The Police Service Commission at an extraordinary meeting on Friday January 17th, 2025 approved the appointment of AIG Banji Badaru Lawal, AIG incharge of Border Patrol, Force Headquarters , Abuja as a substantive Deputy Inspector General of Police to represent the South West Geopolitical zone.
He takes over from DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi who represented the zone and retired on December, 31st, 2024. Alabi was DIG incharge of Force Criminal Investigation Department.
The new DIG with vast experience 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 new DIG Lawal on Friday appeared before the Commission in Plenary where the Chairman, DIG Hashimu Argungu retired, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court and DIG Taiwo Lakanu retired interviewed him and subjected him to a written and oral examinations.
Spokesperson of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani quoted the new DIG Lawal as saying, “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 as he wished him well in his new office.