The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has proposed the establishment of a dedicated Orange Economy Security and Intellectual Property Coordination Desk within an existing structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Disu made the proposal on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Executive Course 48, 2026, at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
The lecture, titled “The Orange Economy and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Role of the Nigeria Police Force,” focused on the relationship between security, entrepreneurship and the growth of Nigeria’s creative industries.
The proposed coordination desk, according to the IGP, would strengthen the police response to crimes affecting the creative sector through specialised policing, improved inter-agency cooperation, dedicated reporting mechanisms and closer engagement with industry stakeholders.
Disu identified film, music, fashion, publishing, advertising, digital content, gaming, tourism, heritage and the arts as key components of Nigeria’s expanding creative economy, noting that the sectors are increasingly driven by entrepreneurship, technology and intellectual property.
He said the creative industries could contribute more significantly to employment, investment and national development if creators, businesses and their intellectual property were adequately protected.
The IGP advocated an intelligence-led and partnership-based approach to tackling organised piracy, counterfeiting, cyber-enabled fraud and other criminal activities capable of undermining creative enterprises.
He also called for greater use of financial investigation, where applicable, to trace proceeds associated with criminal networks operating through payment accounts, digital wallets, advertising revenues, logistics networks and online distribution channels.
On intellectual property, Disu called for enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Copyright Commission and other relevant institutions.
He identified the protection of film locations, concerts, festivals, tourism sites and cultural assets, as well as improved cybercrime response and preservation of digital evidence, as areas requiring greater police attention.
The IGP also stressed the need for sustained engagement between law enforcement agencies and creative communities to better understand the security challenges confronting the sector.
According to him, creating legitimate economic opportunities for young Nigerians is also important in preventing criminality, as credible pathways from talent to lawful income and employment can reduce young people’s vulnerability to crime.
Disu warned that piracy, fraud, extortion and other forms of criminal activity could weaken businesses, discourage investment and undermine innovation within the creative sector.
He further emphasised that policing of the creative economy must balance public safety with the rights and freedoms necessary for creativity and legitimate enterprise to flourish.
The IGP said professional, accountable and rights-respecting policing would be critical to building confidence among creators, entrepreneurs and investors.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to working with government institutions, industry stakeholders, creative professionals and communities to strengthen intellectual property protection and secure creative enterprises.
According to him, such collaboration is essential to creating an environment where innovation, investment and legitimate economic activity can thrive.
