Some officers of the Nigeria Police Force have raised concerns over what they describe as “rampant favouritism and injustice” in the latest round of internal promotions approved by police authorities.
According to sources within the force, certain officers reportedly received double promotions despite having served less than two years. Aggrieved personnel claim the process was tainted by nepotism, with many frontline officers involved in counter-insurgency operations allegedly ignored.
“A special promotion list was released yesterday, but it’s filled with favouritism. Some officers with less than two years of service got double promotions, while those risking their lives in conflict zones were left out,” one officer lamented.
Documents obtained reveal the names of several officers who benefited from the controversial exercise, many of whom serve at the Police Headquarters and other Abuja-based units far from active combat areas.
Among them are Force No. 528533, Abubakar Abdulmumin (promoted from Corporal to Sergeant under FORSEC Command); Force No. 521042, Asiai Emmanuel; and Force No. 524005, Nathaniel Markus — both attached to the IGP’s Security Unit, Abuja, who also received double promotions.
Others include Force No. 525000, Abulkarim Hamza (IGP’s Security Command) and Force No. 521065, Adeyemo Philip, attached to the Force Public Relations Office (FPRO), promoted on October 23, 2025. Several others at the FPRO and Force Headquarters were also elevated from Constable to Corporal on the same date.
One particularly controversial case involves Akeju Oluwasola, another officer under the IGP’s Security Unit, Abuja, whose name appeared on the promotion list without a clear rank specification.
Meanwhile, a circular dated October 30, 2025, and issued through the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare), announced the long-awaited promotion of 1,453 officers omitted from previous exercises.
The directive, addressed to all senior police commands and departments, emphasized that “this promotion is strictly based on seniority and merit.” It instructed commanding officers to congratulate the beneficiaries.
From the document, 1,072 officers featured in the first batch and 381 in the second.
Beneficiaries include Sergeants Nura Shehu, Idris Ibrahim, Tasi’u Tunau, and Margret Angale of Katsina Command; Sergeants Gani John and Abdulmalik Idris of the Force Intelligence Department; and Sergeant Deborah Nwakaeze of DICT Abuja.
Others listed include personnel from the Police Academy (POLAC), the Force Headquarters Annex in Lagos, INTERPOL Abuja, and various PMF units.
However, the controversy surrounding officers with limited service years receiving double promotions has sparked renewed debate over fairness and meritocracy in the force’s promotion system.
