…If there’s a re-incarnation and was asked to choose a career again, I would choose to be a police officer, I would be a Nigerian policewoman. This work is a divine calling, and I am proud to have answered it
*History-making First Female Commandant at then Police College Kaduna with three decades of distinguished service spanning investigation, fraud detection, railway and airport commands regarded ‘Supercop Excellence’ brings expertise to Police Maritime Headquarters
*She’s an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, widely respected for her professionalism, integrity, and an unshakeable dedication to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force
*“This maritime environment is very complex. In view of my profound experience in the investigation section, I believe we are doing well. Whenever I remember Police College Kaduna, I always feel good about what God has used us to do over there. We made history. It was an evergreen experience. I want to build relationships that outlast my posting”–AIG OKUNADE
*PLUS: If she meets the United States President, Donald Trump One-on-One on why she will request ONLY Logistics for the Nigerian Police Maritime Sector
SHE carries the quiet authority of a woman who has spent over three decades mastering the art of policing in Nigeria – not merely wearing the uniform, but breathing purpose into it. From her early days as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1992, to the hallowed corridors of the Police College, Kaduna, where she broke a ceiling no woman before her had dared to crack, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, fsi, has consistently redefined what it means to lead in a profession still largely dominated by men.
This ever-smiling Ogbomosho North Local Government Area of Oyo State born hard working woman, a holder of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan came into the Nigeria Police Force with an acute understanding of the human mind. She has deployed that understanding with remarkable precision across every posting: she served at the Force Provost Office, in divisional and area commands within the Railway Command and Airport Command, and rose through the ranks in some of the most demanding investigative units in the country, including the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, and the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Milverton, Lagos, where she served as the 31st Commissioner of Police.
But it is her groundbreaking tenure as the First female Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna – and the First AIG to head that institution that gave Nigeria a glimpse of her extraordinary prowess, ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking and law enforcement operational ability.
She returned to the very institution that trained her, picked up a paintbrush in one hand and a blueprint in the other, and gave the college a facelift that moved police officers to rally around a woman who was simply doing what others said could not be done by anyone.
Deployed by then Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, to the strategic helm of the Maritime Police Command, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, as its 24th AIG, where she commands one of the most operationally complex environments in Nigeria’s entire policing architecture.
She is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), where she is widely respected for her professionalism, integrity, and an unshakeable dedication to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
In this Exclusive Interview with the Editorial Board of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA who paid her a global media visit from its Texas Media Headquarters, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat bare it all on sundry matters relating to maritime security, inter-agency collaboration, community policing and her request from President Donald Trump of the United States if the opportunity arise, as REPORTED BY FAVOUR BOLUWATIFE PHILIP/SOUTH WEST CORRESPONDENT, NIGERIA/Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA
*NAIJA STANDARD: As the 24th AIG in charge of the Maritime Police Command here at Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, what maritime security measures and inter-agency collaborations have your command implemented since you assumed office?
*AIG OKUNADE: Just like I said earlier, this environment is a very, very complex environment. Due to the experience, we had in the investigation section before coming to this place, I believe we have done very well. The first critical relationship is with the Customs Service – that is the number one pillar, because in the maritime environment, you cannot work without Customs.
We have a very good relationship; we synergize with them (Customs Service) to get our job done. We also relate closely with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), which is our landlord, and with NAHCO – the freight forwarders’ section, which handles the logistical aspects of maritime services.
I want you to understand that our primary function here is an oversight function. The Nigerian Port Authority Police Command and the State Marine Officer are the ones directly working within the maritime environment daily. They report to this office.
So, most of what we do is oversight, while also fulfilling the constitutional responsibility of every police officer: which is the security of life and property.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What distinctive leadership philosophy are you bringing into this Maritime Police Command?
*AIG OKUNADE: Professionalism. Professionalism in investigation – which is very important. Most of my career has been spent in investigation, and now as a senior officer, I oversee all the sections administratively.
What I want to firmly establish here is a culture where, for every case, a proper case file is opened, and due diligence investigation is carried out. This is an Information Technology-driven, highly professional environment. I want every officer serving under this command to be a standard-bearer for professional service delivery. I will not allow anything to take that away from us.
*NAIJA STANDARD: You made history as the First Female Commandant and the First AIG to lead the Police College in Kaduna. Looking back, how does that achievement make you feel?
*AIG OKUNADE: Till tomorrow, whenever I remember Police College Kaduna, I always feel good about what God has used us to do over there. When my citation was being read at my decoration ceremony, they mentioned that this was the very place where I was trained – and then luckily for me, I was sent back there to become its first female commandant.
To the glory of God, we made history. It was a very good experience. Going back, meeting officers who had been there for over 13 years, introducing something new – it was transformational. We gave the college a facelift. That was something that made people stand up and say: “If a woman can do this, we must support her.” The police officers there felt seen, felt cared for. I will never forget the Kaduna experience. We were welcomed with open arms. The Kaduna experience is a very great one.
