Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Adewale Jimoh, has issued a strong call to police officers approaching retirement, urging them to take advantage of entrepreneurship training and business development programmes to secure their futures beyond the force. Speaking at a retirement seminar organised for senior officers in Lagos on Friday, September 4, 2026, Jimoh stressed that life after service requires strategic planning and financial foresight, warning that without proactive measures, many retired officers risk falling into poverty.
Jimoh, who is the AIG in charge of Zone 2, which comprises Ogun and Lagos states, told the gathering that the era of relying solely on pension and gratuity was over. He said the economic realities of the country demanded that officers acquire skills that would enable them to generate sustainable income after their active service years. "You cannot afford to leave the police force and become a pauper. You must think business. You must think value addition. You must think of what you can do with your hands and mind to continue to be relevant and productive," Jimoh declared.
The AIG noted that many retired officers had struggled financially after service because they failed to plan for their post-service lives. He argued that the discipline, leadership, and organisational skills acquired in the police force could easily be transferred to entrepreneurship and business management if officers were willing to learn and adapt. He challenged the retiring officers to see retirement not as an end but as a new beginning, describing it as an opportunity to explore new interests, build businesses, and contribute to the economy in different ways. "The same dedication you brought to policing, bring it to your business. The same integrity, bring it to your enterprise. The same discipline, bring it to your investments. That is how you build a legacy beyond the uniform," he said.
Jimoh also called on the police hierarchy to institutionalise entrepreneurship training as part of the retirement preparation process for all officers. He recommended that the force partner with relevant government agencies, financial institutions, and business development organisations to provide retiring officers with access to capital, mentorship, and market linkages. "It is not enough to tell them to start a business; we must equip them with the tools to succeed. We must connect them to the right networks and ensure they have access to the resources they need to thrive," he said.
The retirement seminar was organised by the Zone 2 Police Command and attracted senior officers from various formations within the zone. The event featured lectures and panel discussions on pension management, investment strategies, and small business development, facilitated by financial experts and successful retired officers who had transitioned into entrepreneurship. Several of the retiring officers who spoke at the seminar expressed gratitude for the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. They also shared their fears and aspirations about life after service, highlighting the importance of having a structured support system to guide them through the transition.
The call for officers to embrace entrepreneurship comes at a time when the Nigeria Police Force is facing growing scrutiny over the welfare of its personnel, particularly in the area of post-service benefits. Many retired officers have complained about delays in pension payments and inadequate gratuity packages, making it difficult for them to sustain themselves and their families. The government has also been criticised for not doing enough to support retired officers in their post-service transition, despite the sacrifices they made during their years of active service.
The AIG's intervention has been widely praised by stakeholders who have long advocated for a more comprehensive approach to police welfare. Some have suggested that the police force should establish a dedicated department for retirement planning and post-service support, modelled after similar initiatives in other professions and countries. Others have called for the creation of a police veterans' fund that would provide grants, loans, and business development support for retired officers.
The retirement seminar is part of a broader effort by the Zone 2 Police Command to prioritise the welfare of its personnel. In recent months, the command has organised several programmes aimed at improving the professional and personal development of officers, including training workshops on financial literacy, leadership, and mental health.
As the retiring officers prepare to leave the force, Jimoh's message remains clear: life after the police force is what they make of it. He encouraged them to approach the next chapter of their lives with the same courage and determination that defined their service, and to remember that the skills they acquired in the force could be leveraged to build successful businesses and meaningful careers.
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