Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of Police (IGP), on Thursday, declared open a nationwide training session for operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on the use of the newly introduced Criminal Database Systems, and described it as the “nervous system of 21st century Nigerian policing.”
Speaking in Abuja at the official opening of the training, Egbetokun said the programme signaled a shift from reactive policing to a proactive, intelligence-led model anchored on data, predictive analysis, and global integration.
“This training is more than an exercise. It is a declaration that the Nigeria Police Force has stepped into a new era. Without data, there is no memory. Without memory, there is no justice. But with data, there is no hiding place for criminals,” the police chief declared.
The IGP stressed that one of the greatest weaknesses of policing in Nigeria had been poor record-keeping, scattered files, and fragmented intelligence, often leading to stalled prosecutions, forgotten cases, and eroded public trust.
He said, “For too long, Nigerian policing has been limited by weak records, scattered files, and fragmented intelligence. That era ends today.
“With the support of the Federal Government and our partners, we are building a system where every arrest is recorded, every case is documented, and every officer is accountable. No case will vanish into forgotten files. No conviction will disappear into silence.”
Egbetokun emphasised that trust in policing begins with proper record-keeping, assuring citizens that the system will ensure complaints are captured, tracked, and followed through to logical conclusions.
The IGP stressed the critical responsibility of operatives undergoing the training, noting that they would serve as custodians of the nation’s crime data at divisional, zonal, and state levels.
“Every case you enter, every record you preserve, every link you verify, will strengthen justice in our nation. You are not merely handling files; you are safeguarding the future,” he charged.
According to him, accuracy and diligence on their part could make the difference between criminals walking free and justice being served.
Egbetokun also linked the initiative to Nigeria’s commitment to global policing standards, saying the new system would integrate seamlessly with international databases.
“Through integration with INTERPOL, the African Union Border Programme, and UNODC frameworks in West Africa, we are ensuring that criminal offenders in Nigeria will no longer find sanctuary abroad. When a trafficker is convicted in Nigeria, the world must know. When a weapon is seized at our borders, its trail must echo across continents,” he said.
The IGP dedicated the reform to officers who died in the line of duty, and vowed that their sacrifices would no longer remain buried in forgotten paperwork.
“Too many officers have lost their lives in the fight against criminals, their work left in dusty files and forgotten records. Today’s reform is also a tribute to them. We owe it to every fallen hero that their sacrifices will never again be lost in unkept files,” he said.
Egbetokun commended President Bola Tinubu for his vision of a safe and digital Nigeria, and also thanked the Police Service Commission, the Ministry of Interior, and international partners for providing technical and financial support to make the reform possible.
While declaring the training open, the IGP urged officers to approach their roles with discipline and patriotism, he reminded them that technology was not just a tool but a weapon in the fight against crime.
“When you return to your duty posts, do not see this system as a machine to be managed, but as a weapon to be sharpened. Every keystroke you make is a strike against crime. Every record you preserve is a shield for justice. Every report you file is a testimony of accountability,” he said.
Egbetokun however called on the Force to build a modern institution trusted by Nigerians and respected globally.
