The promotions followed a rigorous assessment process, including written exams and interviews, in line with its renewed commitment to global standards and meritocracy
Shake-Up in Police Ranks as PSC Promotes 227 Senior Officers, Vows to Enforce Merit-Based Exams
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced the promotion of 227 senior officers, marking one of the largest rounds of elevation in recent years, as part of its drive to professionalize and revitalize the Nigeria Police Force.
Among those promoted are 12 Commissioners of Police elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), 16 Deputy Commissioners raised to full Commissioners, and 27 Assistant Commissioners promoted to Deputy Commissioners.
A further 145 Chief Superintendents of Police were promoted to Assistant Commissioners, including officers from specialized units such as the Airwing, Medical Corps, Pharmacy, ICT, and Aircraft Engineering. Also promoted were 29 Superintendents (specialists) and 38 Deputy Superintendents across various technical and professional branches.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of the Commission’s Press and Public Relations Unit, on Monday, July 21, 2025.
Among the newly promoted AIGs are high-profile officers including Johnson Oluwole Adenola, CP of Oyo State; Benedict Gabriel Ako, head of Anti-Fraud; and Emmanuel Aina, acting AIG, Force Intelligence. Others include Omolara Ibidun Oloruntola, Hassan Yababet, Ronke Nurat Okunade, and several more serving in critical operational and investigative roles.
The PSC also emphasized that these promotions followed a rigorous assessment process, including written exams and interviews, in line with its renewed commitment to global standards and meritocracy.
DIG (rtd.) Taiwo Lakanu, fdc, who chaired the Commission’s Standing Committee on Police Matters, oversaw the exercise and submitted the final report for approval during the Commission’s plenary.
Commenting on the promotions, DIG Bello Argungu (rtd.), a senior PSC Commissioner, affirmed that the compulsory promotion examinations have come to stay, warning: “Officers must sit up or be shown the way out.”
He added that the Commission will “get it right” with this system, ensuring only the most competent officers rise through the ranks.
PSC Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, in his remarks, urged the newly promoted officers to rededicate themselves to national service. “The Police Force of the 21st Century must be capable of confronting crime head-on and restoring public confidence. These promotions are a call to greater responsibility,” he said.
The promotion list features names from across Nigeria’s diverse police divisions and specialties — from homicide investigators and gender unit officers to intelligence analysts, aircraft engineers, and regional commanders — reflecting a broad strengthening of the police leadership structure nationwide.
