George Oji, Yemi Akinsuyi and Ogochukwu Obiesie
24 July 2009
Abuja — The new Inspector General of Police (IG) is Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo, who has made history as the first South-easterner to occupy the position.
Onovo, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for seven years, takes over from Mr. Mike Okiro, who will be pulled out of the Nigeria Police Force today after attaining the retirement age of 60 years.
Onovo acted briefly as IG in 2007 when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua assumed office, but Okiro was appointed the substantive police chief by the president.
The new police boss, who hails from Nkanu West Local Government of Enugu State, becomes the 14th indigenous IG.
Until his appointment, Onovo was the DIG (A) in charge of Administration and Finance. As a DIG, he served under three different IGs: Tafa Balogun, Sunday Ehindero and Okiro.
Onovo's appointment was made public yesterday in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi.
The appointment, according to the statement, was in accordance with the powers vested on the President by Section 216 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Born in Enugu, Enugu State, Onovo graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1976 with a Bsc. Degree in Political Science and began his career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on August 1, 1977.
He rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Inspector General of Police on March 14, 2002 and has held several career positions in the police.
Onovo was also the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) between 1998 and 2000. He will be retiring from service on June 1, 2012 when he attains the age of 60.
Meanwhile, the outgoing IG, Okiro, said yesterday that the Nigeria Police had reached a greater height during his tenure. Okiro called for support for the police in fighting crime across the nation.
One of his greatest achievements, he said, during his valedictory address with senior police officers and members of the press in Abuja, was the close to 200 per cent salary increment and payment of the arrears salaries.
Okiro said: "From June 1st, 2007 till today, the Nigeria police under my administration has attained greater height. We have evolved a strategy of crime prevention and control in line with the United Nations principles of imbibing community policing ethics and involving the public in policing responsibilities. Provision of security is arduous responsibility especially in the developing economy as ours, where crime rates are dependent on many variables with observed incidence of organised crimes. We have developed measures at countering emerging trend in criminality.
"We also did direct funding of Divisions with 60 per cent of overhead fund allocated to state commands for local travels, transports, stationeries, motor vehicle maintenance and fuel cost. This took effect from third quarter of 2007. Sustenance of the motorcycle/car loan cream, creation of 10 additional PMF Squadron to supplement effort of existing police formation in crime fighting, launching of police information boxes to encourage communication between the police and members of the public. We also created additional duty post to enhance service delivery such as divisional police public officer, conflict resolution officer, human right officers, juvenile/old people/women welfare officers, community policing officers, scene of crime officers, interagency liaison officers".
The outgoing IG also stated other major achievements as completion of the Police Mobile Force Training School in Ila Orangun, Osun State; establishment of Peace Keeping Training School in Wuye, FCT; establishment of Police Policy/Research School, Imo State; successful hosting of the Nigeria Police Games, Eko 2008; introduction of electronic ID card for officers and men of the Nigeria Police, among others.
While thanking MTN, Glo and state governors, who have assisted the police in fighting crime and moving this nation forward, Okiro sought further support for the Force for the purchase of bullet proof Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which he said, had become necessary in the face of sophistication of arms and ammunition employed by hoodlums in their operations.
Okiro thanked President Yar'Adua, Minister for Police Affairs, all senior and junior police officers, members of the press, and all the people, who he said had worked together with him to have gone this far.
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