The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have extended the police recruitment deadline by two weeks following low application numbers from Lagos and several other states, despite strong nationwide interest in the ongoing exercise.
The application portal, which opened on December 15, 2025, was initially scheduled to close on January 25, 2026. It will now remain open until February 8, 2026, according to a statement issued by the PSC.
The extension follows the receipt of more than 400,000 applications nationwide for the recruitment of 50,000 police constables, alongside observed disparities in state participation.
Police recruitment deadline extended to address state imbalance
The PSC said states such as Adamawa, Benue and Kaduna recorded high numbers of applicants, while Lagos, Ogun, Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Anambra registered notably lower submissions.
According to the commission, the decision to extend the deadline is aimed at ensuring equitable representation across the country, particularly from states with low turnout.
“The PSC and NPF announce a two-week extension for the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 constables,” the statement said, citing the need to close participation gaps across states.
Authorities urge wider mobilisation
The PSC called on eligible Nigerians, especially those from states with low application figures, to take advantage of the extension by applying through the official recruitment portal.
State governments, local government councils, sociocultural organisations, religious bodies and community leaders were also urged to intensify sensitisation efforts to encourage eligible candidates to apply before the new deadline.
08112935565, 08161558757
The recruitment drive follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency in November 2025, which directed the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces to recruit additional personnel to tackle rising insecurity.
Officials say the expanded intake is intended to boost manpower, improve policing capacity and strengthen internal security operations nationwide.
This is IDNN. Independent. Digital. Uncompromising.