By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Nigeria Police Force will incorporate the National Values Charter into its training programmes as part of efforts to strengthen professionalism, accountability and ethical policing.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, and his management team at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Disu said the move aligns with ongoing police reforms aimed at building a more professional, accountable and citizen-focused force.
“We have listened to you and have been able to understand the National Identity Project. We have also listened to your proposal that the National Values Charter should be incorporated into our training.
“Luckily, the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of training is here, and I am sure he has taken note. We will be happy to incorporate it into our training,” Disu said.
The IGP also pledged closer collaboration with the NOA to improve public understanding of police operations and strengthen citizens’ confidence in the Force.
He urged the agency to help communicate the sacrifices and contributions of police officers, saying the presence of police personnel on the streets helps prevent crime.
“We want members of the public to know that whenever they see police officers in uniform or out of uniform, they are there to protect them,” he said.
Disu also urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing videos and reports on social media.
He warned that manipulated videos and false security reports could create panic and undermine public confidence, adding that the Police were arresting and prosecuting individuals who deliberately circulate such content.
Disu urged parents to monitor the content their children consume, warning that some foreign cartoons contain values and themes that may not align with Nigerian culture.
Earlier, Issa-Onilu proposed a formal partnership between the NOA and the Police to strengthen community intelligence, conflict prevention, public sensitisation and early warning systems.
He said NOA officers across the 774 local government areas work closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, civil society organisations and other community stakeholders.
According to him, the agency’s grassroots network could complement police operations by identifying emerging grievances, dangerous rumours, misinformation and communal tensions before they escalate into crime or violence.
“Our personnel can identify emerging grievances, dangerous rumours, misinformation and communal tensions before they escalate into crime or violence,” Issa-Onilu said.
The NOA DG also proposed that the National Values Charter be incorporated into the Nigeria Police Academy, police colleges, recruit training and continuous professional development programmes.
He said police officers are among the most visible representatives of government, making their conduct critical to public trust.
Issa-Onilu said the Charter should therefore serve not only as a classroom subject but as a practical framework for leadership, public engagement, conflict management and the exercise of police authority.
The National Values Charter is part of the Federal Government’s broader Nigeria Identity Project, which seeks to promote patriotism, responsible citizenship and shared national values.
Issa-Onilu said the Charter has already been incorporated into the training programmes of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, while discussions were ongoing with other government institutions.
He added that the NOA had established a Department of Community Safety, Awareness and Compliance to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and support community-based approaches to crime prevention.
