Sir Mike Mbama Okiro was born on 24 July 1949 and hails from the Egbema clan in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria.
He began his early education in Rivers State and proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English. He later obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the University of Lagos, and subsequently acquired Bachelor and Master of Laws degrees (LL.B. and LL.M.) from the University of Jos.
To enhance his policy and leadership capacity, Okiro attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, Nigeria’s premier training institution for senior public administrators and security professionals.
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Early Career of Sir Mike Okiro in the Nigeria Police
Okiro joined the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on 1 August 1977, shortly after completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
He served in various operational and administrative capacities across Nigeria. His early postings included assignments in Rivers and Enugu States, where he served as Divisional Crime Officer and later as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in multiple commands. These roles provided him with first-hand experience in community policing and crime prevention in diverse social settings.
Rising steadily through the ranks, Okiro later held senior positions such as:
- Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Lagos State
- Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command
- Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Force Headquarters, Abuja
His tenure in Lagos was especially recognized for efforts to maintain public order and improve inter-agency collaboration during a period of intense urban security challenges.
Appointment as Inspector-General of Police (2007–2009)
On 29 May 2007, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed Okiro as the 13th Inspector-General of Police (IGP), succeeding Sunday Gabriel Ehindero. He served until 24 July 2009, when he retired upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 60. His successor was Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo.
As IGP, Okiro championed reforms aimed at building a more professional, accountable, and welfare-oriented police service. His key policy priorities included:
- Improved Welfare and Logistics: Advocated better salaries, housing, and equipment for officers.
- Training and ICT Integration: Promoted computer-based operations and intelligence-led policing.
- Community Policing and Public Trust: Strengthened engagement with communities to rebuild confidence between citizens and law enforcement.
He also publicly supported the idea of a fixed tenure for Inspectors-General of Police to ensure policy continuity and stability in leadership, a proposal that later informed national discussions on police reforms.
Clarifications on Reform Achievements
While some reports credit Okiro with introducing AK-47 rifles into the Nigeria Police Force, official records do not attribute this modernization solely to his leadership. Procurement of weaponry and logistics falls under broader institutional and federal oversight. However, it is accurate that Okiro advocated modern equipment acquisition and professional reorientation within the Force.
Claims that he founded the Police Intelligence School in Ilorin, Kwara State are also often repeated. In reality, while Okiro emphasized intelligence training and restructuring of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) during his tenure, the Police Intelligence School was formally commissioned long after his retirement. His contributions, therefore, lie in conceptual groundwork and policy advocacy for advanced police intelligence education.
Post-Retirement Service and Leadership of Sir Mike Okiro
Following his retirement from the NPF, Okiro continued his engagement in national policing reform. In May 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed him Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), the constitutional body responsible for recruitment, promotion, and discipline within the police.
During his 2013–2018 tenure, Okiro focused on professionalising recruitment, improving personnel accountability, and reinforcing merit-based promotion systems. He also warned about manpower shortages, revealing that over 12,000 officers had been lost through retirement, death, or desertion, and called for sustained recruitment drives to maintain operational effectiveness.
At the PSC, Okiro promoted administrative transparency and institutional reforms over ad-hoc measures, positioning the Commission as a key oversight body in police governance.
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Publications and Thought Leadership
Sir Mike Okiro is among the few Nigerian police chiefs to contribute significantly to policing literature. His notable works include:
- Policing Nigeria in a Democracy (2009)
- Overcoming Security Challenges (2012)
- The Legal Implications of the Mismanagement of Public Funds (2013)
These publications examine policing ethics, democratic accountability, governance, and law enforcement reform, reflecting his blend of administrative experience and intellectual engagement.
Legacy and Influence of Sir Mike Okiro
Sir Mike Okiro’s tenure marked a period of transition, when Nigeria’s police faced the challenges of democratic consolidation, insecurity, and public distrust. His leadership focused on professional ethics, welfare reforms, and community engagement, making him one of the most reform-minded Inspectors-General in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Although not all his proposals were fully implemented, his advocacy for leadership stability, improved training, and people-centered policing continues to influence discourse on police reform in Nigeria.
After over three decades of service, Okiro remains a symbol of education-driven professionalism and progressive reform within the Nigerian Police system.
Author’s Note
Sir Mike Mbama Okiro’s career reflects the evolution of Nigeria’s policing through discipline, education, and reform-minded leadership. From his rise through the ranks to serving as the nation’s 13th Inspector-General of Police and later as Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Okiro consistently championed professionalism, officer welfare, and accountability. Though some of his initiatives faced institutional hurdles, his enduring impact lies in his vision of a modern, community-focused police force rooted in ethics and public trust, a legacy that continues to shape conversations on law enforcement reform in Nigeria.
References:
Vanguard News – Mike Okiro: The Quintessential Policeman (27 January 2023).
Vanguard News – One Man’s Journey to Secure a Nation (27 July 2024).
The Guardian Nigeria – Okiro Advocates Fixed Tenure for IGPs.
The Nation – Intelligence-Led Policing and Police Modernisation in Nigeria.
Police Service Commission (Nigeria) – Annual Reports, 2014–2018.
Independent Newspaper Nigeria – PSC Chairmanship Records (2013–2018).
