IGP to Decorate Promoted Award-Winning Officers in Landmark Police Welfare Initiative
The Nigeria Police Force is set to celebrate a new chapter in its commitment to institutional reform and officer welfare, as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, prepares to officially decorate two nationally recognized officers with accelerated promotions.
According to an official statement referenced Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/478 and dated August 4, 2025, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced that the decoration ceremony will take place on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 12 noon, in the IGP Smart Conference Room, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Those to be honoured include:
- CSP Shaba Aliyu, winner of the Police Officer of the Year 2023, promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police with effect from December 31, 2023.
- SP Sentome Obi, winner of the Police Officer of the Year 2024, promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police with effect from December 31, 2024.
This move follows the approval of the Police Service Commission (PSC), which received recommendations from the Force Management Team meeting held on June 23, 2025. The promotions reflect a public endorsement of the officers’ outstanding service, courage, and unwavering commitment to integrity.
Also benefiting from the promotion exercise are other officers who have received two national awards within two consecutive award years or multiple commendation letters for distinguished service in the past two years, particularly from the IGP’s Secretariat.
In a show of institutional pride and honor, the IGP has ordered the deployment of the police jet to airlift both ACP Aliyu and CSP Obi to Abuja for their official decoration. Their photographs have also been prominently displayed at the Force Headquarters’ main entrance, with further directives issued for their display at all Zonal and State Command Headquarters, serving as a visible testament to what excellence in policing looks like.
“This is what institutional pride looks like. This is how trust is built, from within,” the statement reads.
The press release also recalled the earlier commitment made in Press Release No. CZ:5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/472 dated July 25, 2025, where the Force pledged to recommend officers for accelerated promotion if they consistently earned national recognitions or IGP awards over consecutive years—a promise the current leadership has now fulfilled.
While celebrating this milestone, the Nigeria Police Force also raised concerns over the activities of certain social media actors who are said to be undermining such noble efforts with misinformation and malicious attacks.
“We will no longer be silent on their criminal destructions. The Nigeria Police Force will henceforth respond decisively albeit within the ambit of the law to falsehoods calculated to derail reform, further harm our institutional and individual reputations, and demoralize our officers,” the statement warned.
The Inspector-General reaffirmed his vision to build a Force where “honour is celebrated, service is valued, and excellence is not an exception but the expectation.”
To officers across the country, the message is clear: Integrity is seen. Sacrifices are valued. Excellence will be rewarded.
