Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of more than 400 senior police officers and appointed a new Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to oversee the North-East geopolitical zone.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, the commission announced the appointment of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Dankwara Mohammed as the new DIG representing the North-East. He replaces DIG Sahabu Abubakar Yahaya, who recently retired from service.

The PSC also promoted Commissioner of Police (CP) Abibo Deinma Reuben to the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG). In addition, 11 Deputy Commissioners of Police were elevated to Commissioners of Police, while 13 Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners.

Further promotions included 44 Chief Superintendents of Police, who advanced to the rank of Assistant Commissioners, and 412 Superintendents who became Chief Superintendents. Several Deputy Superintendents were also confirmed as full Superintendents.

PSC Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, congratulated the newly promoted officers and urged them to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in their new roles.

“Promotion is not a reward but a call to higher responsibility. We expect each officer to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Commission and the Nigerian people,” Argungu said.

The chairman emphasized that the promotions followed rigorous screening processes aimed at ensuring that merit, competence, and character determined advancement within the police hierarchy.

The newly appointed DIG Mohammed is expected to play a key role in strengthening policing operations across the North-East, a region that continues to face security challenges, including insurgency and banditry.

Ani said the commission’s latest actions were part of ongoing efforts to reposition the Nigeria Police Force and improve morale among its personnel.

“The Commission remains committed to promoting officers based on merit and performance to build a professional and accountable police force,” Ani stated.

The promotions come at a time when the PSC has been implementing reforms to make police promotions more transparent and performance-driven. In recent months, the commission introduced written examinations and evaluation systems for senior officers seeking promotion.

Analysts say the move reflects a broader effort by the federal government to modernize the police force and strengthen public trust in law enforcement.

A security analyst, Musa Aliyu, said the new promotion process could help curb favoritism in the force. “For years, promotion in the police has been seen as influenced by connections. What the PSC is doing now is setting a new standard where competence matters more than who you know,” he said.

The Nigeria Police Force currently has 17 zonal commands across the country, with DIGs overseeing each zone. The North-East zone covers states such as Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba — areas that have experienced security threats over the past decade.

Observers believe that appointing a new DIG with field experience in the region could strengthen coordination between local police units and the military in counterterrorism efforts.

The PSC said it will continue to monitor the performance of the newly promoted officers to ensure accountability and effective service delivery.

The Commission is also expected to conduct another round of promotions before the end of the year as part of its 2025 police workforce review.

With the latest promotions, the PSC aims to boost morale within the force and encourage officers to maintain discipline, professionalism, and dedication to duty.

The Commission concluded its statement with a reminder that promotion is both a privilege and a responsibility.

“The Nigerian public expects more from its police officers,” Argungu said. “These promotions are an opportunity to prove that the Nigeria Police can meet those expectations.”