THE NIGERIA Police Force (NPF) is gearing up to train a new batch of constables following the conclusion of its 2025 recruitment process. The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the NPF have jointly scheduled April 12, 2025, as the commencement date for training, a move expected to bolster the nation’s security framework amid persistent concerns over crime rates and policing efficiency.
The Police Service Commission, through its Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, confirmed the development in a statement released in Abuja. Successful candidates who participated in the recently concluded medical screening exercise, held between February 26 and March 12, have been directed to check their application status via the official recruitment portal (https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng ) from March 31.
“Successful candidates must report to their designated police training institutions on the date and time indicated on their call-up slip for documentation,” Ani stated.
The documentation period at the training schools will run from April 12 to April 19. Candidates who fail to report within this timeframe will be deemed to have declined the offer. The recruits are required to report in a clean white T-shirt and shorts and must bring along all necessary documents, including their training call-up slip, National Identification Number (NIN) slip, Bank Verification Number (BVN) slip, original and photocopies of certificates, and other required credentials.
The ongoing recruitment and training exercise comes at a critical time when Nigeria grapples with rising insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and urban crime. Recent statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) suggests that Nigeria’s most recent recorded crime statistics date back to 2017, with a total of 134,663 reported cases. Similarly, a report by SBM Intelligence, titled “Grim Reaping: Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry–A 2024 Update”, revealed that between July 2023 and June 2024, there were 1,130 recorded kidnapping incidents, affecting at least 7,568 victims across the country. This alarming figure underscores the pressing need for a well-trained, adequately equipped police force capable of addressing the rising threats of crime and insecurity.
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Experts have long called for increased manpower within the Nigeria Police Force. The United Nations recommends a police-to-citizen ratio of 1:450. According to the UK Home Office’s ‘Country Policy and Information Note: Actors of Protection, Nigeria’ (August 2024), the Nigerian Police Force comprises approximately 370,000 officers, resulting in a ratio of one officer to about 600 citizens. This falls short of the UN’s recommended standard.
PSC Chairman, DIG (Rtd.) Hashimu Argungu, congratulated the successful candidates, urging them to remain committed to the core values of the police force. He reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to a transparent and merit-based recruitment process that aligns with the Federal Character policy.
“Our goal is to build a force that is not only capable but also dedicated to securing lives and property,” Argungu stated.
He also emphasized the need for professionalism among the new recruits, particularly as the nation strives to rebuild public confidence in the police institution.
