Adamawa State has emerged as the highest contributor of applicants in the ongoing nationwide police recruitment, submitting 39,989 entries, while Anambra recorded the lowest turnout with 1,739 applications.
ENigeria Newspaper learnt that the disclosure was made in Abuja by the Police Service Commission (PSC), which announced that 616,873 applications were received across the country. After review, 434,604 candidates were cleared for the next stage, 121,596 were disqualified, and 60,673 submissions were declared invalid.
Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd), provided further insight into the figures during a media briefing. According to him, Adamawa topped the list, followed by Benue with 34,511 applications, Kaduna with 30,397, and Borno with 24,009.
At the lower end of participation were Ebonyi with 1,667 submissions, Anambra with 1,739, Bayelsa with 2,430, and Lagos with 2,448. Lakanu explained that limited awareness at the initial stage of the exercise contributed to the low numbers in some states, adding that a two-week extension of the application window helped improve response levels.
Breaking down the data further, the PSC said 442,592 male and 114,640 female candidates applied. Applicants were drawn from two recruitment categories — 348,974 under General Duty and 85,630 under Specialist roles.
Lakanu described the volume of applications as a sign of renewed interest among young Nigerians in policing.
“The high number of applications reflects the confidence of Nigerian youths in the police as a career of honour and service,” he stated.
ENigeria Newspaper also gathered that the commission has outlined the next steps in the process. Physical screening and verification of credentials will begin on March 9, 2026. In partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the PSC will conduct drug integrity tests to ensure that only candidates who meet required health and character standards progress further.
To safeguard the integrity of the exercise, Lakanu announced the introduction of a whistle-blowing mechanism that will allow members of the public to report suspected irregularities. He assured that such reports would be handled confidentially and investigated thoroughly.
Reaffirming the commission’s stance, he emphasized that the recruitment would remain transparent, merit-driven, and compliant with the federal character principle.
The online portal for applications opened on December 15, 2025. Though initially scheduled to close on January 25, 2026, it was extended to February 8, 2026, resulting in a final pool of 434,604 qualified applicants now vying for 50,000 positions in the Nigeria Police Force.
