IGP Okays Societal Concerns Drone, Intelligence Training for 300 Personnel
The Inspector-General of Police has approved the training of 300 Nigeria Police Force personnel across the six South-West states in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, drone surveillance and intelligence gathering, in a move expected to further strengthen technology-driven policing and security operations in the region.
The approval was conveyed in an official letter dated August 28, 2026, signed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Information and Communication Technology, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DIG Fayoad Adegoke Mustapha, psc, mnim, mni, following a request by the Societal Concerns Organization.
According to the letter, the training will cover UAV operations, drone surveillance and intelligence operations, providing security personnel with specialised skills for the deployment of modern technology in crime prevention, surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The initiative builds on an earlier training programme undertaken in April 2026, during which approximately 155 personnel were trained across various sectors in Lagos State.
The expansion of the programme to cover personnel across the South-West therefore represents a significant step towards building a wider pool of security officers with specialised knowledge in emerging security technologies.
The development comes at a time when security agencies are increasingly embracing technology and intelligence-led approaches to address evolving security challenges. Drone technology, when properly deployed within the law and relevant aviation and security regulations, can enhance situational awareness, surveillance capabilities and intelligence gathering.
The media commends the Inspector-General of Police for approving the specialised training and demonstrating a willingness to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force through technology, innovation and capacity development.
The initiative also deserves commendation for the Department of Information and Communication Technology of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the relevant command structure, for supporting efforts to integrate modern technological capabilities into policing.
Equal recognition goes to the Societal Concerns Organization, led by Amb. Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi, for initiating and pursuing the partnership that culminated in the approval.
The organisation’s intervention, alongside the earlier training of about 155 personnel in Lagos, demonstrates the potential impact of civil society-security agency collaboration when focused on practical capacity building rather than mere advocacy.
Special commendation also goes to Alhaji Mohammed Sanni, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Societal Concerns Organization, for his contribution to the initiative and the organisation’s engagement with security stakeholders.
With the approval for another 300 personnel across the six South-West states, the programme could become an important component of efforts to promote technology-driven, intelligence-led and proactive policing in the region.
For a country confronting increasingly sophisticated security challenges, initiatives that equip security personnel with relevant technological skills deserve encouragement—and the collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the Societal Concerns Organization provides a notable example of what strategic partnership can achieve.
