Banji Lawal, the Assistant Inspector General in charge of the Border Patrol at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, has been named the South West zone’s substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police. Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, announced this in a statement released in Abuja on Friday.

According to Ani, Lawal took over as the Force Criminal Investigation Department’s DIG when DIG Sylvester Alabi retired on December 31, 2024. PSC Chairman Hashimu Argungu congratulated Lawal on his promotion and encouraged him to become an essential part of the Police Management Team, according to the statement.

Lawal, the recently appointed DIG, addressed the Commission in plenary on Friday.Chairman DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd), retired Supreme Court Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd), FDC, were in attendance. During his written and oral exams, he gave special recognition to the Nigeria Police Force’s Community Policing program, which he called effective and significant.

“The new DIG has an extensive career in the Nigeria Police Force, having served as the former Commandant of the Police Training College in Ikeja, Lagos; Assistant Commissioner of Operations in Ekiti, Abia, and Edo States; Area Commander in Uyo; Deputy Commissioner of Operations in Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom States; and Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Administration at the ICT Force Headquarters in Abuja. He has also served as Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Registrar at the Central Criminal Registry (CCR), Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi; DCP Finance and Administration in Benue State; Deputy Commandant of the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano; and CP General Investigation at the Force CID.”