The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to advancing cybersecurity as a key driver of economic growth, forging new partnerships with the Presidency and leading players in the nation’s financial technology sector.
On Thursday, the IGP received the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Tokoni Peter Igoin, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, alongside top executives from PalmPay, OPay, and TrikaHealth.
According to a statement by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the delegation engaged with the Police leadership on strengthening collaboration to combat cybercrime and safeguard Nigeria’s rapidly growing digital economy.
It disclosed that discussions at the meeting focused on leveraging Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge innovations to boost policing efficiency and secure the nation’s cyberspace.
The fintech leaders pledged their full support for the IGP’s vision, commending the Force’s progressive policies and openness to technological advancement, which they said have enhanced investor confidence, protected digital transactions, and promoted responsible innovation.
A major highlight of the talks was the readiness of a modern NPF National Cybercrime Centre in Bayelsa State for commissioning.
According to the statement, the facility is part of the IGP’s decentralisation drive to establish cybercrime centres across the federation, enabling quicker response to threats targeting the fintech industry, financial institutions, and individual users.
Egbetokun welcomed the fintech sector’s commitment to partnering with law enforcement, stressing that the security of financial technology platforms is vital to protecting citizens, businesses, and the economy.
He noted that sustained collaboration, coupled with advanced technological tools, would greatly enhance the Force’s capacity to respond to emerging cyber threats.
In a related development, the IGP also hosted members of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies
Alumni Association, Al Hikmah University, Ilorin, a group of Ph.D. holders and postgraduate researchers who were his former colleagues in graduate school.
The delegation, comprising Jacob Ayanda, Ahmed Bello, Abiodun Ayodele, Adeniji Atinuke, Christiana Abayomi-Oluwole, Atolage Mikail, and Fatiu Raji Gboyega, commended the IGP’s strides in peace and security, particularly in community policing, crime reduction, technological adoption, and police–community relations.
The delegation expressed readiness to contribute its expertise towards refining policing strategies and strengthening national security policies.
The IGP described the alumni group as vital partners in the collective quest for a secure nation, assuring them of the Force’s openness to intellectual collaborations with academia and other stakeholders.
He reiterated that these engagements align with the reformative agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to build a stable, safe, and prosperous Nigeria.