The Police Service Commission (PSC) has elevated seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) in a strategic move to bolster the leadership capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a statement issued by Torty Njoku Kalu, the PSC’s Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, these promotions followed a stringent assessment process. This process meticulously evaluated each candidate’s merit, seniority, service records, and their performance in both written examinations and oral interviews conducted at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
The newly promoted officers include: Zachariah Fera Achinyan, fdc, who previously served as AIG Zone 4, Makurdi; Zango Ibrahim Baba, formerly AIG Department of Logistics and Supply; Isyaku Mohammed, who was AIG Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Margaret Agebe Ochalla, formerly AIG FCID Annex, Lagos; Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman, mni, previously AIG Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, Abuja; Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, fdc, formerly AIG Zone 15, Maiduguri; and Umar Shehu Nadada, mni, who served as AIG Zone 14, Katsina.
The Commission clarified that these promotions were essential to fill the vacancies that arose from the recent retirement of eight DIGs who held crucial positions within the Force. This exercise also follows the earlier promotion of DIG Fayoade Adegoke to the substantive rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, which brought him into the Force Management Team.
DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Rtd), Chairman of the PSC, extended his congratulations to the newly promoted officers. He urged them “to justify the confidence reposed in them by demonstrating professionalism, integrity and dedication to national security.” Argungu also advised the new DIGs to foster “a cordial and productive working relationship with the Commission to ensure sustained growth and development within the Nigeria Police Force.”
Key members of the PSC Board who participated as examiners in the promotion exercise included Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, JSC (rtd); Dr Taiwo Lakanu, DIG (rtd) and Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters; and Chief Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary to the Commission.
