12th October, 2023
By Monday Ijeh
Lagos police boss, Idowu Owohunwa was among the 12 commissioners of police elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG) in massive promotion involving a total 5,718 of senior police officers comprising of both general duty and specialist cadres of the Force announced by the Police Service Commission, PSC.
The other police commissioners now promoted to the rank of AIGs are Ogundele Ayodeji, Patrick Edung, Badru Lawal, Bartholomew Onyeka, Suleiman Yusuf, Rhoda Olofu, Godwin Aghaulor; Effiom Ekot, Stanley Ude, Longe Patrick and Ndu Anene.
The spokesperson for the PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani who announced the PSC’s decision in a statement on Thursday in Abuja added that 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) were promoted to CP while 33 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) were elevated to ACP.
Ani stated also that 265 Superintendents of Police (SPs) were promoted to CSPs, while 59 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) were promoted to SPs.
He added that 4,750 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and another 146 ASPs, who were omitted during the May 2022 promotion exercise, were elevated to the rank of DSP.
“For the specialists’ cadre, the Commission approved the promotion of two ACPs, one from Air Wing and the other from Forensic Department to the rank of DCP.
“Forty-seven CSPs comprising 23 doctors and 24 Veterinary Doctors were promoted to the rank of ACP,’’ Ani stated.
Also promoted were 190 SPs from the Computer Info-Tech Unit, eight from Works Department, one from Workshop and 12 from Transport unit,
Two SPs were promoted at the Forensic Department, just as two handwriting specialists, one SP of Ballistics unit, one from Religion unit and one veterinary doctor were also promoted.
Forty-seven Specialists of Assistant Superintendents of Police rank and of different units were also promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Ani stated that the PSC Chairman, Dr Solomon Arase urged the newly promoted Officers to embrace a new policing culture, hinged on a people-friendly approach that respects the fundamental rights of citizens.
Arase warned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to desist from involving themselves in civil matters or trumping up false allegations against citizens.
He noted that such conduct would not make the officers win the hearts and minds of the people and would deprive them of credible information from public-spirited individuals when dealing with internal security issues.
The PSC boss commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun for collaborating with the Commission to ensure that promotions permeated all departments of the Force for the first time in a very long while.
“This singular act, I hope will motivate the workforce to give back their best in ensuring that issues of crimes and criminality are properly dealt with,’’ Arase said.
(NAN)