By Nurat Uthman
The Commissioner of Police for the Lagos State Police Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, urged the recently promoted 1,400 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) to avoid behaviors that could hinder their career progress.
Instead, he encouraged them to maintain a professional stance by upholding the distinct values and characteristics that led to their promotion and to prioritize excellence in carrying out their duties.
Owohunwa delivered this message while decorating the officers at the conference hall of the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. He reminded them that their induction into the officer and strategic cadre of the Nigeria Police Force came with additional responsibilities, such as maintaining a professional outlook, analyzing complex security issues, and making decisions that align with the law.
He also emphasized that there were no longer any excuses for negligence in their duties. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had repeatedly stated that promotions during his tenure would be primarily based on merit and seniority. This group of officers would be the first to benefit from this policy.
However, Owohunwa stressed that with great privilege comes great expectations. The IGP holds himself to high professional standards and expects his followers to exhibit excellence in their behavior at all times.
He appealed to them to view their promotion as another step forward in their promising careers and to be prepared for the associated challenges and responsibilities. They should always be guided by the fact that certain values had brought them to this point and should not deviate from those values, as indulging in excesses could prove detrimental.
