IGP Directs Police to Begin Enforcement of Mandatory Third Party Insurance Nationwide

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has again reiterated his directive to all police formations across the federation to begin the enforcement of the Mandatory Third Party Insurance from  February 1st, 2025.
A statement by Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, said that this directive aims to reinforce road safety measures and ensure that all vehicle owners comply with the stipulated insurance requirements to protect themselves and others on the road.

“The Nigeria Police Force, cautions vehicle owners and operators against non-compliance with this essential regulation. Failure to possess valid Third Party Insurance will result in strict enforcement actions, including fines or penalties or both, as mandated by relevant extant laws.

“Effective February 1st, all vehicle owners nationwide are required to possess valid Third Party Insurance as they move about, and those without the Insurance, are advised to be insured quickly to avoid any sort of embarrassment.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all State Commissioners of Police to ensure due enforcement, as police officers will be empowered to conduct checks and enforce penalties for non-compliance in line with relevant extant laws.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains dedicated to enhancing road safety and protecting the lives of all citizens through the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations.
“Cooperation from members of the public in this crucial endeavor is much appreciated,” Adejobi said.
In another development  the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun observed that the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force, which happens to be the lead security agency in internal security, to combat increased rate of crimes and criminality across the length and breadth of Nigeria has over time been undermined by persistent shortage of manpower.

He said that with a population exceeding 200 million, the police to citizen ratio remains far below the United Nations recommended standard of one officer to 400 citizens making it extremely tedious for the NPF to carry out its core and other secondary responsibilities as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

According to him, “This deficit has severely hampered the Force’s ability to effectively tackle insecurity. However, the recruitment process itself had over the years been plagued by controversies, particularly disputes between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the NPF, inefficiencies, and delays in the onboarding of recruits.
“At the core of the recruitment crisis lies a protracted conflict between the Police Service Commission and the NPF over who holds the constitutional authority to conduct recruitment exercises.

“While the PSC is empowered by the constitution to handle appointments and promotions, the NPF argued that operational realities necessitate its direct involvement in the process.
“These disagreements escalated into seeking the intervention of the court as regards the interpretation of the Schedule defining the powers of the PSC and the Police Service Commission Act in 2023.

“The Supreme Court of Nigeria in its ruling however, ruled in favour of the PSC, but tensions persist, continuing to hinder positive progress in resolving the manpower deficit.”

The IGP said that amid these lingering challenges, he has emerged as a transformative leader.
He stressed that as a fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) coupled with his vast experiences in policing for more than three decades, he has leveraged his conflict management expertise to foster understanding, collaboration and mutual existence with the PSC for the benefit of the NPF.

“By building a working relationship with the PSC Chairman, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (rtd), a thorough-bred, seasoned and disciplined officer, and encouraging dialogue, he has reduced institutional friction, disequilibrium, and created a solid template for cooperation with the shared goal of addressing recruitment challenges, and other inadequacies effectively.  

“I had advocated for a recruitment process which emphasizes professionalism, merit, and inclusivity,” he said.

The Force Spokesperson in a statement said the IGP, in collaboration with the decent Chairman of the PSC, champions fairness and transparency to combat corruption and nepotism which have plagued the system for years.

Adejobi said that his focus extends beyond numbers, with an emphasis on robust training programmes aimed at equipping recruits with modern policing techniques, community engagement skills, and conflict resolution strategies.

 He is also advocating for the adoption of digital technologies to streamline the recruitment process and enhance efficiency.