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CONGRATULATIONS TO OBEAKPU BORN SON OF UMUAKA ON HIS NEW RANK AS THE POLICE AIG.

Have you ever wondered what are all the police ranks in order? This structure starts with the Inspector-General at the helm and a Constable at the bottom. The hierarchy is conducted through the Force badges of ranks. The NPF operates under three structures: The structure of the Nigerian police: Let’s talk about the Command (Authority)…

Have you ever wondered what are all the police ranks in order? This structure starts with the Inspector-General at the helm and a Constable at the bottom. The hierarchy is conducted through the Force badges of ranks.

The NPF operates under three structures:

  1. Administration structure.
  2. Command (Authority) structure.
  3. Organisation structure.

The structure of the Nigerian police:

Let’s talk about the Command (Authority) Structure The Nigerian police ranks are known as the command or authority structure.

Like numerous other law enforcement and security agencies, the NPF has an elaborate hierarchical structure.

  • The Inspector-General of Police
  • The Deputy Inspector-General of Police
  • The Asst. Inspector-General of Police
  • The Commissioner of Police (In-charge of contingents in a state)
  • The Deputy Commissioner of Police
  • The Asst. Commissioner of Police
  • The Chief Superintendent of Police The Superintendent of Police • The Deputy Superintendent of Police
  • The Asst. Superintendent of Police
  • The Inspector of Police
  • Sergeant Major
  • Sergeant
  • Corporal
  • Constable

Each rank has definitive tasks and symbols associated with it. Authority is vertical, with orders obeyed downwards.

These ranks are provided for in section 5 of the Police Act.

Here is a look at the duties of each of the Nigerian police ranks and the symbols associated with them.

Inspector-General of Police Commonly known as the IGP:

The Inspector-General heads the entire NPF and the most senior officer. The Inspector-General controls the administration of the NPF. Kayode Egbetokun is the current IGP, having succeeded Usman Alkali Baba in 2023.

A serving officer of the NPF is usually appointed to the office of the IGP through a recommendation to the sitting president. Once confirmed, the president forwards the appointee’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

The symbol for the rank of Inspector General includes the country’s coat of arms, crossed tipstaffs, and two stars, all surrounded by a laurel typically worn over the officer’s shoulder.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police:

This is the second-in-command at the NPF and can even play the role of IGP in his absence.

A deputy inspector-general of police heads each of the seven administrative departments of the force.

The symbol for the rank of the Deputy Inspector-General is like that of the IGP but with one star instead of two.

The Asst. Inspector-General of Police

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) is subordinate to the Deputy Inspector General. Officers in this rank are tasked with overseeing the zonal operations of the NPF.

Additionally, the AIG can take his superior’s role in his absence.

The symbol denoting the rank of AIG is the country’s coat of arms. This consists of cross tipstaffs and one bar, all surrounded by a laurel wreath worn on the shoulder.

The Commissioner of Police : A Commissioner of Police oversees the force’s state command. An officer is appointed by the Inspector General, subject to approval by the Police Service Commission. The Commissioner of Police takes instructions from the highest-ranking officer (the IGP) or anyone acting on his behalf.

The symbol for the rank of Commissioner is a laurel wreath surrounding the country’s coat of arms and crossed tipstaffs.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police: The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) oversees an area command. It is also known as the DPO police rank.
The DCP is usually the second-highest-ranked officer in the force’s state command.

If necessary, they can take the Commissioner of Police’s role. The DCP rank’s symbol is a laurel wreath surrounding a single star and crossed tipstaffs.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police: The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is directly below the DCP and takes instructions from both the DCP and the Commissioner. The symbol for officers in this rank is a laurel wreath surrounding crossed tipstaffs.

The Chief Superintendent of Police: The Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) heads a state NPF department. The symbol for an officer in this rank is a star and the Nigerian coat of arms.

The Superintendent of Police: This officer is directly under the Chief Superintendent and carries out administrative assistance tasks for the CSP. The symbol for this rank is the Nigerian coat of arms.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police: What is DSP in Nigerian police force? The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) sits below the Superintendent and can even carry out his senior’s roles in his absence. The symbol for this rank is a group of three stars arranged vertically.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police: The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) is the sixth-lowest-ranked officer in the NPF and sits above the Inspector. Two vertically arranged stars symbolise officers in the ASP rank.

The Inspector of Police: An Inspector of Police manages teams of Constables and Sergeants. A confirmed Inspector is denoted by a small bar above a larger one. A Principal Inspector rank is symbolised by three parallel bars, and a Chief Inspector by four parallel bars.

Sergeant Major: A Sergeant Major is the highest-ranked non-commissioned officer of the NPF. The rank is also the highest of the junior officers of the force. Officers in this rank are tasked with assisting administrative officers in regiments. The symbol for this rank is the country’s coat of arms.

Sergeant: A Sergeant is the middle-ranked non-commissioned officer who sits below a Sergeant Major. The symbol for this officer includes three red arrowheads pointed downwards.

Corporal: This rank is abbreviated as Cpl. Officers in this rank wear a badge with two red downward-pointing arrowheads. Constable Officers in this rank are usually newly employed after graduating from the Nigeria Police Academy. The Constable rank has two grades and is denoted by a single red downward-pointing arrowhead symbol.

The Organisational structure

The organisational structure guides the operation of the NPF within Nigeria’s internal territory. It is in line with the country’s geopolitical structure and includes provisions for supervisory formations.

This structure is as shown below:

  1. Force Headquarters
  2. Zonal Headquarters
  3. State Commands Headquarters.
  4. Divisional Police
  5. Headquarters Police
  6. Station Police Post
  7. Village Police Post.

What are the military ranks and its equivalent in police and civil service in Nigeria?

The military ranks differ slightly from the police and civil service in Nigeria, as shown below:

  1. The Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) is similar to a Colonel (Col) in the Army 9.
  2. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) is similar to a Brigadier General (Brig Gen) in the Army 10.
  3. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) is similar to a Major General (Maj Gen) in the Army 11.
  4. The Commissioner of Police (CP) is similar to a Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) in the Army 12.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OBEAKPU BORN SON OF UMUAKA ON HIS NEW RANK AS THE AIG. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL USE THIS NEW LEVEL TO BRING TO AN END THE INCESSANT HARASSMENT UMUAKA PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH THE HANDS OF YOUR JUNIORS.

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