By Odita Sunday
It is axiomatic that Lagos State is a microcosm of larger Nigeria in several ramifications. The cosmopolitan nature of the city of Lagos as a former capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with huge population of varied ethnic extractions and nationalities easily comes with the complexities often associated with plural societies where diverse cultures, mannerisms, ideological dispositions, political linings, religious inclinations, social engagements etc are at play with each other. In such a scenario, there is bound to be occasional conflict of interests irrespective of the existing social order that may have been established by the government in place. This peculiarity of Lagos underlines the several calls in the past, asking for its recognition as a state with “special status.”
It is obviously in recognition of this uniqueness of Lagos State which is more of a one-city state (even though it has many local government areas) that the appointment of commissioner of police to man the state any time, has always come with a lot of considerations ranging from operational capability, administrative astuteness, social acceptability and above all, the prowess and ingenuity to navigate through the conflicting interests of the political and traditional leaders in the state and the ability to ultimately balance the contending interests without stepping on toes in policing the nooks and cranny of the state.
Given this seemingly obvious contentions, one can therefore safely posit that the recent appointment (by the Police Service Commission) of Moshood Olohundare Jimoh as the newest and 41st Commissioner of Police to head the Lagos State Police Command must have come not as a pedestrian exercise but a choice that is predicated on due diligence and wider consultation. Many nominees may have been brought forward (by the Inspector General of Police) for the position, but for Jimoh to be the chosen one stridently confirms his excellent nature operationally, administratively, socially and managerially speaking. The cap fits him appropriately.
A Political Science graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Moshood Jimoh had enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 2000 after undergoing the compulsory pre-employment training at the Police Academy. Over the years, he has worked in different parts of the country including Katsina, Cross River, Anambra, FCT, Oyo, Gombe and Rivers. At a time, he was Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Central Police Station, Abuja; Force Public Relations Officer; Deputy Commissioner, (Criminal Investigation Department), Airport Police Command; Deputy Commissioner, (Finance and Administration), Oyo State Police Command and Deputy Commissioner, (General Investigation), FCID Annex, Gombe. Until his appointment as Lagos Commissioner of Police, Jimoh was serving as Commissioner of Police, Ports Authority Police, Eastern Ports, Port-Harcourt.
As a career police officer, over the years, Jimoh has undergone several professional trainings which include Combat Operations Course at the Police Mobile Training College, Maiduguri; Weapons of Mass Destruction Counter Measure First Responder Training Course at the United States Embassy, Abuja; Crime Prevention of Korea Police at the Police Training Institute, Seoul South Korea; Social Construction and Management Reform at China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong China; Maritime Rescue and Salvage for Developing Countries, China Maritime Police Academy Ningbo, China; Training on Anti-hijacking Techniques and Tactics for Developing Countries at Special Police Academy, Beijing, China; and SMART Government and Informatization at Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), Beijing, China.
Besides his operational astuteness in policing, Moshood Jimoh comes with a multiple competence that easily gives him out as a good image manager particularly for a Police Force that is constantly facing criticisms and insults from some members of the Nigeria’s public who never saw anything good in the police in spite of the obvious commitments and achievements of many personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. During his time as the Force Public Relations Officer, (FPRO) he clearly made his mark through a deliberate and sustained public relations activities that brought a better understanding to the public about the statutory roles of the police, operational procedures and the inherent challenges in policing a plural society like Nigeria. As the Force Public Relations Officer, he had always carried the media along as the vehicle through which the public was properly informed of the activities of the police.
This obviously contributed to the reasons he was made a recipient of the Presidential Award for Public Relations Personality of the Year in recognition of his sterling qualities and outstanding contribution to the development and use of Public Relations by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations. Jimoh also got an Award of Recognition for Commendable Service as a member of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), Nigeria; Certified Management Consultant (CMC) by Institute of Management Consultant (IMC), Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria; Associate, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON); and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
The uniqueness of Moshood Jimoh’s appointment as the Lagos Police Commissioner finds some explanation in the endorsement of a one-time Inspector General of Police (IGP Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris) under whom Jimoh had worked as the Force Public Relations Officer. While congratulating Jimoh recently on his appointment, the former IGP had implored Jimoh not to disappoint the Police Service Commission (PSC) and his bosses, while also expressing optimism in Jimoh’s ability to enhance law enforcement strategies and improve public trust in the police.
He described the new CP’s appointment as a commendation for his dedication to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), recalling Jimoh’s performance in previous positions, including the CP Communications Operations, Force Headquarters, Force Public Relations Officer, and CP Eastern Ports, Rivers State. According to Idris, “CP Jimoh’s extensive background in communications, administration and public relations, combined with his operational expertise, makes him uniquely qualified to head the Lagos command.” The ex-IGP had also noted that Jimoh’s training in counter-terrorism, maritime security, and crisis management, locally and internationally, demonstrate his competence. “His impressive credentials, including his tenure as Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Investigation, prove his competency in ensuring peaceful coexistence amongst the people of Lagos state and indeed Nigerians,”
With this robust endorsement from no other person than a one-time Inspector General of Police whom Jimoh had worked closely with, one needs no further confirmation of the new CP’s ability to cope with the challenges that come with policing of Lagos State. Former IGP’s endorsement is a huge confirmation that the Police Service Commission did not make mistake in its choice of Moshood Jimoh to head the Lagos State Police Command. All that one can wish him as he settles down in his new position, is a successful tenure.