By Adewole Kehinde
“Focus on being the best you can at what you want to do,” – David Maister.
On June 30, 2023, IGP Egbetokun expressed his commitment to enhancing the professionalism, effectiveness, and public trust of the nation’s law enforcement personnel.
The professionalisation of the Nigeria Police Force has been the priority of the IGP since he assumed office.
Efforts have been made to improve professionalism within the force, including the implementation of various reforms and training programmes.
Several factors have been identified as contributing to the challenges of professionalism within the Nigeria Police Force, including issues related to training, resources, corruption, and public perception.
But with President Bola Tinubu’s backing, Egbetokun’s administration has produced several committed and skilled police officers who put forth a lot of effort to uphold the law and serve their communities.
On June 22, 2023, as acting IGP, Kayode Egbetokun decorated 38 senior police officers, with their new ranks being his first decoration as acting Inspector General of Police.
As we all know, the Police Service Commission is statutorily created and charged with responsibility for the appointment, promotion, and discipline of persons (other than the office of the IGP) in the Nigeria Police Force.
No wonder on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, many personnel were promoted. A total of 1897 senior police officers were promoted, including 14 CPs to AIG, 21 DCPs to CPs, 20 ACPs to DCPs, 109 CSPs to ACPs, 184 SPs to CSPs, and 1549 ASPs to DSPs.
On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, IGP Egbetokun started the year well with the decoration of the newly promoted 35 senior officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, which comprises fourteen assistant inspector generals of police and twenty-one commissioners of police, with their new ranks amidst cheers from families, friends, and well-wishers.
Immediately after the decoration, the IGP also ordered the posting and redeployment of seventeen AIGs and eighteen CPs with immediate effect.
Egbetokun brought professionalism into the posting and redeployment of affected AIGs, which include AIG Yetunde O. Longe to AIG Training; AIG Haruna Gabriel Garba to AIG Armament; AIG Rex Dundun to AIG FCID Annex Kaduna; AIG Durosinmi A. Olatoye to AIG Zone 2 Lagos; AIG Afolabi Babatunde Adeniyi to AIG Zone 3; AIG Abiodun Oladimeji Asabi to AIG Zone 12 Bauchi; AIG George Chijioke Chuku to AIG Zone 17 Akure; AIG Paul Alifa Omata to AIG Zone 16 Yenagoa; and AIG Yusuf Adesina Akeem, fdc, to AIG Zone 8 Lokoja.
The professionalism was also extended to the newly posted or redeployed Commissioners of Police, which include CP Patrick Atayero to CP EOD; CP Illiyasu Yahaya Kwarbai to CP Admin Airwing; CP Bello Mohammed Sani to CP Force Provost Marshal; CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh to CP Eastern Port; CP Rose Chollom Dung to CP Welfare; and CP Olarenwaju Ogunlowo to CP Special Intervention Squad.
Just as the Inspector General of Police has emphasised the imperative for the newly posted and redeployed AIGs and CPs to bring their wealth of experience to bear in their respective assignments.
I hope that the newly decorated and deployed officers will uphold the essential aspects of professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force, which include integrity, professional conduct, respect for human rights, competence, accountability, service orientation, effective communication, adaptability, and innovation.
Imbibing these essential elements of professionalism will contribute to building public trust and confidence in the Nigeria Police Force and improving its overall effectiveness in maintaining law and order.
Adewole Kehinde is a media consultant and publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached at 08166240846. E-mail: kennyadewole@gmail.com
