Adamawa Leads Police Recruitment with 616,873 Applicants- PSC

By Victor Olabode

25 February 2026

News

In the ongoing recruitment process, Adamawa State has received the most applications (616,873), according to the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday.

According to the PSC, out of all the applications received, 434,604 were approved for additional screening, 121,596 were deemed unqualified, and 60,673 were deemed invalid.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (retd), the Chairman of the PSC Standing Committee on Police Matters, disclosed that 114,640 of the applicants were women and 442,592 were men.

At a press conference in Abuja, Lakanu stated that Adamawa had 38,989 applications, Benue had 34,511, Kaduna had 30,397, and Borno had 24,009.

“I am pleased to present to you a summary of applications received,” he stated. 616,873 applications were received in total. 348,974 applicants for general duty; 85,630 applicants for specialists; 434,604 people were eligible for additional screening. 121,596 unqualified applicants; 60,673 submissions were invalid. There were 442,592 male applicants and 114,640 female applicants, according to the gender distribution.

“Adamawa State had 38,989 applications, Benue State had 34,511, Kaduna State had 30,397, and Borno State had 24,009, according to the final state-by-state analysis.”

He claims that some states had low turnout, with Lagos receiving 2,448 applications, Anambra receiving 1,739, Bayelsa receiving 2,430, and Ebonyi receiving 1,667.

“States with the lowest applications: Ebonyi State, 1,667; Anambra State, 1,739; Bayelsa State, 2,430; and Lagos State, 2,448,” he stated.

According to Lakanu, significant differences in state participation were noted early in the exercise, which is why the commission approved a two-week extension after consulting with the police and other relevant parties. This will allow states with low turnout to step up their efforts to raise awareness.

Lakanu stated that the high volume of applications demonstrated Nigerian youths’ faith in the police as a profession of honor and service, as he also acknowledged that the intervention produced favorable outcomes and increased participation throughout the federation.

Lakanu revealed that thorough drug integrity tests would be carried out in cooperation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to guarantee that only applicants with sound health and demonstrated integrity are admitted. He also stated that the next stage of the recruitment process- physical screening and credential verification, would start on March 9, 2026.

“People of questionable character and drug users will not be allowed to join the Nigeria Police Force,” he declared.

He continued by saying that prior to being deployed to commands and formations for active duty, selected candidates would be assigned to specific police colleges for training.

In keeping with the federal character principle, he reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to an open, inclusive, and merit-based hiring process.

The recruitment exercise’s application portal opened on December 15, 2025, and was supposed to close on January 25, 2026, but it was extended until February 8, 2026.