A member of the Nigerian Police Service Commission, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd) has urged traditional rulers, religious and community in the south west geo-political zone to prevail on youths in the area to join the Nigerian Police Force.
DIG Lakanu spoke on Thursday, 19 March, 2026, at the palace of the Onisabe of Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Owolabi Adeniyi in continuation of the Commission’s awareness tour of the region.
Lakanu, who holds the Chieftaincy title of the Ajiroba of Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom, disclosed that the Commission was disturbed at the low rate of response to the 50,000 police recruitment drive of the Federal Government in the south west region.
The retired DIG who is the Southwest representative in the Police Service Commission and Commission’s Chairman of Committed on Police Matters, informed that the Tinubu administration has put in place lots of measures aimed at improving welfare of police officers in the country thereby making the job of police attractive to people.
“The remuneration has increased while the government has embarked on massive rehabilitation of barracks in the country based on Public-Private Partnership,” he said.
According to him, the government has also embarked on massive training programmes for police while also encouraging police officers to further their studies whenever they wish to do so.
Lakanu appealed to HRM Adeniyi and other traditional rulers in the south west region to appeal to their subjects particularly youths, to join the police, lamenting that the response so far has been less encouraging.
“For instance, we have only recorded 5,000 applications in Osun State, Lagos is even lower, 1,600,” he said.
Responding, HRM Adeniyi assured Lakanu that he and the Baales in his domain will embark on massive awareness programme to sensitise his people particularly youths on the need to join the police force.
“Policing is a noble profession, though securing the lives of the people comes with risk, there is not profession without its risk.
“I am now giving the Baales and the White Cap chiefs in my domain here the marching order to spread the awareness on the police recruitment exercise and the need for our people particularly youths to join,” he said.
Oba Adeniyi expressed appreciation to DIG Lakanu (retd) for his thoughtfulness in picking the Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom as one of his points of call during the tour.
Lakanu was accompanied to the palace by his Technical Adviser, Olubunmi Ademoju.
Olori Mosunmola Adeniyi, Queen of Igbobi-Sabe Kingdom, the White Cap Chiefs and the Baales were on the entourage of Oba Adeniyi who received the ex-DIG and his team.
The visit was concluded with exchange of gifts between the Palace and the Service Commission.
