The Nigeria Police Force is the principal law enforcement and the lead security agency in Nigeria. It was established in 1920 but officially formed in 1930 which later became designated by the 1999 constitution as the National Police of Nigeria (NPN) which later transcended into the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country.
As at 2016 it has a staff strength of about 371,800. There are currently plans to increase the force to 650,000, adding 280,000 new recruits to the existing 370,000.
The Nigeria Police Force is a very large organization consisting of 36 State commands grouped into 17 zones and 8 administrative organs. The agency is controlled by IGP (Inspector General) Usman Alkali Baba. In 2020, it underwent major overhauls.
During the colonial period, most police were associated with local governments (native authorities). In the 1960s, under the First Republic, these forces were first regionalized and then nationalized.
The Nigeria Police Force performed conventional police functions and was responsible for internal security generally; for supporting the prison, immigration, and customs services; and for performing military duties within or outside Nigeria as directed. Plans were announced in mid-1980 to expand the force to 200,000.
Read Also:
- Department of State Services Recruitment Application form 2022
- British Broadcasting Corporation Recruitment 2022
- ICPC Recruitment Application form 2022
By 1983, according to the federal budget, the strength of the Nigerian Police Force(NPF) was almost 152,000, but other sources estimated it to be between 20,000 and 80,000. Reportedly, there were more than 1,300 police stations nationwide.
Police officers were not usually armed , but were issued weapons when required for specific missions or circumstances. They were often deployed throughout the country, but in 1989, well into Nigeria’s second military dictatorship, Babangida announced that a larger number of officers would be posted to their native areas to facilitate police-community relations.
The Nigeria Police Force operating budget between 1984 and 1988 remained in the N360 million to N380 million range, and in 1988 increased to N521 million. More notable were large capital expenditure infusions of N206 million in 1986 and N260.3
million in 1988, representing 3.5 and 2.5 percent of total federal capital expenditures in those years. These increases were used to acquire new communications equipment, transport, and weapons to combat the rising crime wave, such as 100 British Leyland DAF Comet trucks delivered in 1990 Despite these purchases, an NPF study in late 1990 concluded that the force’s budget must double to meet its needs.
Ranks in the Nigeria Police (in descending order of power)
● Inspector General
● Deputy Inspector-General of Police
● Assistant Inspector-General of Police
● Commissioner of Police
● Deputy Commissioner of Police
● Assistant Commissioner of Police
● Chief Superintendent of Police
● Superintendent of Police
● Deputy Superintendent of Police
● Assistant Superintendent of Police
● Inspector of Police
● Sergeant Major
● Sergeant
● Corporal
● Lance
● Constable.
Nigeria Police Recruitment 2025 starting date has been announced. The recruitment form is available for application in the portal, www.policerecruitment.gov.ng. The requirements and how to apply for the NPF recruitment 2025 and every detail about Nigeria Police Recruitment Portal 2025 will be related in this article. It is worthy to not that
successful candidates will undergo training in the various NPF Training centres. A batch of 10,000 constables to be recruited into the force. Eligible candidates across the
36 states are free to apply for enlistment into the Nigerian Police Force meaning anyone who demands money from you is nothing but a scammer.
Categories available for application in the 2025 Police Force recruitment
The Nigerian Police Force recruitment for the 2025 session is divided into selected categories:
● Police Constable
● Cadet Inspector of Police
● Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police
Requirements
● Applicants must be within the age of 18-25 years
● Applicants must have a National Identity Number (NIN)
● Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25
● Applicants must not be less than 1.64 metres for females and 1.67 metres for male candidates respectively.
● Candidates must not be pregnant at the time of recruitment
● The candidate must not be physically disabled
● The candidate must be free from any history of financial embarrassment
● Applicants must not have a history of being involved in any criminal activities in the past
● Interested applicants must be physically, mentally, and medically fit
● Applicants must not have any of the following physical defect: Bowlegs, Body scars, speech impediment, bent knees, knock knees, defective eyesight or squint eyes, deformed hand, protruding navel, gross malformation of teeth, amputation of any part of the body, tattoos, flat feet
● Applicants must not have less than 86 cm (33.86 inch inches) expanded chest measurement (for men only)
● Applicants possession of a valid National Driving Licence will be an added advantage
● Applicants must download, fill and submit guarantor’s form at the recruitment and screening centre
● All applicants must undergo full medical examination before selection
● Applicants must possess WASSCE or NECO with at least 5 credits, including English and Mathematics.
● Applicants must be a Nigerian
● Applicants should have B.Sc. or Master’s Degree from an accredited Tertiary Institution in any related discipline or an HND in a relevant course in any field of study
● Applicants should have a good knowledge of computers and its basic applications to use for the work and proper delivery of various task as required by the organization
● Applicants must have valid certificates like NYSC discharge certificate, birth certificate, Local government certificate and Medical certificate.
How to Apply for Nigerian Police Recruitment
The Nigeria Police has requested applicants to visit the NPF recruitment application portal and commence their application process. In addition, all eligible applicants are equally advised to carefully read the following NPF recruitment instructions thoroughly before commencing and completing the Nigeria Police Online Application Form.
And as such, any wrongly filled application form will lead to automatic rejection and might not be processed.
The Nigeria Police has informed the public and prospective applicants that only those who meet the application requirement and also applied properly will be shortlisted.
So, any applicant who wants to be shortlisted should ensure that they meet the basic NPF recruitment requirement, have their qualifications ready and ensure that the email address they are applying with is within reach.
With all this put in place, applicants can go ahead and commence the application process properly.
To successfully apply for this recruitment;
Login to the official site, www.policerecruitment.gov.ng and fill the application form, also make sure you check this webpage for further instructions and updates regarding the status of your application after you apply.
Only candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted by the Nigeria Police to come for screening, which will be held in various centres and outlined on the Nigerian Police website.
There will also be a screening test conducted for all shortlisted applicants to take, and those who passed would proceed to the next stage of the recruitment exercise.
Applicants should note that the Nigeria Police recruitment form is only obtainable online through the Nigeria Police application portal, it will be greatly unacceptable if an applicant submits their application to the wrong portal as the Nigeria Police will not take responsibility for that.