New IGP Kayode Egbetokun Gets Decorated By Vice President; Says Eager To Serve Nigeria

The newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, who replaced IGP Usman Alkali Baba, was decorated by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

"I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria," Egbetokun told State House Correspondents following the ceremony on Tuesday, Punch reported. "That's my feeling right now."

While speaking with the journalists, the IGP was questioned about how he feels about the new responsibility, to which he replied, "Now I have just been decorated and I'm looking forward to taking over tomorrow morning by 11:00 am."

The new IGP, who began his duty on Wednesday, shared he is looking forward to serve the country.

"I really can't describe how I feel currently, but if I have to tell you anything, I will tell you that right now, I feel like a tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria," he said. "And some other times, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria. That's my feeling right now."

The former Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba also spoke about the new IGP and recalled that he worked under him twice, adding that he believes Egbetokun will be a success.

"It's a stage; you come, you work and you go. I'm happy I'm handing over to somebody I know that will carry the mantle of leadership from where I have stopped," Alkali Baba said. "We grew up on the job. I was his boss at a time, not even when I was IG. He worked under me twice, we've been working together and I know how he will go ahead to champion the course of the police from where I have stopped."

Aside from Alkali Baba, the ceremony was attended by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Chairman of the Progressives Governors' Forum, Hope Uzodinma; the President's Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The new appointment came on Monday, when President Bola Tinubu replaced all the Chief of Defence Staff alongside the nation's service chiefs, IGP, as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali.

Following the immediate retirement of previous officials, the president immediately appointed new officials including Ribadu as the National Security Adviser. Major General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff. Whereas, Adeniyi Adewale has been appointed as the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs.

Aside from replacing all the service chiefs, Tinubu also made shocking announcements like the removal of subsidy and adding 7.5% VAT on diesel.