“Who Be Your Customer?” — Nigerians React as Police Celebrate Customer Service Week

Nigerians have taken to social media to question the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) after the agency joined global organisations to mark Customer Service Week 2025, sparking a wave of humour, sarcasm, and genuine confusion online.

In a post shared on it Facebook page, the Police wrote:

“Yes, you — our esteemed customer, we celebrate you as we renew our commitment to placing you at the heart of our service. Your safety, our mission.”

The message, signed by Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, was intended to highlight the Force’s pledge to improve service delivery and public trust. However, many Nigerians weren’t quite sure what to make of being called “customers.”

Social media quickly lit up with reactions. One user, Aminu Sadisu Sulaiman, quipped: “Only in Naija you’ll see police celebrating with their customers.” Another, Kelgrin Omo-ugun Otoide, wrote: “Abeg who are the police customers? Young boys driving flashy cars, I guess!”

Others joined in with playful confusion. “Customer ke? Wetin police dey sell?” asked Yomi Wonderful, while Abdulbaseed Gaini posted, “Wait, wait… who exactly is the customer?”

Despite the mockery, some observers believe the Force’s gesture signals a positive shift toward rebranding and public engagement. “If taken seriously, this could be the start of a mindset change,  from seeing citizens as suspects to treating them as clients of public safety,” one analyst told Briefing Brew.

Whether Nigerians will buy into that idea remains to be seen. For now, the viral question lingers: “Dear Police, who exactly are your customers?”