Kayode Egbetokun: Retirement Date For New Police IG

Kayode Egbetokun, who was recently appointed as the Acting Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Tinubu, is expected to retire from the Nigeria Police Force on September 4, 2024. This retirement date is in accordance with the civil service rule, which mandates that civil servants retire upon reaching the age of 60 or after completing 35 years of service, depending on whichever comes first.

If confirmed as the IG, Tinubu would be following the footsteps of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who appointed a police officer whose retirement date preceded his tenure in office. Despite the Police Act, 2020, which stipulates a four-year tenure for an IG, Buhari appointed former IG Usman Baba on April 6, 2021, even though Baba was expected to retire from the police force on March 1, 2023, when he turned 60 years old.

Egbetokun boasts a distinguished career spanning over three decades. Born on September 4, 1964, he joined the NPF on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in Course 16. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Lagos, a Master of Science degree in Engineering Analysis, a Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, and an MBA degree from Lagos State University.

Prior to his appointment as the Acting IG, Egbetokun served as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, at the Force Headquarters. He also held the position of the 30th Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, starting from October 25, 2022.

Throughout his career, Egbetokun has served in various commands and held several important positions within the NPF. Notable roles include being the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, Squadron Commander of the 5th Police Mobile Force in Benin Edo State, Officer-in-Charge of Anti-Fraud in the FCT Command, CSP “A” in the Lagos State Command, and Area Commander in Oshogbo and Gusau, among others.
Egbetokun, a native of Egbado-South in Ogun State, previously served as the Chief Security Officer to President Tinubu. He has also undergone numerous local and international training courses to enhance his skills and knowledge in law enforcement.

As Egbetokun assumes his new role, his impending retirement date serves as a reminder of the time constraints and expectations placed upon the Acting IG in leading the Nigeria Police Force.