By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Mr Anthony Okon Placid has been appointed as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), replacing Mr Benjamin Hundeyin.

Mr Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), was chosen for the position by the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu.

In a statement on Sunday by Mr Hundeyin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), his successor was described as “a seasoned officer of the Nigeria Police Force with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.”

The 55-year-old police officer was born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo.

The indigene of Mbiokporo Nsit in the Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State also holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the University of Jos and studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Police Academy, Kano, in 1996, and was commissioned in August 1998.

He has attended several professional and international courses, including United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), with certifications as an expert in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, and Civilian Protection. UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya.

Mr Placid has served in various strategic capacities within and outside the country, including Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adamawa State; PPRO, Police Staff College, Jos; Chief of Training, African Union Mission in Sudan; Head of Training and Development, United Nations Mission in Darfur; Divisional Police Officer in Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan, and Gembu; Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Robbery Unit, Kaduna State; African Union Election Security Adviser; Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Department, Abia State; and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance, Zone 3 Headquarters, Yola.

He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Trainer on International Humanitarian Law. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025, prior to his redeployment to Cross River State.

The new police spokesman, who can be reached via 07031179186, is happily married with children. His hobbies include listening to good music, playing football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and engaging with people.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The elevation, which is a result of merit, seniority, record of service and performance in a written examination and oral interview conducted today at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, is part of efforts to strengthen the leadership cadre of the Nigeria Police Force.

The newly promoted DIGs are Mr Zachariah Fera Achinyan (formerly AIG Zone 4, Makurdi), Mr Zango Ibrahim Baba (formerly AIG Department of Logistics and Supply), Mr Isyaku Mohammed (formerly AIG Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja), Mrs Margaret Agebe Ochalla (formerly AIG FCID Annex, Lagos), Mr Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman (formerly AIG Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, Abuja), Mrs Kenechukwu Onwuemelie (formerly AIG Zone 15, Maiduguri), and Mr Umar Shehu Nadada (formerly AIG Zone 14, Katsina).

This latest round of promotions follows the recent elevation of DIG Fayoade Adegoke to the substantive rank of DIG. He will now join the Force Management Team.

The promotions became necessary to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of eight DIGs who previously occupied these strategic offices.

While congratulating the new DIGs, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr Hashimu Salihu Argungu, charged them to live up to the expectations of their new offices.

He urged them to prioritise national security and foster a cordial and productive working relationship with the Commission to ensure the continued development of the Nigeria Police Force.

Some of the PSC board members who took part as examiners in the exercise included Mr Paul Adamu Galumje, Mr Taiwo Lakanu (DIG rtd and Chairman, PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters), and Onyemuche Nnamani (Secretary to the Commission).

Recently, Mr Tunji Disu became the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) following the exit of Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The managing director of 11 Plc, which used to be known as Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, has taken a final bow from the company after 45 years of meritorious service.

The development was contained in a notice signed by the Company Secretary to NASD Plc and the investing public. In the statement dated March 3, 2026, it was disclosed that the retirement is effective March 31, 2026.

11 Plc trades its shares on the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange.

The board of 11 Plc expressed its profound gratitude to Mr Oyebanji for his leadership and invaluable contributions to the company, wishing him the best in his future endeavours.

Mr Oyebanji was appointed chairman and managing director of then Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc in October 2008 and, following the divestment of ExxonMobil, he became the managing chief executive of 11 Plc in April 2017.

The board acknowledged Mr Oyebanji’s remarkable career with the organisation, which it said is a testament to his unwavering commitment, passion, and expertise in the oil and gas industry.

He joined Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc in 1980 as a Marketing Representative Trainee and progressed through various leadership positions, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic vision, including Planning Associate, Pricing Manager, District Manager, Branch Manager, Manager of Fuels Services, and Executive Director of Fuels.

His appointment as Managing Director in 2017 marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career, and he has steered the company through a period of significant transformation and growth.

Apart from his role at the company, Mr Oyebanji has played a significant role in the energy industry and the economy at large. He is currently the President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors in Nigeria.

He was a past chairman of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and the Petroleum Downstream Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

He was also a past council member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the LCCl. He was a board member of the Society for Corporate Governance, Nigeria, for over 10 years.

Mr Oyebanji’s career extended well beyond Nigeria’s shores. He served at various points in his career as a Project Associate at Mobil Oil Corporation’s headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, and as a Manager, Planning, at Mobil Africa Sales Inc. He served as an Executive Director at Mobil Oil Cameroon and later at Mobil Oil Ethiopia. Eventually, he took on a global leadership role as Manager Industrial and Wholesale Fuels, Africa, Middle East, based in Belgium and reporting functionally to the Global I&W Manager.