The news just emerging that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the appointment of Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo, as the new Inspector-General of Police (IG) is a welcome one on several accounts.

The cheerful piece issuing from a statement from the Presidency yesterday disclosed that Onovo is expected to resume today, 24th July, 2009.

As I earlier posited on this site in Tunde Fagbenle's Onovo As Critical Test?, above all considerations, this appointment could further confirm the position of those who argue that this move would strongly show up the president as clearly committed to:

1. Fairness and equity in statecraft

2. Due process and transparency

3. Recognition of competence and merit

4. Making a clear statement to fight corruption and possibly re-orientate the police force

5. Building of bridges and reassuring all peoples of Nigeria that trust has been restored

Onovo, who is 56 this year, has four years more to attain the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. But if service years become the criterion, Onovo will retire at 59 years, when he would have clocked 35 years in service.

An indigene of Enugu State and a son of a law enforcement officer, Onovo was born on February 7, 1953. He received his secondary school education at Izzi Boys High School, Abakaliki and Mary Knoll College, Ogoja, between 1965 and 1972. From there, he proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, graduating in 1976 and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with specialisation in International Relations.

Onovo enlisted in the Nigeria Police on August 1, 1977, starting on the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

Between 1978 and 1984, he was deployed to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Nigeria, where he served the police in various capacities, including Divisional Crime Officer, Administrative Officer, Okrika Police Station; as well as Unit Commander, Second-in-Command to Squadron Commander, and substantive Squadron Commander of the Police Mobile Force in this zone.

Onovo was promoted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in January 1981; Superintendent of Police (SP) in October 1984 before his redeployment to Owerri, Imo State capital.

Between 1984 and 1986, Onovo served as Divisional Crime Officer and Commander of Surveillance in Owerri before he was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and transferred to Lagos, where he was Staff Officer in the Force Secretary's Office in June 1987.

In 1989, Onovo became Assistant Force Secretary in the Force Headquarters, Lagos, and attained the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in March 1990.

In 1992, he was posted to Edo State Police Command to serve as a Deputy State Police Commissioner (Second-in-Command) and, in 1994, to Adamawa State Police Command to serve in the role until his elevation to the substantive rank of Commissioner of Police (CP) in April 1997.

As a Commissioner of Police, he headed the Ogun State Police Command until December 1998, when he was appointed Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Onovo's effort at the NDLEA prompted the U.S. Department of State's 2000 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), issued on March 1, 2001, to disclose that "Nigeria did take a significant step in November 2000 by transferring into U.S. custody four fugitives wanted on serious narcotics and narcotics-related charges, including two who are on the President's List of Significant Foreign Narcotics Traffickers under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act."

From the NDLEA, Onovo was deployed to the Police Academy in Kano as Commandant in May 2000. He served in this position until his promotion to the rank of AIG in May 2001.

As an AIG, Onovo headed the Research and Planning Department at the Force Headquarters and also served as Force Secretary until February 2002.

Following another upgrade to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in March 2002, Onovo was initially designated the Second-in-Command to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in the Force Headquarters. However, between 2003 and 2006, another official re-assignment of tasks placed him in charge of the Criminal Investigations Department, from which he was subsequently moved, in November 2006, to his last designation as the DIG in charge of Administration.

Onovo has attended several professional, development and leadership training courses with the Police and other Federal Government and international agencies.

These include the Cadet ASPs Course; Detective Course; Junior Command Course; Middle Management Course; Senior Management Course; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Course; and International Humanitarian Law Program in San Remo, Italy, among others.

We hope that this appointment is indicative of what is to come and pray that it ushers in a new and positive dawn in Nigeria. Onovo is a proven achiever and a man of many talents. He plays the guitar and other musical instruments with awesome dexterity. We hope his tenure is music to the ears of Nigerians. To whom much is given...!

Congratulations. 

