Several Deputy Inspectors-General (DIG) of Police are expected to be compulsorily retired following the appointment of Tunji Disu as the new Inspector-General of Police.
The development comes as the Police Service Commission (PSC) scheduled promotion interviews for seven Assistant Inspectors-General (AIG) of Police seeking elevation to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General.
According to an internal wireless message from the Nigeria Police Force headquarters in Abuja, the promotion exercise will hold on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
The interview will take place at the Chairman’s Conference Room on the sixth floor of the PSC Corporate Headquarters located in Jabi, Abuja.
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.
According to Sahara Reporters, the internal message directed the officers to refresh their knowledge in professional studies, relevant laws, and police regulations ahead of the screening.
They were also instructed to appear in conventional police attire, including a black jacket, beret, and swagger cane.
The promotion process is part of routine career progression within the police force and is conducted in collaboration with the Police Service Commission, which oversees appointments, promotions, and discipline of senior police officers.
However, sources within the police said the exercise is linked to an impending leadership reshuffle triggered by Disu’s appointment.
According to the sources, pressure has been mounting on the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restructure the police high command and allow the new IGP to assemble his own management team.
One source close to the presidency said some senior officers had been lobbying to retain their positions amid uncertainty over the leadership structure.
“Pressure has been mounting to retire the DIGs because the newly appointed IGP has no management team to work with, while the DIGs are also lobbying to remain because they believe Disu may retire soon,” the source said.
Disu’s appointment came less than two months before his scheduled retirement.
Born on April 13, 1966, the police chief was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General on March 6, 2025, and was originally expected to retire on April 13, 2026.
However, under the amended Police Act, Inspectors-General of Police are allowed to serve a fixed four-year tenure regardless of age or years of service, which could potentially keep Disu in office until 2030.
Earlier reports indicated that a planned shake-up that would have led to the compulsory retirement of about 30 senior officers, including DIGs and AIGs, was halted after presidential intervention.
Sources said the move was initially proposed following the removal of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
An internal list circulating within the police hierarchy reportedly identified several DIGs expected to retire to maintain command hierarchy.
They include: DIG Yahaya Abubakar (Finance), DIG Adebola Hamzat (Logistics), DIG Adebowale Williams (ICT), DIG Frank Mba (Training), and DIG Basil Idegwu (Research and Planning).