PSC elevates 1,607 DSPs, says war against banditry must-win

The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of 1,607 Deputy Superintendents of Police to the next rank of Superintendent.

The Chairman of the commission and retired Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, charged the newly elevated officers to steer clear of minor issues, including land matters and recovery of rents, which could be resolved through alternative dispute resolution or legal processes.

“You need to concentrate on helping the nation win this war against insurgency and banditry and also remember that the police force is the lead agency in internal security,” Arase said.

This was according to a statement on Wednesday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

The statement noted that the PSC had earlier stepped down the consideration of the officers’ promotion at its last management meeting where other recommendations were considered when it noticed some discrepancies in the list.

It quoted Arase as saying that the PSC had restored the dignity of the specialists’ cadre in the Nigeria Police Force.

It added that the promotion of the DSPs to SP rank saw the elevation of 158 officers in the professional cadre, including 105 in the communication unit, 22 in transport, 10 medical officers, nine nurses, and another nine from work.

Arase said, “The commission will continue to give equal opportunities to all cadres in the Nigeria Police Force. The era where specialists stagnated in one rank is now history.

“The Nigeria Police Force needs these specialists for efficient and effective policing and promised that the commission will continue to accord them the required privileges.

“The general duty officers will continue to receive the support of the commission in the area of prompt and regular promotions. We tasked the newly-promoted officers to reciprocate the commission’s gesture by rededicating themselves to the service of the nation.”

The other professionals promoted to superintendents were six workshop officers, three maritime, and one each from medical and dental units and Band.

A total number of 1,423 DSPs were promoted in the General Duty cadre.

Some of the promoted officers are the Public Relations Officers for Anambra and Delta states, Tochukwu Ikenganyia, and Bright Edafe, respectively.

Others are Clement Ominiyi Awoyemi, Salami Ganiyu, Dogo Mathew, Finedon Akah, Attahiru Umar, Adamu Wakili, Constance Katu Ekeh, Nuhu Danjuma and Yaha Bashir.

The list also includes Iwuji Barnabas Iliya, ADC to the Rivers State Governor;  Samson Ekeinde , Officer in charge, Safer Highway, Bayelsa State Command; Clement Gladys C, Lagos Command; Usman Nureni and Adibeli Joy.

Enoch Suleiman, Officer in charge of Surveillance,  Zone 5 Benin; Sidi Umar Ahmad, Technical Assistant to the DIG Training and Head of IGP Smart Force Management and Data Base Centre; Patrick Chinwe Anike, Divisional Crime Officer 19th mile Division, Enugu State Command; Ben Orih, Unit Commander 28 PMF, Umuahia; Nwanaga Innocent Okpuru, OPTS Officer, SPU BASE 28 Owerri, Imo state; Isa y. Ladan, Department of Operations,  Rivers State Command, and Moses Omale were some of the other DSPs that got the Commission’s approval for promotion to the next rank of Superintendents.

The approval has been officially communicated to the Inspector General of Police for implementation.