POSSAP Announces new signatory for Police Character Certificate, DCP Shehu Alao

Crime Diary

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nigeria Police Specialized Services Automation Project (POSSAP) has announced a change in the official signatory for the Police Character Certificate issued by the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement, POSSAP disclosed that a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed for the Central Criminal Registry at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, with Shehu Alao, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), assuming the role.

According to the notice, the new Commissioner of Police will serve as the Central Registrar and official signatory to the Police Character Certificate. The change takes effect from April 2026, with an updated sample of the certificate reflecting the new authorization.

POSSAP, a key digital reform initiative of the Nigeria Police, is designed to streamline and automate specialized police services, including the issuance of Police Character Certificates, biometric capture, and background verification processes. The platform aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for Nigerians requiring official police documentation for travel, employment, and other formal purposes.

The automation project has also played a central role in reducing processing times and curbing fraudulent practices associated with manual applications, while providing a standardized and secure system for verifying applicants’ records across police databases.

POSSAP urged members of the public to take note of the new signatory and ensure that all Police Character Certificates obtained from April 2026 onward reflect the updated designation.