Deborah Akinyosoye
No fewer than 400,000 Nigerians have applied for 50,000 police constable positions nationwide, the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force have said.
However, the recruitment exercise has been extended by two weeks following low application numbers from some states, including Lagos.
The extension was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the PSC’s Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Mr Torty Kalu.
According to the statement, the application portal, which opened on December 15, 2025, was initially scheduled to close on January 25, 2026, but will now remain open until February 8, 2026.
Kalu explained that while over 400,000 applications had been received nationwide, the PSC and the NPF observed significant disparities in participation across states.
He noted that states such as Adamawa, Benue and Kaduna recorded high numbers of applicants, while Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Anambra recorded notably lower submissions.
“The PSC and NPF announce a two-week extension for the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 constables,” the statement said.
“This decision follows the receipt of over 400,000 applications and a review showing significant disparities in state participation. While some states like Adamawa, Benue and Kaduna have high application numbers, states such as Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Anambra have notably lower submissions.”
Kalu said the extension was aimed at ensuring equitable representation across the country, urging eligible Nigerians, particularly those from states with low application figures, to apply through the official recruitment portal before the new deadline.
He also called on state governments, local government councils, sociocultural organisations, religious bodies and community leaders to intensify mobilisation and sensitisation efforts to encourage eligible candidates to apply.
President Bola Tinubu had on November 26, 2025, declared a nationwide security emergency, directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces to recruit additional personnel to address rising insecurity across the country.