More than 434,000 qualified applicants are set to compete for 50,000 positions in the ongoing recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, following the close of the application portal, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has said.
The commission disclosed on Wednesday that although 616,873 applications were received nationwide, only 434,604 candidates met the requirements for the next stage of the exercise. A total of 121,596 applicants were disqualified, while 60,673 submissions were declared invalid.
Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd), who addressed journalists in Abuja, said the high number of applicants reflected strong interest among Nigerian youths in joining the police.
According to him, 348,974 candidates applied under the General Duty category, while 85,630 sought specialist roles. Of the total applicants, 442,592 were male and 114,640 were female.
State-by-state 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).
Lakanu said the next phase of the recruitment process — physical screening and verification of credentials — will begin on March 9, 2026. He added that the commission would conduct drug integrity tests in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to ensure that only candidates of proven character and sound health are admitted.
The recruitment portal, which opened on December 15, 2025, closed on February 8, 2026, after a two-week extension.
With 434,604 qualified applicants vying for just 50,000 slots, the exercise is expected to be highly competitive.
