The Federal Government has approved the recruitment of more than 94,000 new security personnel as part of broader efforts to confront escalating insecurity across Nigeria.
Under the initiative, the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force will take in 50,000 police constables.
The recruitment portal will open to qualified Nigerians from December 15, 2025, to January 25, 2026.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Torty Kalu, the Commission confirmed that the portal would be accessible throughout that period.
The statement read, “The PSC, in collaboration with the NPF, is pleased to announce the commencement of recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force, as directed by President Bola Tinubu. Following this Presidential directive aimed at strengthening community policing, enhancing internal security and expanding the manpower base of the Nigeria Police Force, the Commission has approved the opening of the recruitment portal for applications from eligible Nigerians.”
For the General Duty category, applicants must possess GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO or equivalent certificates with at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, obtained in no more than two sittings.
Applicants for the Specialists category are required to have at least four credits, including English and Mathematics, within two sittings, along with a minimum of three years of experience and relevant trade test certifications.
Eligible applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth.
An Army official, who spoke privately because he was not authorised to address the media, disclosed that the Nigerian Army may recruit approximately 14,000 personnel following the President’s directive.
“You know the President recently gave an order; based on that we might probably recruit 14,000,” the official said.
The Navy and Air Force did not provide definitive numbers, though sources confirmed that both services would increase their intake.
In June, the Ministry of Interior announced a nationwide recruitment of 30,000 personnel across its four paramilitary agencies. Officials stated that the process was being hastened to ensure the new personnel were deployed without delay.
On 26 November 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency and instructed the Police and Armed Forces to embark on massive recruitment to tackle worsening insecurity.
The recruitment drive comes amid a surge in violence, with expectations that increased manpower will strengthen national security operations.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, commended the move, describing it as timely and necessary given the rising threat levels across Nigeria.
He made the remarks during a visit to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), in Abuja to discuss ongoing security challenges in Plateau State.
Mutfwang expressed confidence in the Defence Minister’s leadership, noting that his extensive experience would bolster the nation’s security efforts.
He pledged Plateau State’s full cooperation in the ongoing fight against insecurity.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.
The Governor reiterated his stance on the need for state police, stating that the country required a decentralised structure to manage diverse security threats more effectively.
Mutfwang said, “The decision is timely, and I believe that overtaxed security personnel will be having a sigh of relief very soon. One very important thing is that states have serious areas that are really threatened and require attention. So, we just need to expand and give more impetus.”
He added that Nigeria needed enough manpower not only to meet the UN ratio of one police officer per 500 citizens, but also to ensure that every village with at least 100 residents had one police officer. He noted that achieving this would require over a million officers, though the country must begin with the available resources.
On state police, he emphasised that proper legislative structures and clear operational frameworks were essential to prevent abuse.
Reacting to the recruitment plan, Brig. Gen. Peter Aro (retd.) described the move as a positive recognition of the magnitude of Nigeria’s security crisis, but warned that recruitment must prioritise quality over quantity.
Aro stated, “The Federal Government’s plan to inject over 94,000 new personnel into the security architecture is a welcome signal. This shows that the country finally recognises the scale of our internal security crisis. But numbers alone do not guarantee security; what matters is who we recruit, how we train them, and the doctrine that guides their deployment.”
He said that although recruiting 50,000 police personnel appeared significant, Nigeria remained under-policed by at least 120,000 officers compared to UN standards. According to him, the focus must be on vetting, discipline, and professionalism.
For the paramilitary services, Aro stressed that the 30,000 recruits must be properly trained and equipped to ensure they complement the Police and Armed Forces rather than duplicate roles.
He added that the Army’s projected intake of 14,000 was insufficient for a country of Nigeria’s size. He argued that the Army needed to expand by at least 30,000 to 40,000 yearly for the next five years to maintain adequate national defence capacity.
Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) described the manpower increase as necessary but emphasised the need for rigorous screening to ensure that only committed and competent individuals were recruited.
He warned against political interference, stressing that only merit-based recruitment would strengthen the country’s security institutions.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Zone, Adebanjo Ebhoade, cautioned against using the recruitment drive to settle political favours.
He urged that an independent committee of retired security experts conduct the recruitment process to guarantee transparency.
A member of the Oyo State Community Policing Advisory Committee, Segun Ebenezer, commended the initiative but warned that massive recruitment often raised the temptation for nepotism and political patronage.
Ebenezer stressed that both the recruitment process and the subsequent training must be thorough, transparent, and merit-based.
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