The Police Service Commission (PSC) is expected to promote over 35 new Commissioners of Police (CPs) and 40 new Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) next week.
Investigations by Daily independent revealed that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, is expected to submit the names of the officers to the chairman of PSC, retired IGP Musiliu Smith.
A dependable source at the PSC in Abuja told reporters on Wednesday that “we have not received the names yet, but we are expecting the list of the officers any moment from the IGP”.
Also at Force Headquarters, Abuja, a source who pleaded anonymity said: “The IGP is supposed to have submitted the names since, but as you may know, he has been touring the country over security issues. On Tuesday, he was in Kogi State. He just resumed work on Wednesday. He is also busy putting security apparatus in place to ensure hitch-free elections in Bayesla and Kogi states.”
On Wednesday, the IGP decorated the 13 newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) in Abuja.
Investigations further revealed that promotion of the officers would be based purely on seniority and clean records, as well as ability to effectively handle higher responsibilities.
During the decoration of the new AIGs, the IGP said: “The recommendation and approval of the elevation of these seasoned senior police officers were in due appreciation of their history of professional excellence, loyalty, zeal, and invaluable experience.
“That their promotion was guided by the principles of seniority and merit is also a clear testimony to the new focus of my leadership in relation to promotion policy.”
Adamu recalled that, on assumption of duty, he had “pledged to address the internal security challenges that I inherited by evolving new policing strategies and identifying quality and dedicated officers to support me in the implementation of such initiatives”.
As the yuletide approaches, those to be promoted are expected to tackle crime effectively to ensure hitch-free celebrations nationwide.
This, the IGP acknowledged, could be achieved with a crop of highly committed personnel to drive the implementation process of crime reduction.
Adamu had noted that crime was “a dynamic and increasingly complex phenomenon”.
He added: “Within the Nigerian context, we inherited some internal security threats touching on banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cybercrime and cultism.
“However, the engagement of community-driven, intelligence-led and technology-guided policing strategies, as well as the renewed commitment of personnel of the Nigeria police to their mandates have combined to engender a drastic reduction in these crimes across the country.”
Three weeks ago, 14 CPs were promoted to the rank of AIGs.
Daily Independent exclusively reported last month that 14 CPs were being promoted to the rank of AIGs.
We also reported that about five AIGs were also due for retirement in December this year.
They are Adetemi O Samuel Ogunjemilusi; Maurice A Yusuf; Dan Bature; Basen Dapiya Gwana, and O.M. Obembe, who is the Force Medical Officer.
The new CPs are to fill the vacancies the promotion of the new AIGs created. For instance, the following state police commands are vacant: Lagos, Edo, Kano, Cross River, and Jigawa.
Similarly, several police formation head positions are vacant, and these would be occupied by the new CPs.
Daily Independent has exclusively reported that the Lagos State Police Command is keenly being lobbied for by several CPs and those to be promoted CP next week.
