Shake Up As Buhari Approves Restructuring Of Nigeria Police

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the restructuring of the Nigerian Police Force to strengthen the intelligence Department of the institution.

The development was contained in a memo titled, “Force Re-organisation,” and signed by the inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, dated May 27, 2020, addressed to Deputy Inspector General, Assistant Inspector Generals (AIGs), Commissioners of Police and the Commandant, Police College Ikeja, Kaduna, Oji-River and Maiduguri, Street Journal reports.

“This is expected to fully integrate intelligence-led policing strategy to the community policing initiative in addressing the threats that the dynamics of crime poses to the country,” he said.

He said Buhari as Chairman of the Nigeria Police Council, approved the re-organisation of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with immediate effect.

According to the IGP, the reorganisation would bring the police closer to citizens and enhance community policing in the country.

“In order to enhance the capacity of the four premiere Police Colleges in Kaduna, Ikeja, Maiduguri and Orji – Rivers towards meeting the training and capacity development projection of the Force in relation to junior cadre officers, Mr. President approved that the status of the Commandants of the Colleges be upgraded to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

“This will strengthen administration, enhance the commitment of staff, and engender higher level of discipline and the quality of training at the Colleges. These approvals were granted by the President in furtherance to the need to expand and strengthen the Intelligence Department towards driving the intelligence-led policing strategy of the Force leadership and to aid in the entrenchment of the community policing practice as approved by the Federal Government.”

Reorganization of the Intelligence Arm of the Force

Buhari “approved the formal excision of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to become a fully-fledged Department to be headed by a DIG. With this, the Nigerian Police Force now has eight (8) Departments.”

Reorganization of the Force Criminal Investigation Department

“The FCID has now been further decentralized in line with the principle of Community Policing. In view of this, two new Annex Offices of the Department in addition to those in Lagos and Kaduna will be established. One in Enugu, to take care of criminal investigations from the South East and South-South; and another in Gombe to take of criminal investigation from the North East Geopolitical zone. All the Annex Offices will be headed by AIGs who will then report to the DIG,” according to the letter.

Reorganization of Zonal Police Headquarters Structure

“President Buhari also approved the creation of Zonal Commands in Akure (composed of Ondo and Ekiti Commands), Ukpo-Dunukofia (composed of Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi Commands), Yenogoa (composed of Bayelsa and Rivers Command), Maiduguri (composed of Yobe and Borno Commands) and Katsina (composed of Katsina and Kaduna Commands),” the letter revealed.

New Structure for the Premiere Nigeria Police College

“The structure is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the four Premiere Police Colleges in Kaduna, Ikeja, Maiduguri and Oji-River in order to meet the training and capacity development of the Force, in relation to Junior Cadre Officers.

“President Buhari also directed that Commandants of the Colleges be upgraded to AIG, in order to strengthen administration, staff commitment, promote discipline and improve quality of training of the colleges.

“Finally, the IGP has directed that the reorganization be made a subject of lecture for the information of all Officers of the Nigeria Police Force,” the memo added.