The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday commissioned the Lagos State Police Command Band, describing the development as a significant milestone in strengthening institutional structure, discipline, and identity within the Command.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the IGP said progress in institutional leadership is often reflected not in dramatic reforms but in “quiet but consequential decisions” that reinforce professionalism and close long-standing gaps.
“For the first time since its establishment, the Lagos State Police Command now possesses a band of its own, purpose-built to serve its ceremonial, official, and representational functions,” Egbetokun said. “Today, that omission has been corrected.”
The IGP noted that the Nigeria Police Band has historically played a vital role in projecting the Force positively at official and social engagements nationwide, enhancing public confidence and ceremonial dignity through professionalism and musical excellence.
“There is an intangible value to the work of the Police Band,” he said. “Without words, its music communicates discipline, unity, and national purpose, reminding listeners of the ideals the Nigeria Police Force represents.”
Egbetokun added that the Police Band has evolved beyond performance to become a symbol of cohesion and institutional culture, a reputation that has increasingly attracted newly graduated police cadets seeking conversion into the unit.
For years, the Lagos State Command relied on the Force Headquarters Band, an arrangement the IGP described as “functional but not ideal” for a Command of Lagos’ scale and responsibility. He said the establishment of a dedicated Command Band reflects leadership that is attentive to detail and conscious of legacy.
“This commissioning should not be seen as an isolated project,” he explained. “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 IGP commended the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and the Command leadership for demonstrating “initiative, coordination, and follow-through” in addressing a long-standing institutional need. He linked the commissioning to other recent developments within the Command, including the foundation-laying ceremony of a Multi-Purpose Hall, as evidence of sustained investment in enduring institutional assets.
Egbetokun also urged Commissioners of Police nationwide to take greater initiative at the Command level.
“The effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force cannot rest solely on central direction,” he said. “Leaders must critically assess their environments, identify structural gaps, and implement sustainable solutions. That is how credible institutions are sustained.”
Addressing members of the newly established band, the IGP charged them to uphold the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.
“As pioneers, you will shape the standards, discipline, and reputation of this unit from its inception,” he said. “Your performances will project the values and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He concluded by formally commissioning the Lagos State Police Command Band for official use and service to the Nigerian public.
“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,” Egbetokun said. “Today’s event affirms that the Lagos State Command is advancing on all three fronts.”
