The Federal Government has announced plans to recruit more than 94,000 new personnel into Nigeria’s security services as part of a major effort to tackle rising insecurity across the country. The move follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a nationwide security emergency and his directive to expand the manpower of the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces and the paramilitary services to respond more effectively to growing security threats. According to officials, this large-scale recruitment drive will cut across the police, military and paramilitary agencies, marking one of the biggest expansions of Nigeria’s security workforce in recent years.
Under the new recruitment plan, the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force will jointly recruit 50,000 police constables. The recruitment portal will open to eligible Nigerians from December 15, 2025, to January 25, 2026. The Commission confirmed the timeline in a statement released on Thursday by its Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Torty Kalu.
The statement said the process follows a presidential directive meant to strengthen community policing, enhance internal security and expand the manpower base of the Nigeria Police Force. The announcement explained that the Commission has approved the opening of the police recruitment portal to allow qualified applicants to submit their applications.
The statement partly read, “The PSC, in collaboration with the NPF, is pleased to announce the commencement of recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force, as directed by President Bola Tinubu. Following this Presidential directive aimed at strengthening community policing, enhancing internal security and expanding the manpower base of the Nigeria Police Force, the Commission has approved the opening of the recruitment portal for applications from eligible Nigerians.”
The Commission also explained the academic requirements for applicants, separating them into two categories. For the General Duty cadre, applicants must possess GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO or an equivalent qualification with at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in no more than two sittings.
For the Specialists cadre, applicants must have at least four credits, including English and Mathematics, also in no more than two sittings, along with three years of relevant experience and appropriate trade test certifications. According to the Commission, all applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth.
Beyond the police recruitment, the Nigerian Army is also preparing to increase its personnel strength. An Army official, who spoke off the record because he was not authorised to address the press, said the service may recruit about 14,000 new soldiers. He stated, “You know the President recently gave an order; based on that we might probably recruit 14,000.”
While the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force have not given exact numbers, sources within both services confirmed that they will increase their intake as part of the nationwide push to strengthen security capacity. In June, the Ministry of Interior announced a nationwide recruitment of 30,000 personnel into the four paramilitary agencies under its supervision. Ministry officials told our correspondent that the recruitment process was being expedited to ensure the new personnel are injected into the system quickly.
The aggressive recruitment drive aligns with President Tinubu’s November 26, 2025 declaration of a national security emergency, in which he directed the Nigeria Police and the Armed Forces to recruit more personnel to confront escalating violence. The directive followed a surge in attacks and insecurity across many parts of the country. With insecurity affecting rural communities, highways and even urban areas, federal authorities believe a major boost in manpower will help reinforce security operations nationwide.
Among those welcoming the new security strategy is Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang. He said the massive recruitment initiative is timely and necessary for the country’s current security challenges. Mutfwang made his remarks during a visit to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), in Abuja where he discussed ongoing insecurity in Plateau State. According to Mutfwang, the intervention comes at a time when security concerns are mounting across the country, placing intense pressure on existing officers. His comments were shared in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.
The governor praised the appointment of Musa as Defence Minister, describing it as a strategic decision given the country’s evolving security problems. Mutfwang expressed confidence that the minister’s experience and professionalism would help strengthen national security interventions. He restated his support for state police, a topic he has long championed. Mutfwang said, “The decision is timely, and I believe that overtaxed security personnel will be having a sigh of relief very soon. One thing that is very important is that states have serious areas that are really threatened and require attention. So, we just need to expand and give more impetus.” He added that Plateau State is ready to benefit from the recruitment if given the opportunity. He emphasized that with the right manpower, equipment and motivation, the country’s security problems could be significantly reduced.
Mutfwang also highlighted the need for Nigeria to meet global policing standards. He said the country must aim to meet the United Nations ratio of one police officer to 500 citizens. Beyond that, he argued that every village with more than 100 people should have at least one police officer. Achieving this would mean recruiting more than one million police personnel nationwide. He explained, “Where we are going is that even if we have 100 people in a village, let at least one policeman be posted there. But to achieve that, we need one million police personnel or more. But at least let us begin with what we have and see what we can do. Once we do that, we can move forward.” On the issue of state police, the governor warned that while the idea is promising, it must be implemented carefully with strong legislative safeguards to prevent misuse. He said that with a clear operational model, state policing could be an effective solution.
Security experts have also reacted to the Federal Government’s plan. Brig. Gen. Peter Aro (retd.) described the proposal as an important acknowledgment of Nigeria’s security crisis but cautioned that simply increasing numbers will not solve the problem. Aro said, “The Federal Government’s plan to inject over 94,000 new personnel into the security architecture is a welcome signal. This shows that the country finally recognises the scale of our internal security crisis. But numbers alone do not guarantee security; what matters is who we recruit, how we train them, and the doctrine that guides their deployment.” He argued that although 50,000 police recruits appear substantial, Nigeria is still under-policed by almost 120,000 officers when compared to the UN benchmark. He stressed the need for thorough vetting to avoid multiplying existing problems such as corruption, poor discipline and weak community relations. According to him, the country must focus on improving the quality of officers rather than simply increasing numbers.
On the paramilitary recruitment of 30,000 personnel, Aro said the plan could strengthen border protection, immigration control, civil defence and correctional services. He, however, warned that the agencies must not become avenues for political favours. He insisted that professional training, proper equipment and clearly defined roles are necessary for the paramilitary sector to add value. On the Army’s potential recruitment of 14,000 soldiers, Aro argued that the number is insufficient considering Nigeria’s size, population and multi-layered conflicts. He said a larger and more strategic expansion is required to restore national defence capacity. He explained that attrition in the military often reduces numbers faster than recruitment increases them, and a more ambitious plan would be necessary over the next five years.
Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) also reacted to the development, saying the manpower boost is necessary given Nigeria’s large population and many ungoverned spaces. He warned that recruitment must be rigorous to ensure the right people are selected. Adewinbi said, “The increase in manpower is a welcome development given the size of the population and the number of ungoverned spaces. I think it is a decision taken to address the shortage of security personnel. But most importantly, they must ensure they employ the right people—those who are committed, not politically selected. They should look for individuals who are genuinely dedicated and whose aim is to serve the nation. The recruitment must be very thorough. If we get it right at this stage, everything else will follow.”
Legal experts have also shared their views. Adebanjo Ebhoade, Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Zone, said politicians must not be allowed to influence the recruitment process. He emphasized the need for merit-based selection. Ebhoade said the process should be handled by an independent committee made up of retired officers and relevant agencies. He said, “The recruitment process should be carried out by an independent committee drawn from retired men of the armed forces and other relevant agencies. There should not be political influence. Let the best candidates be recruited. We need to have the best hands recruited so that we can have a sufficient workforce to deal with the issues affecting this country.”
A member of the Oyo State Community Policing Advisory Committee, Segun Ebenezer, also warned against the mistakes of the past where some agencies were flooded with unvetted personnel. He welcomed the initiative but urged the Federal Government to ensure transparency.
Ebenezer said, “It is a great initiative and will help the supply side of personnel deployment in combating insecurity. However, recruitment needs to be on merit, and the quality of personnel taken in should be thoroughly gauged. When recruitment is massive, the temptation for nepotism and political compensation is high. The process must be transparent and fair. After recruitment, what becomes important is training. It should not only be a normal onboarding programme, but a real and thorough training exercise that equips them mentally, physically and psychologically.”
