Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced that 434,604 applicants have been qualified for further screening in the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG (Dr) Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd), disclosed this on Tuesday during a press conference held at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, PSC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
Lakanu said the recruitment portal, which opened on December 15, 2025, and closed on February 8, 2026, recorded a total of 616,873 applications from across the federation.
According to him, of the total applications received, 348,974 were for General Duty positions, while 85,630 applied as specialists. A breakdown of the figures showed that 121,596 applicants were unqualified, while 60,673 submissions were invalid.
On gender distribution, Lakanu revealed that 442,592 male applicants and 114,640 female applicants participated in the exercise, describing the turnout as a demonstration of Nigerian youths’ confidence in the Police Force as a career path.
The PSC chairman expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 50,000 additional personnel into the NPF. He described the directive as a bold and visionary step toward strengthening internal security and enhancing the operational capacity of the Force.
He also commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for what he termed exemplary inter-agency cooperation throughout the recruitment process, as well as other stakeholders including the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Federal Character Commission.
Lakanu acknowledged that the Commission observed disparities in application numbers across states during the early phase of the exercise. This prompted a two-week extension to allow states with low turnout to intensify sensitisation efforts.
The final analysis showed that Adamawa State recorded the highest number of applications with 38,989, followed by Benue State (34,511), Kaduna State (30,397), and Borno State (24,009).
Conversely, Ebonyi State recorded 1,667 applications, Anambra State 1,739, Bayelsa State 2,430, and Lagos State 2,448, the lowest figures nationwide.
Despite the disparities, Lakanu maintained that the overall spread reflects adherence to the federal character principle, which the Commission holds as sacrosanct.
The PSC announced that physical screening and verification of credentials will commence nationwide on March 9, 2026, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Successful candidates at this stage will proceed to Computer-Based Examinations, medical assessments, and comprehensive drug integrity tests conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Lakanu stressed that individuals with questionable character or those who test positive for drug use would be disqualified, underscoring the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice.
He added that successful candidates would be posted to designated Police Colleges for training before deployment to commands and formations nationwide.
To enhance transparency, the Commission has introduced a whistle-blowing policy on police recruitment, enabling Nigerians to report suspected irregularities. Lakanu assured that all reports would be treated confidentially and thoroughly investigated.
Describing the exercise as the most inclusive in the Commission’s history, he noted that gender considerations and stakeholder engagement were prioritised, with active collaboration involving civil society groups, state guidance and counselling departments, the Police Community Relations Committee, and the NDLEA.
Lakanu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering a recruitment process that is fair, transparent, and merit-driven.
“The credibility of the Nigeria Police Force begins at the recruitment stage. We are determined to ensure that only candidates of sound health, good character, and proven integrity are admitted,” he said.
He thanked Nigerians and the media for their continued partnership and support toward building a professional and world-class Police Force.
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