The Police Service Commission has approved the appointment of AIG in charge of Border Patrol, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Banji Lawal as a substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police representing the South West Geopolitical Zone.

A statement signed by the commission’s Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani said Lawal was appointed at an extraordinary on Friday.

Lawal takes over from DIG Sylvester Alabi who represented the zone and retired on the 31st of December 2024. Alabi was the DIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

The new DIG was a former Commandant Police Training College, Ikeja, Lagos; Assistant Commissioner Operations,  Ekiti State Command; Abia State Command and Edo State Command.

He later became Area Commander  Uyo, Deputy Commissioner  Operations,  Nasarawa  State; Deputy Commissioner, Operations,  Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Commissioner  Finance and Admin ICT Force Headquarters  Abuja. He was also Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Registrar, Central  Criminal  Registry  (CCR) Force Headquarters Annex, Alagbon close, Ikoyi; DCP Finance and Administration,  Benue state; Deputy Commandant, Police Academy,  Wudil Kano and CP General Investigation,  Force CID.

The statement added, “The new DIG Lawal appeared before the Commission in Plenary.

“Present were the Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu Rtd mni, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and DIG Taiwo Lakanu Rtd, FDC.

“He went through written and oral examinations where he particularly commended the Community Policing programme of the  Nigeria Police Force which he said is succeeding and has achieved a lot so far.”

The PSC Chairman congratulated him on his elevation and charged him to make himself relevant in the Police Management Team.