Remarks By IGP Kayode Egbetokun At The Commissioning Of The Lagos State Police Command Band
In institutional leadership, progress is not always announced through dramatic reforms. Often, it is reflected in quiet but consequential decisions, decisions that strengthen structure, reinforce identity, and close gaps that should never have existed for as long as they did.
Today is one such occasion.
I am pleased to be here to commission the Lagos State Police Command Band. This event marks a notable milestone in the institutional development of the Lagos State Command. For the first time since its establishment, the Command now possesses a band of its own, purpose-built to serve its ceremonial, official, and representational functions.
The Nigeria Police Band has, over the years, remained a source of pride to the Force. Through consistency, musical excellence, and professional conduct, it has projected the Nigeria Police Force positively at both official and social engagements across the country. Its performances have reinforced public confidence, enhanced ceremonial dignity, and strengthened the image of the Force beyond the operational space.
There is also an intangible value to the work of the Police Band. Whenever it performs, it evokes a sense of inspiration and collective pride among officers and members of the public alike. Without words, its music communicates discipline, unity, and national purpose, reminding listeners of the ideals the Nigeria Police Force represents. This quiet but powerful influence is one of the reasons the Police Band occupies a special place within the institution today.
Beyond performance, the Police Band has become a symbol of discipline, cohesion, and institutional culture. It demonstrates how professionalism, sustained over time, can shape perception and inspire confidence in the Force. It is therefore not surprising to see newly passed-out cadets of the Police Academy deliberately seeking conversion into the Police Band, drawn by its standards, structure, discipline, and the reputation it has earned within and outside the Force.
For many years, despite its strategic importance and prominence within the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Command operated without this essential institutional component. It relied on the Force Headquarters Band—an arrangement that was functional but not ideal. This situation underscored a structural omission within a Command that should, by scale and responsibility, have long possessed this capacity internally.
Today, that omission has been corrected.
This commissioning should be understood not as an isolated project, but as part of a broader approach to Command development. Professional policing is not sustained by operational activity alone; it is reinforced by strong institutional frameworks that promote discipline, cohesion, and pride in service. The presence of a Command Band contributes directly to these objectives.
The creation of this band reflects leadership that is attentive to detail and conscious of legacy.
I commend the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and the Command leadership for the initiative and administrative clarity that made this achievement possible. This outcome required more than approval; it demanded follow-through, coordination, and a willingness to address a long-standing institutional need.
My recent engagements with the Lagos State Command further reinforce this narrative. Only a short while ago, I honoured the Command’s invitation to the foundation-laying ceremony of its Multi-Purpose Hall. Today’s commissioning of the Command Band is another concrete step in the same direction. Together, these developments reflect leadership that is investing in enduring institutional assets rather than temporary measures.
The effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force cannot rest solely on central direction. It must also be driven by initiative at the Command level—by leaders prepared to critically assess their environments, identify structural gaps, and implement sustainable solutions. I encourage Commissioners of Police across the country to adopt this mindset: build capacity deliberately, strengthen institutional identity, and prioritise professionalism in all its dimensions.
That is how credible institutions are sustained.
To the officers and members of the Lagos State Police Command Band, your commissioning today carries great responsibility. As pioneers, you will shape the standards, discipline, and reputation of this unit from its inception. Your appearances at official engagements will not merely provide ceremony; they will project the values and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force.
Your conduct must be exemplary. Your discipline must be evident. Your performance must consistently reflect the high standards expected of this institution. In this role, you are representatives not only of the Lagos State Command, but of the Force as a whole.
I also acknowledge the officers and personnel whose efforts, though not always visible, were essential to the successful establishment of this band. Institutional progress is built on such commitment, and it deserves recognition.
Ladies and gentlemen, the strength of a police institution is measured not only by operational outcomes, but by the quality of the structures it maintains, the standards it embeds, and the confidence it commands. Today’s event affirms that the Lagos State Command is advancing on all three fronts.
It is therefore with confidence and a clear sense of purpose that I hereby commission the Lagos State Police Command Band for official use and for the service of the Nigeria public.
God bless the Nigeria Police Force.
God bless the Lagos State Command.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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