The Federal Government has announced plans to recruit more than 94,000 new security personnel to reinforce Nigeria’s fight against rising insecurity.
As part of the move, the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will begin the recruitment of 50,000 police constables, with the application portal scheduled to open from December 15, 2025, to January 25, 2026.
According to a statement by the PSC’s Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Torty Kalu, the recruitment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to expand the police workforce and strengthen community policing. Applicants for the General Duty cadre must possess at least five O’Level credits, including English and Mathematics, while Specialist applicants need a minimum of four credits and relevant trade certifications.
An Army official also confirmed that the Nigerian Army may recruit 14,000 new soldiers, following the same presidential order. Although the Navy and Air Force have not released exact figures, sources say both services will increase their intake.
In June, the Ministry of Interior launched a separate recruitment drive to bring in 30,000 personnel across four paramilitary agencies. Ministry officials say the process is being fast-tracked to reinforce national security.
President Tinubu had, on November 26, 2025, declared a national security emergency, directing the police, military, and paramilitary agencies to urgently expand their manpower in response to worsening violence across the country.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, praised the federal initiative, noting that Nigeria desperately needs more security personnel. He said every community — even villages with just 100 people — should eventually have at least one police officer, a target that could require over one million police personnel nationwide.
Mutfwang also reiterated the need for state police, arguing that security challenges vary across regions and require decentralised solutions.
Security experts, including Brig. Gen. Peter Aro (retd.) and Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.), backed the recruitment plan but warned that simply increasing numbers will not solve Nigeria’s security crisis. They stressed the importance of proper vetting, quality training, modern equipment, and an expanded military structure — especially for the under-staffed Nigerian Army.
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Legal and community leaders also emphasised that the recruitment must be free from political influence. They called for a transparent, merit-based process to avoid past mistakes where unqualified or unvetted individuals were drafted into security agencies.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, urged the new Commander of the 4 Brigade, General Ahmed Balogun, to strengthen security across the state. He assured the Army of the state’s support and highlighted ongoing plans to deploy multifunctional drones for surveillance.
In Oyo State, the Nigerian Bar Association called on Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies to urgently rebuild the state’s security architecture, following a recent kidnapping incident in Ibadan that heightened public anxiety.
Overall, the massive recruitment drive is expected to bolster Nigeria’s frontline security agencies, though experts insist that real progress will depend on discipline, training, and the political will to implement long-term reforms.
