The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that 74,352 officers across various ranks have been elevated between January 2025 and now, amid allegations of ethnic bias and lack of transparency against the current leadership of the Force.
The data, presented in an infographic issued by the Force Department of Public Relations, comes against the backdrop of persistent criticism by Omoyele Sowore, 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), and other critics, who have accused the police hierarchy of conducting lopsided and opaque promotion exercises allegedly skewed in favour of particular ethnic or regional interests.
Sowore has repeatedly alleged that officers from certain parts of the country were disproportionately promoted, while others were sidelined.
He and other critics have also claimed that the Police leadership promoted loyalists and withheld comprehensive promotion lists, a practice they argue made it difficult to independently assess whether the exercises complied with the principles of fairness, merit and federal character.
Additional allegations have centred on what critics described as “secret promotions” involving some senior officers.
According to them, such promotions were allegedly carried out outside established procedures, favouring personal connections over merit, bravery, professionalism and years of service.
Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has consistently rejected the allegations, maintaining that all promotions within the Nigeria Police Force are merit-based, transparent and conducted strictly in line with approved guidelines.
 He has described the claims as the handiwork of “mischief-makers” seeking to undermine the credibility of the Force, stressing that competence, performance and professional integrity, not ethnicity or personal affiliations, determine career progression.
The Police Public Relations Department provided a breakdown of promotions carried out within the 2025–2026 period.
According to the data, 45 Commissioners of Police were promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, while 69 Deputy Commissioners of Police advanced to Commissioners.
At the senior officer level, 156 Assistant Commissioners of Police were elevated to Deputy Commissioners, 270 Chief Superintendents of Police were promoted to Assistant Commissioners, and 1,014 Superintendents rose to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police.
The figures further showed that 615 Deputy Superintendents of Police were promoted to Superintendents, 980 Assistant Superintendents elevated to Deputy Superintendents, and 30,828 Inspectors advanced to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Among the junior ranks, 16,970 Sergeants were promoted to Inspectors, 8,840 Corporals advanced to Sergeants, while 58 Police Constables were elevated to the rank of Corporal.
Despite the release of the figures, critics insist that the infographic failed to address the core concern of equitable distribution of promotions across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, as required under the federal character principle.
They argue that the absence of a breakdown showing regional or state spread of the promoted officers could reinforce existing concerns about ethnic or sectional imbalance within the Force.
In a related statement, the Police said the Inspector-General of Police recently congratulated 26,122 officers promoted to various ranks, describing the advancements as well deserved and reflective of the beneficiaries’ dedication, professionalism and sustained commitment to national service.
The statement, signed by Benjamin Hundeyin,  Force Public Relations Officer, noted that the promotions represent recognition of merit and performance, while also placing greater responsibility on the officers to uphold the highest standards of leadership, discipline and service to the nation.
Egbetokun also expressed appreciation to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for approving all promotion recommendations submitted by the Force leadership.
He acknowledged the Commission’s role in upholding due process, merit-based progression and institutional cooperation, stressing that sustained synergy between the PSC and the Police is critical to boosting morale, strengthening competence and improving operational effectiveness.
IGP said the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to improving internal efficiency, deepening public trust and enhancing collaboration with national and international partners in tackling evolving security challenges.
He assured Nigerians and the international community of the Force’s continued dedication to professionalism, respect for the rule of law, and the protection of lives and property.
