President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially opened the 15th Biennial Police Games (BIPOGA 2026), urging participating officers to compete with honour, discipline, and sportsmanship, while warning against treating the contest as a “do-or-die affair.”

The week-long national sporting event is being staged at Stephen Keshi Stadium, drawing contingents from the 17 Zonal Commands of the Nigeria Police Force and the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

BIPOGA, with roots dating back to the 1940s, has evolved into the Police Force’s principal internal sporting competition, designed to promote fitness, inter-command bonding, and community engagement.

Represented by the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, the President described the Games as a strategic intervention to strengthen professionalism and operational effectiveness within the Force.

He emphasised that national security underpins economic growth and social stability, insisting that service in uniform must be guided by “character, competence and conduct,” in line with this year’s theme, Beyond the Badge: Excellence in Action.

“A physically fit, mentally resilient and morally grounded Police Force is indispensable to national security,” Tinubu stated, noting that organised sports are a tool for cohesion, institutional discipline, and operational readiness.

In his welcome address, Sheriff Oborevwori assured participants of a memorable tournament, highlighting Delta State’s experience hosting major events, including the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships, the National Sports Festival, and the National Youth Games. He emphasised that the Games celebrate discipline, teamwork, and excellence, rather than medal counts.

The Inspector-General of Police and chief host, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, described BIPOGA as critical for fostering unity and professionalism, noting that modern policing requires endurance, agility, and mental toughness. “A fit officer is a safe officer, and a disciplined competitor is a disciplined professional,” he said.