President Bola Tinubu, on Monday night at the maiden award and commendations event organised by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Abuja, declared April 7 as National Police Day, CEOAFRICA reported.

Represented by his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima who delivered the speech titled “Courage Under Fire: A Bouquet for Our Police Force,” he had said “we have approved the adoption of the first week of April as Police Week. Furthermore, the last day of the week, April 7th, is hereby declared National Police Day in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the first week of April has over the years, been observed by the Nigerian Police Force as the Police Week.

The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement agency in the country. It had its origins in Lagos following the creation of a 30-man Consular Guard in 1861. In 1879 a 1,200-member armed paramilitary Hausa Constabulary was formed. In 1896 the Lagos Police was established.

As the United Nations designated 7 September as the International Day of Police Cooperation aimed at increasing understanding of the positive impact of policing and law enforcement agencies, CEOAFRICA gathered that National Police Week/Day is an event observed by most countries across the globe, and specifically in Africa.

Below is the list of some African countries, their observance of National Police Day, dates, and significance.

1. Egypt – Police Day is celebrated in Egypt on January 25 of each year, which recognizes the efforts of Egyptian police to maintain security and stability in Egypt and acknowledges their sacrifices. It is a paid day off on the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution in 2011. It is also celebrated to commemorate the massacre of 50 Egyptian policemen by British occupation forces in Ismailia in 1952.

2. South Africa – South African Cabinet approved 27 January as National Police Day in 2005. The National Police Day is to signify the anniversary of the establishment of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in January 1995 and also to remember the sacrifices that the men and women in blue have made and continue to make as they provide safety for all who live in South Africa.

3. Kenya – October 20 is Mashujaa Day, also known as Heroes' Day ("mashujaa" is Swahili for "heroes"), a national day in Kenya, to collectively honour all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya's independence. The National Police Service Commission is deemed as part of the heroes of Kenya.

4. Uganda – On the 3rd of October 2014, the Uganda Police Force celebrated 100-plus years of existence under the theme: “From colonial policing to community policing a century of challenges.” It was from then resolved that every 3rd October be celebrated as a police day.