A major leadership restructuring is underway within the Nigeria Police Force as several Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) are expected to be compulsorily retired following the appointment of Tunji Disu as the new Inspector-General of Police.
Sources within the force disclosed that the development comes as the Police Service Commission (PSC) prepares to conduct promotion interviews for seven Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) seeking elevation to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General.
According to an internal wireless message from the police headquarters in Abuja, the promotion exercise is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The session will take place at the PSC’s Corporate Headquarters in Jabi.
The officers invited for the interactive promotion examination include AIG Zacharia Fera Achinyan, AIG Zango Ibrahim Baba, AIG Isyaku Mohammed, AIG Margaret Agebe Ochalla, AIG Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman, AIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, and AIG Umar Shehu Nadada.
The message, issued on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, directed the officers to appear before the commission and review key professional materials, including relevant laws, police regulations, and operational guidelines. They were also instructed to attend the interview in full conventional uniform, consisting of a black jacket, beret, and swagger cane.
The promotion process forms part of the routine career progression within the police hierarchy and is conducted jointly with the Police Service Commission, which is responsible for the appointment, promotion, and discipline of senior officers.
However, the process is unfolding amid growing internal tension within the force following the recent leadership change.
Sources revealed that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided to allow several serving DIGs to retire in order to restructure the police leadership and create space for a new management team under the current IGP.
Disu, who became the 23rd Inspector-General after the removal of Kayode Egbetokun, was appointed barely weeks before his statutory retirement date.
Born on April 13, 1966, the Lagos-born officer was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General on March 6, 2025, and was originally scheduled to retire from the police on April 13, 2026.
Under the amended Police Act, an Inspector-General is permitted to serve a fixed four-year tenure regardless of age or years of service, meaning Disu could remain in office until 2030 if the provision is fully applied.
Despite this legal framework, insiders say political and institutional considerations may limit his stay in office beyond his official retirement date.
The ongoing transition has intensified internal lobbying among senior officers, with some reportedly pushing to retain their positions while others position themselves for promotion.
An internal list circulating within the force suggests that several DIGs, including Yahaya Abubakar (Finance), Adebola Hamzat (Logistics), Adebowale Williams (ICT), Frank Mba (Training), and Basil Idegwu (Research and Planning), could be among those affected by the impending restructuring.
Security observers say the anticipated changes may significantly reshape the command structure of the Nigeria Police Force as the new leadership attempts to stabilise the institution and strengthen its operational command.