NANS Tasks New Acting IG, Disu, on Youth-focused Reforms

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has urged the new acting Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Tunji Disu, to prioritise youth-focused reforms.
The zone’s coordinator, Mr Josiah Adeyemo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday, urged Disu to rebuild the fallen trust between students and the police.
He based his appeal on students’ experiences under the tenure of former I-G, Kayode Egbetokun, which he described as a period marked by strained relations between students and law enforcement agents.
The students’ coordinator urged Disu to adopt a solution-driven approach, practical measures that could be implemented to improve relations with students and enhance campus security nationwide.
He called for the institutionalisation of structured dialogue between police commands and recognised student bodies to address grievances before they escalate.
According to him, establishing campus-police liaison committees across tertiary institutions will create formal channels for communication, conflict resolution and feedback.
“Deliberate engagement with student representatives will help prevent misinformation, reduce tension and promote mutual understanding,” he said.
Adeyemo also advocated specialised training for officers deployed around academic institutions, focusing particularly on conflict management, human rights compliance and youth engagement.
He said intelligence-driven and community-based policing models should replace heavy-handed tactics around campuses.
“Officers assigned to campuses must understand the unique dynamics of academic environments and support peaceful civic participation rather than suppressing it,” the coordinator said.
He further recommended a transparent and time-bound complaint resolution mechanism to address allegations of harassment, extortion and unlawful detention.
Adeyemo urged the new acting I-G to strengthen internal disciplinary systems and ensure that sanctions against erring officers were visible and consistent.
“Students must see clear evidence that misconduct attracts consequences. Accountability is central to rebuilding trust,” he said.
Adeyemo said that improved data tracking of complaints involving students and periodic public reporting on disciplinary actions would enhance transparency.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s broader security challenges, he stressed that reform-driven leadership could set a new tone for institutional culture across commands.
Adeyemo reiterated NANS’ readiness to engage constructively with the new police leadership.
“The security of Nigeria’s future, which sits in our lecture halls and laboratories, depends on a policing system that works with students, not against them,” he said.