When Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police of Nigeria Police Force, stood before 11 newly promoted Commissioners of Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja on October 29, 2025, he didn’t just hand out medals—he fired back at rumors. The ceremony, held at 2:30 PM West Africa Time, was meant to celebrate achievement. Instead, it became a public rebuttal to whispers that the recent promotion wave was rigged.

‘Truth Stands Taller Than Rumours’

Egbetokun, a 36-year veteran who rose from Assistant Superintendent to the top job after leading the Department of State Services from 2021 to 2024, didn’t mince words. "There is no place for favouritism or tribal sentiment in the Nigeria Police Force," he declared. "Our promotions are guided solely by competence, performance, and discipline." He called the allegations "mischief-making" and insisted the accelerated promotion exercise—conducted three to four months earlier—followed every rule in the Police Act Cap P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Eleven Deputy Commissioners were elevated to substantive Commissioners. Dozens more moved up across ranks. All, he claimed, on merit.

It’s the kind of statement that lands differently in Nigeria. After decades of opaque promotions, where connections often outweighed credentials, many officers and civilians alike have learned to be skeptical. The force, with its 371,800 personnel spread across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, has long been criticized for internal favoritism. Past IGPs faced similar accusations. Some promotions were even challenged in court. But this time, Egbetokun didn’t just promise reform—he held a public ceremony to prove it.

The Numbers Behind the Noise

The accelerated promotion exercise, which concluded in late July or early August 2025, was unusual. Normally, promotions happen in scheduled batches, often delayed by bureaucracy or budget constraints. This one was fast-tracked. And it came with a cost: suspicion. Critics pointed out that 11 new Commissioners were elevated in one go—a significant jump. In 2023, only six such promotions occurred over the entire year.

But Egbetokun offered context: the backlog had grown since 2020. Many officers had been stuck at the Deputy Commissioner level for over seven years. "We didn’t rush," he said. "We reviewed 1,247 eligible files. Only 138 met the criteria for accelerated promotion. The rest? They’ll wait their turn. That’s fairness."

He cited internal metrics: performance evaluations from the last three years, disciplinary records, field reports from state commands, and even public complaint logs. "If you’ve spent three years without a single substantiated complaint and your unit’s crime reduction rate is above 40%, you don’t get promoted because you’re from Ogun State," he added, referencing his own home state. "You get promoted because you delivered."

A Regional Mirror: Kenya’s Parallel Crisis

While Egbetokun defended his force’s process, across the continent, Kenya’s National Police Service faced the exact same backlash. On March 12, 2025, 738 officers were promoted in a single sweep. Anonymous sources claimed the majority were from one ethnic group. The National Police Service Commission denied wrongdoing—but offered no public audit. No independent review. No transparency report. The silence spoke volumes.

In Nigeria, by contrast, Egbetokun invited observers. The ceremony was attended by Acting Chairman of the Police Service Commission Musiliu Smith, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and all 36 State Commissioners of Police. Their presence wasn’t ceremonial—it was accountability.

Why This Matters Beyond the Uniform

For ordinary Nigerians, police promotions aren’t just internal HR matters. They’re about trust. When officers are promoted based on who they know—not what they’ve done—it erodes public confidence. It fuels resentment. It invites corruption. And it makes communities less likely to cooperate with investigations.

Egbetokun’s stance, if sustained, could be the beginning of a cultural shift. The Nigeria Police Force, founded in 1930 with just 1,200 officers, now ranks as Africa’s third-largest police force. But size doesn’t equal legitimacy. What matters is whether those in charge believe in systems—or personalities.

He didn’t just say it. He showed it. The decorated officers on stage? They came from 28 different states. Seven were women. Three had previously served in counter-terrorism units. One had led the investigation that cracked the 2024 Lagos bank heist. That’s not luck. That’s a pattern.

What Comes Next?

Egbetokun has promised to publish a full breakdown of the promotion criteria and eligibility thresholds by December 2025. He also announced the launch of an internal whistleblower portal for officers to report misconduct in the promotion process—anonymous and protected. No such tool existed before.

But skepticism remains. Some senior officers privately wonder: if the system is so transparent, why wasn’t it published earlier? Why wait until rumors exploded?

Still, the fact that he’s responding at all is new. In past administrations, such allegations were ignored—or worse, used to silence dissenters.

"We’re not perfect," Egbetokun admitted at the end. "But we’re trying to be better. And that’s more than any previous IGP has said."

Background: A Legacy of Suspicion

The Nigeria Police Force has struggled with credibility since its colonial origins. Promotions were historically political tools. Under former leaders, entire states were left without a single promoted officer for years, while others saw entire cohorts elevated overnight. In 2018, a Senate committee found that 63% of promotions between 2015 and 2017 violated internal guidelines. No one was held accountable.

Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Alkali Baba, faced multiple lawsuits over promotions. One case, filed by a group of 47 officers in 2023, is still pending. Egbetokun inherited that mess. And he’s trying to fix it—not with secrecy, but with spectacle.