Nigeria Police Force

IGP DISU INAUGURATES MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND COACHING WORKSHOP FOR POLICE PERSONNEL IN ABUJA The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, on Wednesday, 28th October 2026, declared open a Mental Health Awareness and Coaching Workshop for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Force Medical Director, AIG Nkechi Eze. The workshop is coordinated by the Department of Training and Development, in partnership with Awesome Valley Consult Ltd and the Directorate of Force Medical Services, to strengthen officers’ emotional resilience, professional judgement and operational effectiveness. In his remarks, delivered by AIG Nkechi Eze, the IGP outlined his approved policy direction on mental health coaching, emphasising early identification of mental health concerns, timely intervention and appropriate referral for professional care. He noted that the demanding nature of police work requires practical coping skills and accessible support systems that enable officers to seek assistance without fear of stigma. He stressed that recognising signs of stress, burnout and emotional distress in oneself and colleagues is essential to maintaining a healthy workforce and ensuring professional service delivery. The lead facilitator, Maimuna Ummi Abdullahi, popularly known as Coach Diddi, a Mental Health and Emotional Resilience Coach and Team Lead of Awesome Valley Consult Ltd, highlighted the importance of coaching for officers routinely exposed to high-pressure and potentially traumatic situations. She explained that mental health coaching promotes self-awareness, stress management, emotional resilience, healthy coping strategies, early help-seeking and peer support. She further clarified that coaching complements, rather than replaces, clinical assessment and treatment, helping officers recognise when professional care is necessary. More than 100 officers drawn from the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Directorate of Force Medical Services, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Special Tactical Squad (STS) and police divisions within the Federal Capital Territory are participating in the workshop. Senior officers present included CP Aina Adesola, CP L. Ibrahim and CP M. Umar. DIG Isyaku Mohammed, mni, reasserted the Department’s commitment to sustained, practical and needs-based training in collaboration with the Directorate of Force Medical Services to deepen mental health awareness and connect personnel with appropriate support. The Inspector-General of Police reiterated that personnel welfare remains central to the Force’s commitment to professionalism and effective service delivery, emphasising that officers must be physically fit, mentally resilient and adequately supported to discharge their duties effectively. He urged all personnel to prioritise their mental health, seek assistance early and support colleagues experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties, while upholding the highest standards of discipline, sound judgement and respect for the public. CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja 28th October, 2026.