By Ogunbayi Beedee Adeyemi October 30, 2025
adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
In a historic move to bolster the welfare and operational efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Nkechi Eze as the first-ever Director of the newly established Directorate of Force Medical Services.
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The appointment, announced Thursday via a statement from Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, marks the upgrade of the Police Medical Section into a full-fledged directorate, aimed at delivering comprehensive and modernized healthcare to over 400,000 officers and their families nationwide. IGP Egbetokun, in congratulating AIG Eze, charged her to leverage her 27 years of expertise to transform the directorate into a “benchmark for excellence in police healthcare delivery,” emphasizing that officer well-being is “essential to the Force’s operational efficiency and morale.”
AIG Eze, a distinguished clinician, dental surgeon, and administrator, hails from Agbudu in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, though born in Umuahia, Abia State. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Benin, complemented by fellowships and certifications in public safety and police sciences (fspsp). Her career trajectory includes pivotal roles in police medical units across Oyo, Ekiti, Rivers, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Lagos States, where she spearheaded initiatives to enhance healthcare infrastructure and officer welfare amid challenging conditions.
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The creation of the Directorate of Force Medical Services is a cornerstone of IGP Egbetokun’s ongoing reforms, launched since his June 2023 assumption of office, to professionalize the Force and address longstanding gaps in personnel support. Previously a mere section under the Department of Training and Development, the new entity will oversee specialized medical services, preventive health programs, emergency response for field operations, and mental health support critical in a force facing high-stress deployments against banditry, insurgency, and urban crime.
“This is more than an administrative shift; it’s a commitment to human capital,” Egbetokun stated, linking the initiative to broader welfare enhancements like the recent salary reviews and housing schemes. The directorate, headquartered at the Nigeria Police Medical Centre in Abuja, is poised to integrate telemedicine and partnerships with private hospitals, potentially reducing downtime from injuries and illnesses that currently sideline thousands of officers annually.
AIG Eze’s pioneering role is particularly symbolic as the first female AIG to head a major police directorate, breaking glass ceilings in a male-dominated institution. Her mandate includes auditing existing facilities like the aging Police Staff College Hospital in Lagos and rolling out vaccination drives, nutrition programs, and trauma counseling tailored to frontline personnel.
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The appointment has been widely lauded as a progressive step. The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) hailed Eze as a “trailblazer for female officers,” with National President Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun wife of the IGP pledging support for gender-inclusive health policies. Civil society groups, including the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), welcomed it as “a welfare win amid reforms,” though urging transparency in budgeting to avoid past mismanagement scandals.
On social media, #AIGNkechiEze trended with over 10,000 posts, featuring messages like “Finally, a doctor leading doctors in blue healthcare reform starts now!” from verified users. Critics, however, including some retired officers, called for faster implementation: “Great intent, but where’s the funding? Officers still queue for basics at clinics.”
This development aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda for security sector modernization, complementing recent Senate confirmations of new service chiefs and calls for local procurement in defense. As Nigeria grapples with 33% unemployment and insecurity hotspots, a healthier police force could prove pivotal.
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AIG Eze assumes duties immediately, with her investiture slated for next week at the Force Headquarters. For the IGP, it’s another tick in his reform ledger but delivery on promises will define its legacy.
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