By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Council, has nominated former Lagos State Commissioner of Police and newly promoted Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for its prestigious “Best Crime Fighter of the Year Award” in recognition of what it described as his outstanding contributions to crime fighting, public safety, and protection of press freedom during his tenure in Lagos State.
The award is scheduled to be presented during the 2026 NUJ FCT Press Week opening ceremony billed for May 19 at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
In a nomination letter signed by the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, the union said the honour was in recognition of AIG Jimoh’s transformative leadership and strategic policing innovations while serving as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.
The letter noted that the 2026 Press Week is themed: “2027 Election: Defending Democracy in the Era of Disinformation.”
According to the council, AIG Jimoh distinguished himself through intelligence-driven policing strategies that significantly strengthened public safety in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The NUJ stated that under his leadership, the Lagos State Police Command recorded notable operational successes in combating violent crimes, armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, cybercrime, and street violence across several parts of the state.
The council also commended the former Lagos police boss for modernising operational structures within the command through enhanced K9 deployment, improved surveillance coordination, rapid-response policing, and data-driven crime prevention mechanisms.
It further praised his swift intervention in cases involving harassment and intimidation of journalists, noting that such actions reinforced confidence among media practitioners operating in high-risk environments.
“Under your exemplary leadership since assuming office as Lagos State Commissioner of Police, you transformed public safety through innovative strategies, including enhanced K9 operations, rapid response to media harassment cases, and data-driven crime reductions that safeguarded journalists in high-risk reporting while fostering stronger police-media partnerships,” the letter stated.
The union observed that AIG Jimoh’s tenure in Lagos was marked by increased collaboration between the police and critical stakeholders, including journalists, civil society organisations, community leaders, and private sector security networks.
According to the NUJ, his leadership style promoted professionalism, accountability, intelligence sharing, and proactive crime management, all of which contributed to improved public trust in law enforcement.
The council added that the award was not only a recognition of tactical policing achievements but also an acknowledgment of his collaborative approach to security management and democratic engagement.
“This award celebrates your unique blend of tactical brilliance and collaborative spirit, distinguishing you as one of Nigeria’s foremost crime fighters whose efforts positively impacted both public security and media freedom,” the union added.
The NUJ FCT Council invited AIG Jimoh to attend the opening ceremony where the award would be formally presented before journalists, public officials, security stakeholders, and civil society leaders.
The nomination letter was jointly endorsed by Grace Ike and the Secretary of the council, Jide Oyekunle.
