Nigeria Police Force and Lenders Consult International Prepare for CARSPO 2026
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 General Elections, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is taking proactive steps to ensure electoral security. In collaboration with Lenders Consult International, the NPF is organizing the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO), this time with a focus on electoral security. The sixth edition of the event will take place from September 21 to 23, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State. The theme of the conference, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” aims to create a concrete strategy for protecting voters, personnel, and materials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The conference brings together senior police officers, policing experts, and relevant stakeholders to examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop practical strategies for safe, peaceful, and credible elections. Key topics include intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and other contemporary approaches to strengthening police operations before, during, and after elections.
The event primarily involves officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police and above, providing an opportunity for strategic engagement and the development of practical measures to strengthen the Force’s capacity for election security management. The conference will facilitate the creation of actionable strategies for the protection of voters, electoral personnel, candidates, electoral materials, and the general public during the 2027 General Elections.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21, in Owerri, Imo State. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, emphasized the NPF’s commitment to strengthening strategic leadership, professionalism, and operational preparedness to ensure a peaceful, safe, and secure environment for the 2027 General Elections.
Lenders Consult Reaffirms Commitment
At a recent press conference held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lenders Consult International, Mr Shina Philips, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the NPF in strengthening security arrangements ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Philips highlighted that the partnership between Lenders Consult and the NPF aims to support the development of effective strategies to secure the electoral process and maintain public order during the 2027 elections.
He noted that the IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has emphasized the critical role of the police in ensuring electoral stability. According to him, the IGP stated that “stability of the electoral process largely depends on the Police as the lead agency in internal democracy.” Philips also mentioned that Lenders Consult International has partnered with the NPF since 2019 to support policing initiatives and promote modern approaches to policing in Nigeria.
Philips expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Inspector-General of Police, the Force Management Team, and the entire Nigeria Police Force for their support of the program since its inception in 2019. He also thanked the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, for agreeing to host the conference in Owerri for the third time.
What CARSPO Has Delivered Over the Years
The commitment behind this year’s edition is rooted in a track record built over five previous editions. Since the maiden edition in 2019, hosted by the Lagos State Government, the conference has been held in various locations, including Uyo, Owerri, and Abeokuta, reflecting its national significance and growing institutional acceptance.
Through the retreat, senior officers have engaged in peer review and cross-fertilisation of ideas on policing and security challenges. This process has encouraged critical assessment of crime patterns, operational gaps, and resource deployment strategies, with an emphasis on daily crime analysis at command levels, improved situation reporting (SITRE), and enhanced analytical capacity that has strengthened decision-making across the Force.
The retreat has also reinforced the importance of evidence-based policing. By focusing on better management of crime scenes, improved intelligence gathering, and the creation of offenders’ registers for profiling, the conference has helped shift policing from reactive responses toward more proactive and intelligence-led operations.
On technology, discussions at the retreat have consistently pushed for the digitalisation of police processes, the strengthening of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), and an overhaul of the Force’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department. Emphasis on linking police data with other organizations and agencies has improved information sharing and coordination in criminal investigations, while proposals for fusion centers for intelligence integration reflect a growing recognition that modern policing requires collaboration, data analysis, and real-time information exchange.
The retreat has also encouraged capacity-building for policing cyberspace, promoting partnerships with technology companies and specialized agencies to equip officers with the skills needed to combat cyber-related offenses.
Community policing has remained a central theme across editions, with the retreat emphasizing the need for officers to engage actively with schools, motor parks, housing estates, and local associations. A related outcome has been the push to implement community radio platforms for policing communication, designed to improve information dissemination and strengthen relationships between police and the communities they serve.
The conference has also reinforced discipline and operational accountability within the Force. Regular briefings by the Force High Command, improved information management, and an emphasis on fact verification have strengthened internal communication, while the canvassing for the reintroduction of pocket notebooks and the biometric capture of all police personnel have improved documentation, transparency, and identity verification.
The retreat has also encouraged greater caution in the use of social media by officers, recognizing the need for responsible communication in an era of rapidly spreading information.
Beyond the Force itself, the conference has encouraged collaboration with agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and private sector organizations, including oil and gas associations, to support resource mobilization, equipment acquisition, and operational efficiency.
A Roadmap for 2027
Taken together, these cumulative gains form the backdrop against which CARSPO 2026 is being convened. With the 2027 General Elections on the horizon, the Force and its long-standing partner are positioning this year’s Owerri retreat not merely as another edition in the series, but as the platform on which senior police leadership will build a concrete, actionable strategy for securing Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, ranging from the protection of voters and electoral personnel to the safeguarding of materials and the wider public, before, during, and after the polls.