Robot  # 1 | 24.07.2009 07:05

The news just emerging that PresidentUmaru Musa Yar'Adua has approved the appointment of Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo, as the new Inspector-General of Police (IG) is a welcome one on several accounts. The cheerful piece issuing from a statement from the Presidency yesterday disclosed that Onovo is expected to resume today, 24th July, 2009. As I earlier posited on this site in Tunde Fagbenle's Onovo As Critical Test?, above all considerations, this appointment could further confirm theposition ofthose who argue that this move would strongly show up thepresident as clearlycommitted to: 1. Fairness and equity in statecraft 2. Due process and transparency 3. Recognition of competence and merit 4. Making a clear statement to fight corruption and possibly re-ori...Read the full article.

Anioma777  # 2 | 24.07.2009 08:48

I hope he is not going to be another lame IGP his last 3 predecessors did nothing. It is also encouraging to see that seniority and experience has won the day irrespective of the candidate's ethnic background. Goodluck IGP Onovo, you are going to need it.

ikoyiesho1  # 3 | 24.07.2009 10:00

Soooo......Who cares If Yaradu'a turns himself to the new I.G Infact. whether it is onovo or wereigho it does make no diffrence, Nigerians are sick and tired of this administration and i think your kind of post is just adding insult to our injury. Comot for road I beg Onovo ko, tafa balogun ni.... Aves of the same plummage nko.. Please don't dont come on NVS to waste our space again on rubbish issue.

abdulmumin  # 4 | 24.07.2009 13:06

Onovo is an establishment person! He never could have made it up to being a DIG by bucking the trend or being non-conformist. So nothing would change which in the Nigrian context means that things shall worsen....... Judging from your name I daresay you are of the same ethnic stock as him. For your likes, I guess that is sufficient basis for celebration. Shame....

changenigeriamovement  # 5 | 24.07.2009 13:24

I support Adbulmumin. Nobody makes it to the top and stay there in Nigeria without being a member of the establishment. While I have nothing against Onovo personally, his regime will not be different from those before him because they will not let him do his job. Genuine change can only start from Aso Rock and flow down the system. It is not yet Uhuru my friends.

Igboamaeze  # 6 | 24.07.2009 13:57

=changenigeriamovement;375095>I support Adbulmumin. Nobody makes it to the top and stay there in Nigeria without being a member of the establishment. While I have nothing against Onovo personally, his regime will not be different from those before him because they will not let him do his job. Genuine change can only start from Aso Rock and flow down the system. It is not yet Uhuru my friends. ----------------------------- You're right. And that applies also to the "wonder-kid" of the "anti-corruption war" as well. Once again you all can see how he became a "super-star". He was dropped because he was becoming too big for his masters. You're darn right...

akuluouno  # 7 | 24.07.2009 14:04

Villagers, We are all waiting to see if he will dump the establishment wholly like Alozie Ogugbuaja, partially like Nuhu Ribadu or ajuwayaaaaa like Tafa Balogun and Ehindero and the others whom we all know so well. Onovo answer your papa name well welloooo:D

johnteddy  # 8 | 24.07.2009 16:08

so,an Igbo man has been appointed the IGP? so?what benefit will come to the common Igbo man?will he construct new roads in the south east?will he construct the much awaited second niger bridge?will Onovo revive the abandoned Oji power station?will Ogbonaya Onovo revamp PRODA that was devilishly starved of funds by the federal govt of nigeria?why are we still nursing this silly war mentality that we were defeated?Onovo will just be an extension of the PDP in Igbo land-serving the federal interest!it makes no difference to me who is the IGP.....all i want is pure democracy!makes no difference what tribe rules!

iamgod  # 9 | 24.07.2009 16:19

Ogbonnaya Onovo WILL RIG elections in 2011

Odinaka  # 10 | 24.07.2009 17:00

You sound like Onovo hired you to herald his arrival. If you looked at the past IGs (the last 2 or 3 for a start), you would also see things in their CV that, at the surface, would sound impressive. Onovo will only prove that his appointment is meaningful to "ordinary" Nigerians by his actions. I don't have anything against his appointment, in fact it would have been the height of unfairness and suspicion for him to be overlooked, but it is too early to start dancing.

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