The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved a major round of promotions within the Nigeria Police Force, elevating twelve Commissioners of Police (CP) to the prestigious rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) and promoting dozens of other senior officers across various specialized departments.
In a statement released on Monday by Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations for the Commission, the latest promotions reflect an ongoing commitment to merit, professionalism, and global best practices within the police structure.
Among those promoted are 16 Deputy Commissioners of Police elevated to Commissioners of Police, and 27 Assistant Commissioners of Police who have now attained the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
However, not all candidates met the criteria. The Commission withheld the promotion of one Assistant Commissioner, whose name was not disclosed, due to absence during the promotion exercise.
Additionally, 145 Chief Superintendents of Police were promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police. This batch includes officers from general duty as well as specialists in fields such as aviation, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, laboratory science, physiotherapy, and nursing. Others promoted include chaplains, aircraft engineers, and Airwing officers.
Also promoted were 29 Superintendents, all specialists in information technology, works, and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), who rose to the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police. The Commission further approved the promotion of 38 Deputy Superintendents (Specialists) to the rank of Superintendent of Police.
The following 12 Commissioners of Police were promoted to the rank of AIG:
– Johnson Oluwole Adenola, current CP, Oyo State and former PSO to the IGP
– Ako Benedict Gabriel, CP Anti-Fraud
– Ahmadu Tijani Abdullahi, CP Jigawa State
– Emmanuel Adegbola Aina**, acting AIG Intelligence
– Omolara Ibidun Oloruntola
– Hassan Abdu Yababet, CP, Police College Jos
– Bretet Emmanuel Simon, CP Taraba
– Enyinnaya Inonachi Adiogu, CP FCID, Gombe Zonal Command
– Aminu Baba Raji, CP Special Unit, FCID, Alagbon
– Mohammed Mu’azu Usman, CP Eastern Ports, Port Harcourt
– Festus Chinedu Oko, acting AIG, DLS Department, Force Headquarters
– Ronke Nurat Okunade, Special Fraud Unit, FCID Annex, Lagos
The 16 DCPs promoted to CPs include:
– Uduak Otu Ita
– Sheikh Mohammed Danko
– Charles Ezekwesiri Dike
– Nnana Oji Ama, DC Intelligence, FCID
– Gabriel Onyilo Eliagwu
– Abiola Reuben Olutunde
– Yakubu Useni Dankaro
– Michael Adegoroye Falade
– Aina Adesola
– Umar Ahmed Chuso
– Emefile Tony Osifo
– Innocent Ilogbunam Anagbado
– Musa Mohammed Sani
– Victor Avwerosuo Erivwode, DC SEB, FCID
– Omoikhudu Philip
– Sylvester Edogbanya
Twenty-seven Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioner, including:
Shehu Idris, David Adio Alalada (Acting DCP Admin, Enugu Command), Dalhatu Basher, Hamzat Tambai, Abdulkarim Nuhu (Area Commander, Port Harcourt), Olufemi Akinwale Akinola, Sani Fudaiku Kura, Yakubu Isah, Isa Abubakar Adamu, Sunday Omonijo, Sunday Akinlolu Okunola, Abimbola Shafkat Abdulraheem, Adekunle Murisiku Tokosi, and many more.
Prominent among the 145 Chief Superintendents promoted to Assistant Commissioners are:
Zubairu Maina, Olufikayo Abimbola Fawole, Stephen Olusola Olatise, Buhari Abdullahi, Akaniyere Etuk, Lateef Jaiyeola (CSP Admin, Force Education), Agbemoroti Clement Oloruntoba, Magaji Kabomo Mohammed (IGP Monitoring Unit), and Chinedum Aniagbaso (ICT, Force Headquarters).
Others include specialists such as:
Mohammed Sani Idris (Commander, SPU Base 7, Abuja), Abdullahi Mohammed Deba (Gender Unit, Force Intelligence), Barau Dalhatu Bafarawa, Ugwuodo Chika (Homicide Section, FCID), Adeoye Benjamin Oyekunle (Acting ACP X Squad, Akure), Sani El-Mustapha (CRU, FHQ), and Olabode Olawole (Airwing Unit).
The promotions were the result of thorough examination and interview processes coordinated by DIG Taiwo Lakanu (rtd.), Chairman of the Commission’s Standing Committee on Police Matters, who presented the final report for plenary approval.
Speaking after the promotion approvals, PSC Chairman, Hashimu Argungu, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to professional standards through examination-based promotions.
“The promotion exams have come to stay in line with global best practices,” Argungu said. “The Police Force of the 21st Century must be good enough to hold their own anywhere and ensure that Nigeria is freed from criminals and criminality.”
He congratulated all successful officers and encouraged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to national service.
“Officers must sit up or be shown the way out,” he warned. “I urge all those promoted to rededicate themselves to the service of their nation.”
