The ranks of Nigeria Police are the levels, grades or positions that indicate the command structure which is based on the regimental nature of the police.
The ranks are attached with symbols (badges) as follows:
Symbol of Corporal
Symbol of Sergeant
Symbol of Sergeant Major
Symbol of Cadet Inspector
Symbol of Unconfirmed Inspector
Symbol of Confirmed Inspector
Symbol of Principal Inspector
Symbol of Chief Inspector
Symbol of Cadet Assistant Superintendent
Symbol of Assistant Superintendent on Probation
Symbol of Assistant Superintendent
Symbol of Deputy Superintendent
Symbol of Superintendent
Symbol of Chief Superintendent
Symbol of Assistant Commissioner
Symbol of Deputy Commissioner
Symbol of Commissioner
Symbol of Assistant Inspector General
Symbol of Deputy Inspector General
Symbol of Inspector General
List of Nigeria Police ranks, from bottom to top: Constable to Inspector General
Ranks in Nigeria Police, from Constable to Inspector General are:
Constable
Corporal
Sergeant
Sergeant Major
The Inspector of Police
The Asst. Superintendent of Police
The Deputy Superintendent of Police
The Superintendent of Police
The Chief Superintendent of Police
The Asst. Commissioner of Police
The Deputy Commissioner of Police
The Commissioner of Police (In-charge of contingents in a state)
The Asst. Inspector-General of Police
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police
The Inspector-General of Police
List of Nigeria Police ranks, from top to bottom: Inspector General to Constable
Ranks in Nigeria Police, from Inspector General to Constable are:
The Inspector-General of Police
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police
The Asst. Inspector-General of Police
The Commissioner of Police (In-charge of contingents in a state)
The Deputy Commissioner of Police
The Asst. Commissioner of Police
The Chief Superintendent of Police
The Superintendent of Police
The Deputy Superintendent of Police
The Asst. Superintendent of Police
The Inspector of Police
Sergeant Major
Sergeant
Corporal
Constable
How to understand police ranks
Non-commissioned officers
These are officers who entered the police with a qualification less than first degree.
Constable A police constable is a newly employed police man who has the lowest rank.
Corporal The corporal comes after constable. The abbreviation of police corporal is Cpl.
Police Sergeant The rank of a police sergeant is below the rank of a sergeant major, and it is the middle rank of a non-commissioned officer.
Sergeant Major A Sergeant Major assists administrative officer of a particular division, and it is the highest rank of a non-commissioned officer.
Commissioned officers
These are officers who entered the police with a degree qualification either from the police academy or other institutions of learning
Cadet Inspector A Cadet Inspector is commonly known as Inspector of Police (IP), and it is the lowest rank held by a police officer after undergoing a training of service as a commissioned officer.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) An Assistant Superintendent of Police is below Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent and it is the second lowest senior officer rank.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Deputy Superintendent is a senior rank that is higher than Assistant Superintendent.
Superintendent of Police (SP) This rank is between Chief Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Chief of Superintendent of Police CSP A Chief of Superintendent of Police, CSP is a rank in police that is higher than the Superintendent.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) An Assistant Commissioner of Police is above the Chief Superintendent and Deputy Commissioner of Police. It is the sixth highest rank in the Nigerian police senior officers’ rank.
Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP The rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police is between the Assistant Commissioner and the Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner takes over the command when the State Commissioner is not there, and he also supervises the Assistant Commissioner of police during their daily activities.
Commissioner of Police CP The Commissioner of Police is in charge of police troops in a state, subject to the command of the Inspector General and is the number one police officer in the state.
Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG The Assistant Inspector General of Police is the second in command of the police force. He comes after the Inspector General and takes orders from there.
The Inspector General of Police IGP This is the highest rank in Nigeria Police Force. The Inspector General of Police is the head of the police force in Nigeria and also the most Senior Officer.
More on police ranks
Ranks in the Nigeria Police are legally provided for by section 5 of the Police Act.
In accordance with section 215(2) of the 1999 Constitution, section 6 of the Police Act, 1990 laws provide that orders to perform duties flows from the Inspector-General of Police, through the chain of Command, to any Officer positioned to implement such order. Disobedience to carry out such order attracts punishment.
The next in the line to the Inspector General of Police, is the Deputy Inspector General of Police and can act in the Inspector-General’s absence.
Section 5 of the Police Act makes room for as many DIGs as the Nigeria Police Council considers appropriate.
The Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police is provided for by section 5 and 8 of the Police Act. He shall act for the Inspector-General of Police in the event of the absence of the Inspector-General of Police and Deputy Inspector-General of Police. Section 5 of the Police Act, in accordance with the provisions of section 215 (2), of the Nigeria Constitution, provides for the office and rank of a Commissioner of Police who shall be in control of contingents of the Police Force stationed in a State. A Commissioner is however subject to the command of the Inspector-General or who ever acts in the absence of the Inspector-General.
