In a move that underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) continued efforts to fill senior leadership vacancies through structured assessments, the Force has summoned 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to sit for promotion examinations aimed at elevating them to the rank of Commissioner of Police (CP). The written and oral exams are scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in Abuja, according to an internal police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters.
The directive, marked “immediate” and classified as “Very Important,” was issued by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on October 9, 2026, under reference number CB.4001/FS/FHQ/ABJ/V.T2/53.
It was circulated widely across departments, formations, commands, and specialised units, including the Department of Operations, Department of Legal Services, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Department of Training and Development, Force Intelligence Department, state commissioners of police, and zonal commands.
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The Inspector-General of Police directed relevant authorities to notify and release the listed officers so they can participate fully. The 15 officers named are: Nache Bashiru Liman; Sirajo Lawal Salisu; Emman Adegboyega Oyeleye; Isiaka Salau Usman Sheik Adamu; Aminu Maiwada Garba; Abdulkarim Musa Waziri; Mohammed Yusuf Adamu; Sani Adamu Nufawa; Adamu Mohammed Bello; Okezie Chikezie; Aminu Usman Gusau; Abiodun Onuoha; Salisu Fago Bello; Adetunji Alani Adegoke; and Inuwa A. Muhammad. Agbo Benedict Usman is also referenced in the communication.
The examinations, organised by the Police Service Commission (PSC), will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Solomon Arase Conference Room on the sixth floor of the PSC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 64, Cadastral Zone, Jabi, Abuja. The venue itself carries symbolic weight: the hall was renamed in September 2025 in honour of the late Solomon Arase, former Inspector-General of Police (2015–2016) and later PSC Chairman, who died in August 2025. Arase was widely regarded as a reform-minded officer and scholar, and the naming reflects the Commission’s effort to institutionalise memory of past leaders who shaped police administration.
Officers have been strongly advised to refresh their knowledge of core professional duties, relevant laws, and local acts. Strict protocols apply: black jackets and berets for standard uniform, or black shirts over green denim trousers with berets for those in tactical formations. Mobile phones and electronic gadgets are banned from the examination venue. Officers must report by approximately 7:00 a.m. at a designated meeting point for briefing and conveyance.
Security and logistics arrangements are detailed. The Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Mobile Police Force (MOPOL) is to provide 12 neatly turned-out armed personnel for escort duties. The Transport Department must supply serviceable vehicles for senior officers and two Hilux vans for escorts, all on standby at the Force Headquarters parade ground by about 6:00 a.m. The wireless message emphasises that these instructions must be complied with without fail.
Broader Context of Police Promotions
This exercise forms part of a broader wave of senior-level promotion assessments in the NPF.
Parallel directives have called dozens of Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and about 70 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) for exams toward higher ranks, scheduled around the same period in mid-October 2026 at the Parry Osayande Auditorium in the same PSC complex.
Promotion in the NPF is governed by a combination of seniority, performance, vacancies, and mandatory examinations overseen by the PSC. The Commission, established under the Nigerian Constitution and the Police Act, holds the statutory responsibility for appointments, promotions, and discipline of officers (except the Inspector-General).
Written tests and oral interviews have become standard for mid-to-senior ranks to introduce greater objectivity, though the process has long been criticised for opacity, ethnic imbalances, and allegations of influence-peddling.
Recent data illustrate the scale of activity. Between January 2025 and early 2026, the Force reported promoting more than 74,000 officers across ranks.
This included 69 DCPs elevated to CP and 45 CPs to Assistant Inspector-General (AIG). Earlier cycles in late 2025 saw the PSC approve hundreds of senior promotions after rigorous exams and interviews, including elevations to DIG and AIG levels.
Yet controversies persist. Allegations of ethnic bias have repeatedly surfaced, with critics claiming certain regions or groups are favoured. Under previous leadership, claims of “cash-for-rank” schemes and sidelining of qualified officers prompted special resit examinations in early 2026 under the current Inspector-General. Such disputes have at times affected morale and sparked internal tensions over seniority lists.
The rank of Commissioner of Police sits at a critical juncture in the NPF hierarchy. CPs typically head state commands or major specialised units, making them the operational face of policing in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Promotion to this level often precedes further advancement to AIG or higher management roles. Successful candidates from this cohort will join a leadership cadre responsible for managing complex security challenges, from banditry and kidnapping in the North to urban crime and communal clashes elsewhere.
Why These Exams Matter
Beyond individual careers, the exercise reflects institutional priorities. The NPF continues to grapple with manpower gaps, professionalisation demands, and public trust deficits. Structured exams, dress codes, gadget bans, and formal logistics signal an attempt to maintain order and seriousness in the process. Advising officers to refresh knowledge of laws and professional studies points to an emphasis on competence rather than pure seniority.
Observers note that consistent, transparent promotion cycles can improve retention and motivation among senior officers who might otherwise stagnate. At the same time, the frequency of such exercises—and the accompanying allegations—highlights the need for clearer criteria, better communication of results, and stronger oversight to reduce perceptions of favouritism.
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The Solomon Arase Conference Room venue adds a layer of continuity. Arase’s tenure as both IGP and PSC Chairman was associated with reformist rhetoric; naming the hall after him serves as a quiet reminder of aspirations for a more professional force even as day-to-day realities of promotion politics continue.
As the 15 DCPs prepare to report early on October 14, the outcomes will be closely watched within the Force. Those who succeed will assume greater command responsibilities at a time when Nigeria’s security landscape remains demanding. Those who do not will join the ranks of officers seeking future opportunities in subsequent cycles—cycles that have become a near-constant feature of NPF administration in recent years.
The process, for all its formalities and controversies, remains one of the primary mechanisms through which the Police Service Commission and Force leadership attempt to renew the senior ranks that ultimately shape policing outcomes across the country.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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