Nigeria Police was established in Imo state as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), after several transformations, it was designated by the 1999 constitution as the national police of Nigeria having exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country. Nigeria Police motto “Police is your Friend.” It is recognized as the key law enforcement agency in Nigeria and has its presence in all of the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The head Nigerian Police force is the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The unit has different rankings and symbols that represent these rankings as other paramilitary organizations which are used to distinguish personalities in the force. Thus we will be discussing the different Nigeria Police Ranks and Symbols including all you need to know about the force.
NIGERIA POLICE RANKS AND SYMBOLS – ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Nigeria is responsible for general internal security in the country, to provide support to prison, immigration, and custom services. Also, they perform military duties within and outside the country upon instruction. The force is a large organization and as such has different persons in different ranks which will be unveiled below.
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Sergeant Major
- Inspector of Police
- Assistant Superintendent of Police
- Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Superintendent of Police
- Chief Superintendent of Police
- Assistant Commissioner of Police
- Deputy Commissioner of Police
- Commissioner of Police
- Assistant Inspector General of Police
- Deputy Inspector General of Police
- Inspector General
These are the ranks in the Nigeria Police Force arranged in Ascending (least to great) order. Note that there are requirements to meet before one is considered and appointed to fill in any of the ranks.
- Corporal
This is the second starting point and is the second junior rank for a police officer that was recruited. The symbol is
- Sergeant
The sergeant is third junior rank and is superior to the constable and corporal. The insignia of this rank is the red color arrowhead (3) pointing downwards.
- Sergeant Major
The sergeant major is the fourth rank in the Nigeria police force and is superior to the sergeant, corporal, and the constable. Also, the Sergeant Major assists the administrative officer of a particular regiment. It is the highest ranking for a non-commissioned police officer. The symbol for this rank is the Nigerian Coat of Arm.
- Inspector of Police
The rank of the inspector of police is segmented into the Cadet Inspector (with a small horizontal bar placed on a flat horizontal bar), the unconfirmed inspector (has one horizontal bar), confirmed inspector (has a tiny horizontal bar set above a fat horizontal bar), the Principal Inspector (has three parallel bars) and the Chief Inspector (has four horizontal bar). It is higher than the sergeant and sergeant major, and also it is the lowest rank held by a police officer after undergoing training and commissioned as an officer.
- Assistant Superintendent of Police on probation
Assistant Superintendent of Police rank on probation is unconfirmed and is more of a reserved position. The symbol for this rank is one star.
- Assistant Superintendent of Police
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) rank is active and confirmed unlike the Assistant Superintendent of Police on Probation. The ASP is subordinate to the other entire Superintendent that precedes it. The symbol of the Assistant Superintendent of Police is the two stars that are arranged vertically.
- Deputy Superintendent of Police
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is senior to the Assistant Superintendent of Police and junior to the Superintendent of police. The DSP acts as the Superintendent of Police and the Chief Superintendent of Police. The symbol of this rank is the arrangement of three stars that are vertically arranged.
- Superintendent of Police
The Superintendent of Police (SP) is junior and subordinate to the Chief Superintendent of Police. The SP serves as an assistant to the Chief Superintendent of Police and receives instruction as well. The symbol of this rank is the Nigerian Coat of Arm.
- Chief Superintendent of Police
The Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) is subordinate to the commissioner and inspector. It is the highest of the Superintendent rank which is symbolized by the Nigerian Coat of Arm and a star. The police that in charge of a department in the state police force is often appointed as the Chief Superintendent of Police. The rank’s symbol is the Coat of Arm and a Star. Read Also: TOP 10 MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED COUNTRIES IN AFRICA 2020.
- Assistant Commissioner of Police
The Assistance commissioner of police (ACP) is subordinate to Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner of Police. He assists the DCIP and acts as the Commissioner of Police or the Assistant Commissioner of Police in their absence. The symbol of the Assistant Commissioner of Police is the crossed tipstaves surrounded by a laurel wreath.
- Deputy Commissioner of Police
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) is subordinate and junior to the Commissioner of police. The DCP serves as an assistant and stands in the stead of the commissioner of police in his absence; also receives a directive from the Commissioner of Police. The symbol denoting the rank of the DCP is a star and crossed tipstaves surrounded by a laurel wreath worn on the shoulder.
- Commissioner of Police
The position of the Commissioner of Police is meant to oversee the command and the administration setup of the contingent of the Nigerian Police Force in a state. The commissioner receives instruction or directives directly from the Inspector General or any officer acting as the Inspector General. The Inspector General appoints the state commissioner of Police and presents it to the Police Service Commission for approval. The symbol of the commissioner of police’s rank is the Nigerian Coat of Arm and a crossed tipstaves surrounded by a laurel wreath worn around the shoulder.
- Assistant Inspector General of Police
The third-ranked personality in the Nigeria Police is the Assistance Inspector General of Police. The symbol that denotes the rank of the Assistant Inspector General of Police is the Nigerian Coat of Arm, one bar and a Cross tipstaves surrounded by a laurel wreath worn around the shoulder. The Assistant Inspector General of Police is under the authority and control of the Deputy Inspector General of Police and the Inspector General. He acts as the Inspector General when the DIG and IG are not available. The Police Act makes provision for more than one AIG of Police, and there are presently about 22 AIGs of police in Nigeria.
- Deputy Inspector General of Police
The Deputy Inspector General of Police is next in line and second in command in the Nigeria Police hierarchical chain of control after the Inspector General. This title is shortened as DIG. The Deputy serves as an assistant and as well serves as the Inspector General when he is absent or on another assignment outside the country. There is not only one DIG but several DIGs as needed which are determined by the Nigeria Police Council as guided and directed by Section 5 of the Police Act. Each DIG function as the head of a particular unit or department in Nigeria Police. Thus, the symbol that depicts this rank is the Nigeria Coat of Arm, one star and a crossed tipstaves also surrounded by a laurel wreath that is worn around the shoulder.
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- Inspector General
Last on our list is the rank of the Inspector General is the highest that is attained in Nigeria Police. The power demonstrated by the Inspector General is by the 1999 constitution Section 215 (2), section 6 of the Police Act, which states that “the force shall be commanded by the Inspector General of Police.” The Inspector General is the one in charge and overseeing the affairs and activities of the Nigeria Police up to the lowest rank. The symbol of this rank is the Nigeria Coat of Arm with two stars and crossed tipstaves surrounded by a laurel wreath that is won on the shoulder. The incumbent president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the one that selects or appoints the Inspector General.
Conclusion on Nigeria Police Ranks and Symbols – all you Need to Know
Those are the rankings in the Nigerian Police as well as the symbols that represent those ranks. Ones a police officer attain the level of an Inspector General of Police, he is believed to have reached the apex of his / her police career.
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