As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, Shina Philips, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lenders Consult International, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, government institutions and citizens to improve election security.
Philips said effective policing and the protection of the electoral process should not be left solely to government, stressing that citizens and other stakeholders have a role to play in maintaining public order and securing the democratic process.
His comments came as the Nigeria Police Force and Lenders Consult International prepare for the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026), scheduled for September 21-23 in Owerri, Imo State.
The conference is themed ‘Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections’ and is expected to bring together senior police officers, security experts, policymakers and other election stakeholders to develop strategies for the 2027 polls.
Philips backs broader support for police
Speaking at a press conference at the Force Headquarters in Abuja ahead of the conference, Philips said Lenders Consult’s partnership with the Police was aimed at supporting the development of practical strategies to protect voters, electoral officials, candidates and election materials.
‘As a private organisation, Lenders Consult International is committed to strengthening our strategic partnership with the Nigeria Police as they prepare to provide adequate security during the 2027 General Elections across the country,’ Philips said.
He urged Nigerians to support the police in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, arguing that effective security requires cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
‘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 said Lenders Consult had partnered with the Nigeria Police since 2019 to support policing initiatives and promote modern approaches to security management.
‘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,’ he said.
CARSPO shifts focus to 2027 election security
The 2026 edition comes at a critical stage in preparations for the 2027 elections, with the police seeking to develop an operational roadmap for managing security before, during and after the polls.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, discussions will cover intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technologies and artificial intelligence, alongside strategies for protecting voters, candidates, electoral officials, election materials and the wider public.
The retreat is primarily targeted at officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police and above, providing senior commanders with an opportunity to review emerging security threats and develop coordinated responses.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, is expected to provide strategic direction on the Force’s preparations for electoral engagements.
The police leadership has emphasised the importance of the Force’s role as the lead internal security agency during elections, with CARSPO expected to translate that responsibility into practical operational strategies.
From policing forum to national security platform
Since its inaugural edition in 2019, CARSPO has evolved from a senior police retreat into a platform for professional exchange, strategic review and discussion of emerging policing challenges.
Philips said the conference had continued to expand its scope and attract international participation, exposing Nigeria’s policing institutions to modern approaches and international best practices.
The conference has been hosted in different locations, including Lagos, Uyo, Owerri and Abeokuta, reflecting its expanding national reach.
For Philips, the continued partnership with the police is driven by the need to strengthen institutional capacity as security challenges become more complex.
He pledged that Lenders Consult would continue working with the Police authorities to ensure the conference remains focused on practical and innovative solutions to contemporary security challenges.
Roadmap for the 2027 polls
The organisers said recommendations from CARSPO 2026 would feed into the Police Force’s operational planning for the 2027 general elections.
Beyond conventional security deployment, the conference is expected to examine the use of intelligence, technology and inter-agency coordination to improve the police response to election-related threats.
With the electoral cycle approaching, Philips said sustained cooperation between the police, government, private sector and citizens would be critical to creating the conditions for a secure electoral process.
The conference, he said, provides an opportunity not only to assess existing security arrangements but also to develop practical measures capable of addressing emerging challenges before they escalate.