By Peter Omopo
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has assured Nigerians that the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force is transparent, merit-based and inclusive.
Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG (Dr.) Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd), gave the assurance during a press conference at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, PSC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja.
Lakanu expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 50,000 additional personnel into the Force, describing the directive as a bold move to strengthen internal security and enhance operational capacity.
Application Figures
According to Lakanu, the recruitment portal opened on December 15, 2025, and closed on February 8, 2026, after an eight-week window.
He disclosed that the Commission received a total of 616,873 applications, comprising 348,974 general duty applicants and 85,630 specialist applicants.
Out of the total submissions, 434,604 applicants qualified for further screening, while 121,596 were disqualified and 60,673 entries were deemed invalid.
On gender distribution, Lakanu said 442,592 male and 114,640 female applicants applied, noting that the figures reflect sustained interest among Nigerian youths in policing as a career.
State Participation and Federal Character
The PSC chairman acknowledged disparities in application numbers across states during the early stages of the exercise. Following consultations with the Nigeria Police Force and other stakeholders, the Commission approved a two-week extension to enable states with low turnout to intensify mobilisation efforts.
He said the intervention yielded positive results.
A state-by-state breakdown showed that Adamawa recorded the highest number of applications with 38,989, followed by Benue (34,511), Kaduna (30,397) and Borno (24,009). States with the lowest figures included Ebonyi (1,667), Anambra (1,739), Bayelsa (2,430) and Lagos (2,448).
Lakanu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the principle of Federal Character, describing it as sacrosanct.
Next Phase of Screening
He announced that the next phase—physical screening and verification of credentials—will commence on March 9, 2026, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Applicants will be notified through official channels.
Successful candidates at the screening stage will proceed to computer-based examinations, medical assessments and comprehensive drug integrity tests in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“Drug users and persons of questionable character will not find their way into the Nigeria Police Force,” Lakanu said, stressing that only candidates of sound health, good character and proven integrity would be admitted.
He added that successful recruits would be posted to designated Police Colleges for training before deployment to commands and formations nationwide.
Whistle-Blowing Policy
To enhance transparency, Lakanu disclosed that the Commission has introduced a whistle-blowing policy on police recruitment to enable Nigerians to report suspected irregularities. He assured that all reports would be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.
The PSC, he said, is working closely with the Federal Character Commission, the Ministry of Police Affairs, Guidance and Counselling Departments of state governments, the Police Community Relations Committee, civil society organisations and the NDLEA to ensure inclusiveness and oversight.
Lakanu emphasised that the credibility of the Police Force begins with recruitment, warning that compromised entry standards would undermine efforts to build a professional and world-class institution.
“Building the Nigeria Police Force of our collective aspiration is a national responsibility,” he said, calling for continued cooperation from citizens, the media and security sector stakeholders.
