Police promotion: 74,352 officers elevated as Force rejects scandal claims
By: Abudu Olalekan
The numbers came first. Cold. Precise.
Seventy‑four thousand, three hundred and fifty‑two police officers. Promoted in less than a year. From January 2025 till now. That’s not a small office memo. That’s a serious shake‑up.
The Nigeria Police Force didn’t just drop the figure and walk away. On a quiet Sunday, the Force Public Relations Department released a summary. A short document. But it carried long implications. Senior and junior officers. From Corporal all the way to Assistant Inspector‑General of Police. Everyone felt the tremor.
At the top, 45 Commissioners of Police got bumped up to Assistant Inspectors‑General. Big jump. Then 69 Deputy Commissioners climbed into the rank of Commissioner of Police. These are not backyard transfers; these are people who will be taking more sensitive commands, more visibility, more pressure.
The ladder continues. One hundred and fifty‑six Assistant Commissioners moved up to Deputy Commissioners. Then 1,014 Superintendents of Police became Chief Superintendents. Another 270 Chief Superintendents stepped into the office of Assistant Commissioners. That’s a lot of new nameplates, a lot of new responsibilities.
Further down the chain, the picture doesn’t slow down. Nine hundred and eighty Assistant Superintendents of Police I moved up to Deputy Superintendents. Six hundred and fifteen Deputy Superintendents earned the rank of Superintendent. And then the really huge block: 30,828 Inspectors were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police I. That’s like re‑branding a small town’s worth of officers in one sweep.
The junior cadre did not stand aside either. Sixteen thousand, nine hundred and seventy Sergeants were lifted into the rank of Inspector. Then 8,840 Corporals moved to Sergeants. Even at the very base, 58 Constables crossed into the Corporal rank. Slow steps, maybe. But for those officers, that’s everything—pay, respect, future.
But once the figures hit the public space, the usual noise started. Social media threads. WhatsApp broadcasts. Accusations. Some officers and observers began whispering and then openly talking about a “promotion scandal”. Claims of favoritism. Alleged backdoor deals. The usual Nigerian suspicion mode kicked in.
The Inspector‑General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, clearly had heard enough. His response was direct. Almost cold.
“There is no promotion scandal in the Nigeria Police Force,” he said. Firm tone. No hedging. “We will not be swayed by those who trade in falsehood or seek to undermine the integrity of our institution.”
He insisted the entire promotion exercise was anchored on merit, professionalism, and what he called “proven capacity”. In other words, according to him, this was not about who knew who. It was about who had done the work, passed the exams, satisfied the boards.
Of course, outside the official statement, people ask their own questions. Promotions in any uniform service are emotional issues. One officer gets a new rank, another remains stuck. One family celebrates, another quietly feels cheated. So it is not surprising that such a massive exercise, involving over 74,000 people, would attract allegations, doubts, and conspiracy theories.
Yet, inside Force Headquarters, the narrative is different. Officials describe the promotions as part of a broader reform. A long‑term plan to lift morale, refresh leadership at different levels, and improve operational effectiveness. When you promote tens of thousands of officers, you’re not just handing them new ranks; you are rearranging command structures, influence networks, and possibly policing styles on the street.
For younger officers, especially at the junior ranks, this wave of elevation could mean something simple but powerful—hope. The quiet message that, maybe, staying in the job, writing those exams, and enduring the harsh conditions might eventually pay off.
Still, one basic truth hangs in the air: promotions alone will not fix the Nigeria Police Force. Not the logistics problems. Not the trust deficit with communities. Not the welfare concerns. But they are one piece of the puzzle. A big one.
So, while the IGP dismisses talk of a scandal and insists the process was clean, the real test will not be in press statements. It will show up on the streets. In how the newly promoted officers lead, command, and behave. In whether Nigerians actually start to feel safer.
Until then, the numbers stand.
74,352 officers. New ranks. New expectations. And no small amount of controversy trailing behind.
