Fatai Tijani Unveils Police Week 2026, Emphasises Community Partnership, Trust Building

Fatai Tijani Unveils Police Week 2026, Emphasises Community Partnership, Trust Building

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, has outlined plans for the 2026 Police Week celebration, stressing the importance of community partnership and trust as critical pillars for effective policing in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Police Command has announced a lineup of activities for the 2026 Police Week, with a strong focus on strengthening collaboration between the police and the public.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, CP Tijani disclosed that the nationwide event will commence next week Monday and culminate in a grand finale scheduled for April 7 in Abuja. He noted that the celebration will be held simultaneously across commands within the federation, including Lagos.

According to him, this year’s theme, “Community Partnership and Building Trust,” reflects the evolving policing strategy centered on community engagement.

“We are in the era of community policing. There cannot be effective policing without the cooperation of the people. The police and the community must work hand in hand, building trust on both sides,” he said.

The Commissioner emphasized that trust-building is a two-way process, noting that while the public must have confidence in the police, officers must also trust members of the community to provide credible information.

He explained that intelligence gathering remains a key component in crime prevention, adding that such information can only be sourced through active collaboration with residents.

Highlighting activities for the week, Tijani said the command will organize a road walk aimed at demonstrating the physical readiness and resilience of officers. The exercise, scheduled for midweek, is designed to showcase the strength and operational capacity of the force.

“We want to show the public that our officers are fit, capable, and ready to serve. Policing is demanding, and it requires energy and commitment,” he stated.

In further efforts to build public trust, the police will also conduct a free medical outreach programme, where police doctors and nurses will provide healthcare services to residents at no cost.

He noted that a similar initiative held in the previous year recorded significant success, with many community members benefiting from free medical care.

Beyond operational displays and outreach programmes, the Police Week will also serve as a moment of reflection and remembrance, honouring officers who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

Tijani stressed that recognizing the sacrifices of fallen officers is essential in reinforcing morale within the force and fostering public appreciation of the risks associated with policing.

He reiterated that the overarching goal of the celebration is to reassure Nigerians that the police are committed to professionalism, accountability, and service to the people.

“The era of fear between the police and the public is gone. The police are the people, and the people are the police. Together, we can effectively tackle crime and build safer communities,” he said.