The long wait may finally be nearing an end for police officers and their families displaced by the redevelopment of police barracks in Lagos, as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has set a December 2026 to January 2027 target for their return.
Disu gave the indication during an inspection tour of police barracks and other facilities across Lagos State, where he assessed the progress of ongoing rehabilitation and redevelopment projects.
The inspection exposed delays in some locations, prompting the IGP to demand greater urgency in completing the projects and making the accommodation available to personnel who have been waiting to return.
At Ikeja, Disu was briefed on the progress of the redevelopment and informed that the accommodation was expected to be ready by December or, at the latest, January.
For affected police families, the timeline provides a clearer indication of when they could finally return to upgraded living quarters.
The Lagos inspection also highlighted the scale of the accommodation challenge within the Force. Hundreds of buildings have reportedly been refurbished, while a headcount of personnel occupying police quarters has been conducted to determine actual housing requirements.
Beyond the rehabilitation of existing barracks, the Force is exploring additional housing solutions through mortgage financing and partnerships, particularly for junior officers.
The Police Mortgage initiative is expected to complement the redevelopment of existing barracks by creating opportunities for personnel to own homes rather than depend entirely on institutional accommodation.
Disu also stressed the need for timely completion and proper monitoring of the projects, signalling that delays would not be allowed to undermine the ongoing efforts to address the housing shortage.
For officers still waiting, however, the key message from the inspection is now clear: December 2026 — or January 2027 at the latest.
After months of uncertainty, the countdown to their return has begun.
