Frank Mba, Bala Now DIGs
By: Prudence Okonna
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) Frank Mba and Bala Ciroma as Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs).
This was contained in a statement by the PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, in Abuja, Friday.
According to Ani, this decision was one of the high-points of the 21st Plenary Meeting of the Commission, presided over by its Chairman, Solomon Arase, a former Inspector General of Police.
Accordingly, the meeting was attended by all the members of the Commission, including the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Commission, Dr. (Mrs) Ifeoma Adaora Anyanwutaku.
The statement revealed that DIG Ciroma will replace DIG Ali Janga who has retired from the Service and had represented the North-East Geo-political zone in the Police Management Team.
“DIG Ciroma, the most senior Officer from the zone will henceforth represent the zone, while DIG Mba will represent the South East zone and replace retired DIG John Amadi who before his retirement represented the zone,” the statement said.
The Commission also approved the promotion of 14 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police and 22 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the substantive rank of Commissioners.
The new AIGs are CP Abubakar Lawal, CP Alhassan Aminu, CP Abdul Umar, CP Shettima Zannah, CP Ebong Eyibio Ebong, CP Adepoju Ayiinde Ilori, and CP Okon Okon Effiong.
Others are CP Echeng Eworo Echeng, CP Susan Ukpanukiema Horsfall, CP Bankole Lanre Sikiru, CP Oladimeji Yomi Olarewaju, CP Sani Gwarzo, and CP Odama Paul Ojeka.
The 22 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to the rank of Commissioners are DCP Abibo Deinma Reuben, DCP Thomas Abraham Nabhoni, DCP Wakil Abdul Salamai, DCP Enyinnaya Inonachi, DCP Ronke Nurat Okunade, and DCP Adekunle Ismail Olusokan.
The appointments were also given to Okon Etim Asuquo, Department of Operations, Benue State Command; Louis Chike Nwabuwa, Department of Operations, Plateau State Command; ACP Samuel Osman Onoja, Police College Oji River; ACP Sa’ad Yahaya and ACP Ibrahim Jibrin, Commanders 76 PMF, Nsukka and 56 PMF Ogoni amongst others.
The PSC also approved the promotion of 39 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners of Police, including CSPs Joseph Udoh; Nze Helen Omeba; Uduaku Isaac Udom; and Anthony Francis Etim.
Others are Benjamin Kelembus Bello; Abdullahi Idris Abubakar; Ogbonnaya Nwota and Daiyabu Mohammed Ahmed among others. It also approved the acting appointment of CSP Akande Bamidele to acting Assistant Commissioner of Police.
The two AIGs, 14 CPs and 22 DCPs appeared before the Commission in Plenary for an interactive session, a requirement for their new ranks.
The plenary meeting also approved a new Instrument of Delegation on delegated powers to the Inspector General of Police.
The statement added that Arase congratulated the newly promoted officers and charged them to reciprocate the commission’s good gesture by rededicating themselves to the service of their fatherland.
The PSC chairman promised to ensure that police promotions would be regular, so that officers are not allowed to stagnate in any rank.
He commended other members of the commission for their dedication and sacrifice, stressing that a new and brighter future “is here for the Nigeria Police Force”.