*NAIJA STANDARD: You recently hosted the Flag Officer Commanding at the Maritime Command. What does that kind of high-level inter-agency engagement mean for the security architecture of Lagos Waterways?
*AIG OKUNADE: That meeting was organised primarily for the State Marine Officer. As an oversight command, we created the platform for the State Marine Officer, who reports directly to the Commissioner of Police, to have a direct opportunity to engage the Flag Officer, present the challenges they face, and receive guidance.
The Flag Officer was fully engaged, ready with his counsel. The State Marine Officer was happy and comfortable knowing that he had powerful allies in that room. The Nigerian Navy is the number one authority on the water, and their Flag Officer has really assisted us enormously. We exchanged ideas, issues were raised, solutions were proffered, and all parties were left enriched by one another.
Since that meeting, the situation reports coming from the Port Authority Police Command have reflected a measurable improvement in synergy between the Police and the Navy. There was even a recent incident on the high sea where a naval patrol was able to assist one of our police officers in a moment of need. It has been a wonderful working relationship.
*NAIJA STANDARD: What proactive security measures are in place to curtail the nefarious activities of smugglers on Lagos Waterways?
*AIG OKUNADE: We have dedicated patrol teams working on that. I must however give credit where it belongs – the Port Authority Police Command and the State Marine Officer are the primary actors on water patrol.
They are the ones who patrol the waterways daily. Most of the recorded achievements are theirs, even though they report to this office. We support them with patrol resources from this end. You cannot eliminate completely such activities, but we are continuously trying. The key is persistent, professional presence.
*NAIJA STANDARD: During the National Police Day activities from March 30 to April 7, your command conducted environmental cleanups and medical outreach. What police-community relationship were you able to establish?
*AIG OKUNADE: Part of the reason we went to the Ministry of Environment and Water Authority (MEWA) was to sensitize waterway users. We collaborated with the Inland Waterways office, and the woman in charge was so happy to receive us.
We sensitized the community, spoke to boat operators, and urged them to report any suspicious activities to the police. We visited the fish sellers on the water, the everyday people on the waterways. They were very happy. I made them realize that standing before me does not mean they cannot aspire to become police officers themselves – some of them I could see were young people, still with ambitions ahead of them. I encouraged them. That is the essence of community policing – let the people know that the police exist to serve them, and in so doing, you gain their eyes and ears in the community. Intelligence-led policing begins with relationship. That is the professionalism we are talking about.
*NAIJA STANDARD: If you were meeting President Donald Trump One-on-One today and he asked what help Nigeria’s Maritime Police Command needs from the United States, what would you ask from him?
*AIG OKUNADE: I will talk about logistics – that is the only problem we have. Things are getting better, our pro-active security technologies are improving, but if I had that opportunity to sit down with President Trump face to face, I would ask for logistics. Anything that can make our job easier and more effective on the water – that is the only thing I will ask for.
*NAIJA STANDARD: Finally, what lasting legacy would you like to be remembered for during your tenure as AIG in charge of the Maritime Police Command?
*AIG OKUNADE: Professionalism. That is very important. It drives everything we do. If you do not deviate from the laid-down regulations, if you build genuine relationships with the community, if you let people know what you are doing so that they can embrace it and become part of it – that is the legacy.
I have met stakeholders who, and when they leave my office, they say: “We now know that we have a modern AIG.” That means everything to me. I want to build relationships that outlast my posting.
Even now, there is not a week that goes by without me receiving a call from one or two people I served in a previous command. That is the reward for genuine service. And let me say this: if I came back to this world and was asked to choose a career again – I would choose to be a police officer. I would be a policewoman. This work is a calling, and I am proud to have answered it.
DONATE TO HELP BUILD A SPECIAL APPS FOR JOURNALISTS AGAINST LIVER ELEVATION & KIDNEY FAILURE:
CERTAINLY, Good journalism costs a lot of money. Without doubt, only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. We are ready to hold every corrupt government accountable to the citizens. To continually enjoy free access to the best investigative journalism in Nigeria, we are requesting of you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavor.”
By contributing to NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all without fear or favor.
Your donation is voluntary- please decide how much and how often you want to give.
FOR OFFLINE OR ANONYMOUS DONATION ON THIS PROJECT OR HELP COVER COST FOR SERIES OF UNDERCOVER REPORTING IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, DO PAY DIRECTLY FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO: UNITED STATES LEAD BANK, CHECKING ACCOUNT NUMBER: 213799651654 OR NIGERIA BANK NAME-MONIEPOINT *BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER: 7076577445
Feel free to send us an email: letters@nigeriastandardnewspaper.com or call us directly at +2347076577445 (Nigeria) or WhatsApp American Roaming Mobile Number: +16825834890 (Chat messages only available)
donation
