr. Tokoni Peter Igoin, alongside a delegation of leading figures in Nigeria’s financial technology sector, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, (FPRO) disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
The visit focused on strengthening collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the fintech industry in combating cybercrime and enhancing national cybersecurity.
Delegates, including top executives from PalmPay, OPay, and TrikaHealth, pledged their full support for the IGP’s vision of leveraging Artificial Intelligence and other innovations to boost policing operations and secure Nigeria’s digital space.
The team highlighted ongoing collaborations, particularly the development of a modern NPF National Cybercrime Centre in Bayelsa State which is ready for commissioning.
This is in furtherance to the IGP’s directive on decentralizing the NPF National Cybercrime Centre to effectively tackle cybercrimes and protect the fintech industry as well as financial institutions across the states of the federation.
The group commended the Nigeria Police for creating an enabling environment for the growth and sustainability of the fintech sector, emphasizing that the IGPs leadership has fostered a stronger synergy between security agencies and key economic drivers.
They also noted that the progressive policies and openness to innovation under his administration have not only enhanced investor confidence but also provided a platform for responsible technological advancement.
The Inspector-General of Police expressed delight at the fintech sector’s demonstrated commitment to working closely with the Nigeria Police Force in safeguarding both physical and digital frontiers.
He noted that securing financial technology platforms is central to protecting citizens, businesses, and the broader economic stability of the nation.
The IGP further emphasized that with sustained collaboration, the deployment of advanced technological tools and resources by fintech companies will greatly enhance the Force’s capacity to combat cybercrime and effectively respond to emerging security threats within Nigeria’s digital space.
In a related development, the IGP also played host to Ph.D. holders and postgraduate researchers of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies Alumni Association, Al Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The consortium of researchers, who were colleagues of the IGP at postgraduate school, comprised Barr. Jacob Ayanda, Lt. Col. Ahmed Bello, Abiodun Ayodele, Adeniji Atinuke, Christiana Abayomi-Oluwole, Atolage Mikail, and Fatiu Raji Gboyega.
They lauded the IGP for his remarkable strides in peace and security, particularly in community policing, crime reduction, technological advancement, and police–community relations initiatives, and expressed eagerness to collaborate intellectually in deepening strategies and policies for effective policing and national security.
Welcoming the delegation as vital partners in progress, the Inspector-General of Police assured of the Force’s commitment to sustaining impactful and enduring collaborations that will strengthen public trust and enhance the nation’s security architecture.
The IGP further affirmed that the Nigeria Police Force remains open to engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including members of the academia, for intellectual collaborations that align with the reformative agenda of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, towards achieving a stable and secure Nigeria.
