By Folusho Alade
The Nigeria Police Force and Lenders Consult International are set to develop a strategic roadmap for effective security management before, during and after the 2027 general elections, with emphasis on preventing electoral violence and strengthening public safety.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lenders Consult International, Shina Philips, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while announcing the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026.
He said the initiative would support the Police in developing practical strategies to secure voters, electoral officials, political candidates, election materials and other stakeholders throughout the electoral process, while strengthening the Force’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats and maintain public order.
According to Philips, the initiative aligns with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who has emphasised the critical role of the Police in securing the electoral process.
He quoted the IGP as saying that “stability of the electoral process largely depends on the Police as the lead agency in internal democracy,” stressing that adequate preparation, intelligence gathering, strategic coordination and effective deployment would be critical to achieving a peaceful electoral process.
Philips announced that CARSPO 2026 would hold from September 21 to 23 in Owerri, Imo State, under the theme, “Developing a Nigeria Police Road Map for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
He said the conference would bring together senior police officers, security and law enforcement experts, government officials and other stakeholders to examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop practical responses.
Discussions are expected to cover contemporary policing strategies, intelligence-led policing, modern security technologies and other innovative approaches to strengthening election security and operational readiness.
He said Lenders Consult International had partnered with the Nigeria Police since 2019 to support policing initiatives and promote modern approaches to security management in Nigeria.
“Since inception, when we first got approval to organise the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, we have worked to secure sponsorship for every single edition. We consider this our contribution to support the selfless and patriotic work of the Nigeria Police,” Philips said.
The Lenders Consult CEO also called for stronger public support for the Police, saying the responsibility of securing society should not be left solely to government and security agencies.
While commending government’s efforts, he urged Nigerians to support the Police in fulfilling their constitutional mandate to protect lives and property and maintain public order.
“While commending the government’s efforts, we emphasise that Nigerians need to support the police in fulfilling their constitutional mandate to secure our society and maintain public order,” he said.
Philips noted that CARSPO had continued to expand since its inception, attracting participants and perspectives from Nigeria and other countries.
He described Nigeria as the “Giant of Africa” and said the country had an important role to play in the adoption and promotion of modern policing practices across Africa.
He assured that Lenders Consult International would continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Police authorities to ensure that the conference remained focused on practical and innovative solutions to contemporary policing challenges.
He expressed appreciation to IGP Disu, the Force Management Team and the entire Nigeria Police Force for their continued support for the conference since 2019, while also commending Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for agreeing to host the event in Owerri for the third time.
The CARSPO 2026 conference is expected to provide a strategic platform for developing recommendations that will assist the Police in strengthening election security, preventing violence and improving coordination among security stakeholders as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
