*File photo of the Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adamu
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) has announced the reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The restructuring has led to the creation of a unit from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and five new zonal commands. The re-organsiation was contained in a May 27 Police Circular, signed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu.
In view of the new structure, the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) will be removed from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to become a full-fledged Department headed by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG). The police boss said the restructuring, according is aimed at fully integrating “intelligence-led policing strategy into the Community Policing initiative in addressing the threats that the dynamics of crimes pose.”
He said in addition to the existing FCID annexes in Kaduna and Lagos, the department now has four annexes, with each to be headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police reporting to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police heading the FCID at the headquarters in Abuja. according to the circular.
The circular listed the five new Zonal Commands as follows:
- Ondo and Ekiti States are coming under new zonal command headquartered in Akure
- Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States under new zonal command headquartered in Ukpo-Dunokofia.
- Bayelsa and River States under new zonal command headquartered in Yenagoa.
- Yobe and Borno States under new zonal command headquartered in Maiduguri.
- Katsina and Kaduna States under new zonal command headquartered in Katsina.
The IGP also said each of the police colleges in Ikeja, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Orji-River is to be headed by a commandant with the rank of an AIG. According to him, the new structure will strengthen administration, enhance the commitment of staff, and engender higher discipline and the quality of training at the colleges.
