Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase quits today. The 18th indigenous IGP which was appointed in April last year by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to The Nation, Officers and men of the Force are anxiously awaiting President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of successor.
Force spokesperson Olabisi Kolawole said: “The IG’s tenure will end today and we don’t know who the next IG will be as I speak.
“Even the IGP does not know but maybe he will know later today (yesterday) or tomorrow (today) but as we speak now, we are all in the dark. I am sure we will know tomorrow and will communicate it to you.”
Arase yesterday decorated four Assistant-Inspectors General of Police. They are AIGs Tili Abubakar, Opadokun John, Ogunbayode David and Dorothy Gimba. Arase urged them to work harder wherever they were posted to.
He said: “The position you are today requires a lot of responsibility.”
Abubakar, who responded for others, promised their dedication to duty and loyalty to the force.
“We will remain more dedicated and loyal to the police force.
“We will continue to uphold the good tenets of the Nigeria police force’’, he said.
He expressed gratitude to the I-G for finding them worthy for promotion.
Some policemen have expressed displeasure over the promotion of 14 officers to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
Those promoted are: Nkechi Enehikuere; Juliana Abah; Abdulkadir Jimoh; Garba Baba; Joseph Egbunike; Jonathan Towuru; Adeleke Bode and Muri Musa.
Others are: Magu Mustafa; Lawal Tanko; Celestine Eluemelu; Edward Ajogun; Sylvester Alabi and David Igbodo.
Some of those left out are crying foul over alleged “lack of due process”
The officers, who are unwilling to give their names, alleged that with exception of Enehikuere, Abah, Jimoh, Baba and Egbunike, the PSC left out many senior officers who have attended and passed their Senior Staff course.
“Because the IGP is going out, he has jumped the gun in recommending some of his loyalists for promotion, “ an officer said.
Also yesterday, Arase inaugurated a police officers’ mess and 35 suites.
Arase said as the head of the force, the welfare of men of the Nigeria police was his top priority.
“As long as I am the Inspector-General of Police, the welfare of my men is my number one priority.
“I am very unapologetic about the welfare of police officers,’’he said.
He said the project would help solve the accommodation problem being faced by officers when they come to Abuja on official duty.
DIG Mamman Tsafe, in charge of Logistics and Supply, said accommodation was a complicated problem for the police.
He said the project would rake in revenue for the force if its maintenance was sustained.
Tsafe hailed Arase for his vision and commitment to complete the project started by former Inspector-General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo, in 2009.
Other projects inaugurated by Arase included the commissioners’ quarters and the police finance building.