Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu has approved the take-off of a radio station for the police, Peoples Gazette can report.

A November 11 police signal to all formations said the radio station will be launched as NPF 99.1 FM. All personnel who may be interested in taking roles as broadcasters have been asked to file in their credentials for enlistment.

The deadline for application was set for November 25, i.e.: less than three weeks from today.

Two police sources familiar with the new radio station told the Gazette on Saturday that Mr. Adamu decided to launch it to counter messages of #EndSARS protesters.

“The image of NPF has been terribly defaced with recent protests,” a police chief said under anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose internal discussions. “The IG said he would do everything in his power to redeem the image.”

Mr. Adamu came under criticism recently for his failure to immediately check excessive use of police force against protesters. Nigerians had taken to the streets across the country to protest against decades of police brutality, which led to the scrapping of brutal unit SARS.

Police sources said even though SARS had been abolished, most Nigerians still have little faith in the police’s integrity and professionalism.

“The IG has been trying to see how he could get Nigerians to trust the police again,” a source said. “He did not want the recent comments of #EndSARS protesters to have a lasting damage on the police.”