IGP Disu proposes dedicated police desk for creative economy

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has proposed the establishment of an Orange Economy Security and Intellectual Property Coordination Desk within an appropriate existing structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to strengthen the protection of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding creative economy.

Disu made the proposal on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State

The lecture, titled “The Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of the Nigeria Police Force,” examined the nexus between security, entrepreneurship and the growth of the country’s creative industries.

IGP Disu identified film, music, fashion, publishing, advertising, digital content, gaming, tourism, heritage and the arts as sectors increasingly driven by entrepreneurship, technology and intellectual property.

He stressed that their contribution to employment, investment and national development could be enhanced through effective security and intellectual property protection.

Disu said the proposed coordination desk would facilitate specialised policing, inter-agency collaboration, dedicated reporting mechanisms and stronger engagement between the police and stakeholders in the creative sector.

He also advocated an intelligence-led and partnership-based approach to tackling organised piracy, counterfeiting, cyber-enabled fraud and other crimes affecting creative enterprises.

The IGP emphasized the importance of financial investigations, where applicable, to trace proceeds linked to criminal networks operating through payment accounts, digital wallets, advertising revenues, logistics networks and online distribution platforms.

Ghe IGP called for stronger collaboration between the NPF, the Nigerian Copyright Commission and other relevant institutions towards ensuring intellectual property protection

He further identified the protection of film locations, concerts, festivals, tourism sites and cultural assets, improved cybercrime response, preservation of digital evidence and sustained engagement with creative communities as areas requiring greater police attention

He also highlighted the preventive role of legitimate economic opportunities, noting that credible pathways from talent to lawful income and employment could help reduce young people’s vulnerability to criminal activity.

According to Disu, “Piracy, fraud, extortion and other forms of criminality not only undermine businesses but also discourage investment and weaken innovation across the creative economy.

He stressed that policing the sector must balance public safety with the rights and protections necessary for creativity and enterprise to flourish, adding that professional, accountable and rights-respecting policing remains critical to building confidence among creators, entrepreneurs and investors.

Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to working with government agencies, industry stakeholders, creative professionals and communities to strengthen intellectual property protection, secure creative enterprises and create an enabling environment for innovation, investment and legitimate economic activity.

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