The Nigeria Police Force has called on citizens to immediately report any police officer found on duty without a clearly displayed name tag, describing such omission as a breach of professional standards and the law.

The directive follows an order by the Inspector-General of Police, Olutunji Disu, enforcing Section 50(4) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020. The provision makes it compulsory for all police personnel to wear name tags while performing official duties, whether on patrol, at checkpoints, or in offices accessible to the public.

Disu stressed that identification is central to accountability and public trust, insisting that officers have no excuse for operating anonymously. “We all have our name tags. It is not our standard to work without one,” he said, warning that supervisors would be held responsible for lapses within their commands.

The Force Complaint Response Unit, which handles grievances against police personnel nationwide, amplified the directive in an official message on its X handle. The unit urged Nigerians to document and report any officer who appears on duty without a name tag, noting that such reports help the police track misconduct and enforce discipline.

The renewed emphasis on visible identification is part of the force’s #NoToImpunity campaign, an internal reform drive aimed at curbing abuses, improving professionalism, and rebuilding confidence in law enforcement. By making it easier for citizens to identify officers, the police leadership hopes to deter extortion, harassment, and other forms of misconduct that often go unpunished when perpetrators cannot be named.

Police authorities say complaints can be lodged through established channels, including hotlines and online platforms managed by the Complaint Response Unit, with citizens encouraged to provide details such as location, time, and, where safe, photo or video evidence.

Security analysts note that visible name tags are a basic feature of modern policing worldwide, allowing the public to know who is exercising state authority over them. Rights advocates in Nigeria have long argued that anonymous policing fuels impunity, particularly at roadblocks and during crowd control operations.

The latest directive signals an attempt by the current police leadership to align daily policing practices with the letter of the law and to foster a culture in which officers understand that every interaction with the public is traceable and subject to review.