Nigerian Government announces major re-organisation of police force

The Nigerian Government has announced a major re-organisation of Nigeria Police Force, creating a full-fledged intelligence unit cut out of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, and five new zonal commands, among other structural changes.

Penpushing reports that, President Muhammed Buhari gave the approval, which has it that the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) be excised from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to be a full-fledged Department to be headed by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG)

“Mr President approved that the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) be excised from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to be a full-fledged Department to be headed by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG),” the  police circular said

The police circular dated May 27 and signed by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu explained that,while the President, as chairman of the police council, which includes 36 state governors, can give anticipatory approval, he needs to summon a meeting of the council to ratify the reorganisation.

Penpushing further reports that, Adamu explained  that,the  restructuring, is aimed at fully integrating “intelligence-led policing strategy into the Community Policing initiative in addressing the threats that the dynamics of crimes pose.”

The police force  with a new Independent Intelligence Department now has eight departments, and also, in line with the community policing initiative, the President  also approved the decentralisation of the Force Criminal Investigation Department( FCID), with two new additional annex offices in Enugu and Gombe, respectively for criminal cases emanating from the south-south and south-east zones and the north-east zone.

Penpushing also reports that, in addition to the existing Force Criminal Investigation Department( 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 Force Criminal Investigation Department( FCID),  at the headquarters in Abuja.

The circular further explained that in according to the circular a further restructuring, the police are having five new zonal commands which include;.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.

Penpushing further reports that the memo does not include the formational numbers of the new zonal commands but their creations mean decentralising the existing ones, while each of the police colleges in Ikeja, Maiduguri, Kaduna and Orji-River is to be headed by a commandant with the rank of an Assistant Inspector General of Police.

“This will strengthen administration, enhance the commitment of staff, and engender higher discipline and the quality of training at the colleges,’’the police boss said.

The Inspector General of Police  said the approvals were granted by President  Buhari “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 enrichment of the Community Policing practice as approved by the Federal Government.”