BY Monday Ijeh
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun said the mandate of the Directorate of Force Medical Services was both extensive and indispensable to modern policing.
The I-G said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the inaugural conference for Heads of Police Medical Facilities in the country.
He said the conference was a commitment to bring in a system where those who protect others were also protected, supported and medically empowered to serve at their highest capacity.
“The Nigeria Police Force Medical Services reflects this commitment, and its history reminds us that progress is intentional.
“Established in August 1975 in Lagos, it began with a simple but critical mission to provide structured medical support for police personnel.
“Over the decades, it has both expanded structurally and deepened in resonance, adapting to the changing demands of police international security,” he said.
Egbetokun said the footprint of the mission was evident across the country, with 164 healthcare facilities operating nationwide.
He said the hospitals were delivering medical services to police officers, their families, persons in local custody, and in some places, members of the public.
According to him, this reinforces the fundamental truth that the Nigeria Police Force is not only an instrument of law enforcement, but also the custodian of welfare, safety, and humanity.
“Exactly 50 years after its establishment, the force medical services was upgraded to a full directorate of the Nigeria Police Force in August 2025.
“This elevation of the Force Medical Services was a key part of the project. This elevation was not symbolic, it was strategic.
“It acknowledged the essential role healthcare plays in officer morale, operational readiness, retention, and overall institutional effectiveness,” he said.
He urged the conference participants to think both as administrators and as system builders, with focus on the present gap and the future needs of policing.
The I-G enjoined the officers to think about digital credit integration, trauma support systems, mental health frameworks, emergency coordination, professional accreditation, and sustainable medical staffing pipelines.
He said these were the pillars upon which a resilient and modern policing healthcare model must stand.
According to him, your work is often quiet, unnoticed, and behind the scenes, yet, it is foundational to operational readiness and national security.
In her remark, the AIG in charge of the Directorate of Force Medical Services, Mrs Nkechi Eze, commended the I-G for making the Force medical unit a full-fledged directorate.
She said the directorate was currently operating 154 healthcare facilities across all the police commands, zones and formations, providing multiple levels of care services.
Eze said the services span through health education, mental care, immunisation, public healthcare- outreaches, nursing care, laboratory services, general medical consultation, pharmaceutical care, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology and dental care.
Other services listed by her include physiotherapy, psychiatry, pediatrics, medical services, pathology, radiology, medical records, ambulance and emergency services.(NAN)