The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 78 senior officers as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the leadership structure within the Nigeria Police Force. The promotions were announced on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, during the second day of the Commission’s week-long plenary meeting.
In a statement issued by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, the PSC revealed that 21 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) have been elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioners, while 57 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) were promoted to Assistant Commissioners.
This development follows the promotion of 11 Commissioners of Police to Assistant Inspectors General (AIG) and 16 Deputy Commissioners to substantive Commissioners during the first day of the plenary on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Among the newly promoted Commissioners is Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, who previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin and Finance) in the Jigawa State Command. Elleman, known for his notable tenure as the Head of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit and Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Zone 7, Abuja, now joins the ranks of senior leadership.
The plenary sessions featured written and oral examinations for the promoted officers. During these evaluations, recurring challenges such as logistics and manpower shortages were brought to the forefront. Officers highlighted the adverse impact of these issues on the operational efficiency of various police units, including departments, zones, state commands, area commands, and divisional offices.
The officers appealed to the Commission to address these critical concerns in the interest of the overall functionality of the Nigeria Police Force.
The list of 57 Chief Superintendents elevated to Assistant Commissioners includes several notable names:
Oluseyi Olabisi Okuwobi: National Coordinator, Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).
Vera Ameh-Akpa: Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ejigbo, Lagos State.
Uwa Eguakun: IGP Secretariat, Force Headquarters (FHQ).
Tokunbo Abaniwonda: DPO, Alausa, Lagos State.
Umar Babangida: Assigned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Daniel Iroakazi: Operations Department, State Command.
Toyin Kazeem: Officer in Charge (OC) Gender, Lagos State Command.
The plenary meeting, the final session for 2024, is chaired by DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd.), mni, and attended by other prominent members, including retired Supreme Court Justice Paul Galumje and DIG Taiwo Lekanu (rtd.), fdc.
The meeting is set to continue on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with expectations of further deliberations on police reforms and strategic enhancements to the Force’s operational framework.
This promotion drive and the discussions on systemic challenges underscore the PSC’s commitment to addressing the internal issues hampering the effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
