The Nigeria Police Force is set to host its inaugural Awards and Commendation Night on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

The event, approved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, aims to recognise and honour officers for their outstanding contributions to public safety and crime prevention.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced the event on Friday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that the occasion is expected to draw prominent figures from the security sector, including the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to ACP Adejobi, the awards will span several categories, including “Crime Buster of the Year”, “Investigator of the Year”, and “Cybercrime Buster of the Year”.

Other categories include “Community Policing Advocate of the Year”, “Police Public Relations Officer of the Year”, “Police Medical Personnel of the Year”, “Traffic Warden of the Year”, and “Police Sports Person of the Year”.

An award will also be given for the “Best Police Command in the country”.

ACP Adejobi further added that special awards will be presented for “gallantry and integrity”. The “most outstanding police officer of the year” will also be honoured, and a posthumous award will be given to an officer who lost their life in the line of duty.

In a statement, the police force highlighted the significance of the event: “The Nigeria Police Awards and Commendation Night marks an opportunity for us to shine a spotlight on those individuals who have distinguished themselves through their outstanding contributions to public safety, crime prevention, and community engagement.”

The statement further noted that the officers being recognised “exemplify the core values of integrity, courage, and selflessness, and their dedication to serving and protecting our communities deserves our utmost admiration and gratitude.”

The Force also emphasised the unique and transparent award process. Nominations were invited from all police formations across the country.

A collation committee, comprising senior police officers and representatives from Lenders Consult International, was formed to ensure fairness and credibility in the selection process. This meticulous approach aimed to prevent any undue influence or bias in the award decisions.

The police believe that this renewed recognition system will significantly boost the morale and professional growth of officers.

“By providing tangible recognition for their efforts, we create a sense of pride and purpose within the force, motivating officers to continually strive for improvement,” the statement read.

The initiative to implement this new recognition and reward system was first announced by IGP Kayode Egbetokun during his inaugural conference with strategic police managers on June 23, 2023.

He stressed the critical importance of acknowledging the invaluable contributions of police officers even in the face of challenging circumstances.