The Police Service Commission (PSC) has confirmed that 616,873 applications were received in the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Police Force, describing the process as transparent, inclusive and merit-driven.
Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG (Dr) Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd), disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
The recruitment exercise follows the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the enlistment of 50,000 additional personnel into the Force as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and enhance operational effectiveness nationwide.
Lakanu said the application portal, which opened on December 15, 2025, was officially closed on February 8, 2026, after an eight-week window.
According to him he said, 348,974 candidates applied for General Duty positions, while 85,630 applied under specialist categories.
Out of the total applications received, 434,604 were qualified for further screening. However, 121,596 applicants were disqualified, while 60,673 submissions were invalid.
On gender distribution, 442,592 males and 114,640 females applied for enlistment.
Lakanu noted that the figures demonstrate sustained interest among Nigerian youths in joining the police.
State-by-State Participation
The PSC acknowledged initial disparities in application figures across states. Following consultations with the Nigeria Police Force and other stakeholders, the Commission approved a two-week extension of the deadline to enable states with low turnout to intensify mobilisation efforts.
Adamawa State 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 number of applications were Ebonyi (1,667), Anambra (1,739), Bayelsa (2,430) and Lagos (2,448).
Despite the variations, Lakanu said the overall spread reflected adherence to the federal character principle.
He said the next phase of the recruitment process — physical screening and verification of credentials — will commence nationwide on March 9, 2026, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Candidates who successfully pass the screening will proceed to computer-based examinations, medical examinations and comprehensive drug integrity tests to be conducted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Lakanu stressed that drug users and individuals of questionable character would not be admitted into the Force, adding that successful candidates would undergo training at designated police colleges before deployment to commands and formations nationwide.
To strengthen transparency and public confidence, he said the PSC has introduced a whistle-blowing policy to enable Nigerians to report suspected irregularities during the recruitment process. The Commission assured that all reports would be treated confidentially and investigated thoroughly.
Lakanu reaffirmed the PSC’s commitment to delivering a fair, credible and merit-based recruitment exercise capable of producing a professional police institution.