Nigeria's federal government to recruit 94,000 new personnel into its security forces

NIGERIA'S federal government has announced ambitious plans to recruits over 94,000 new personnel into the country's security services as part of radical measures aimed at tackling rising insecurity across the country.

Under the audacious plan, the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will recruit 50,000 police constables. A recruitment portal is expected to be open to eligible Nigerians as from December 15 and will be accepting applications from interested candidates  up until January 25, 2026.

Last month, US president Donald Trump announced that Washington was planning to attack Nigeria in response to the ongoing genocide against Christians. In what can only be described as an utterance based on misinformation, President Trump declared that he has asked his generals to draw up plans regarding how to attack Nigeria in response to the incessant attacks.

In response to the declaration, the presidency in Abuja announced that presidents Tinubu and Trump will be meeting soon over the matter. As the debate raged, the House of Representatives Sub-committee on Africa held public meetings to see if there is any truth to the fact that there is religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Over the weekend, an American Congressional delegation arrived in Abuja and held a series of meetings with Nigerian government officials about addressing the ongoing insecurity in the country. It appears that as a follow-on from that meeting, this radical recruitment plan has been announced.

Torty Kalu, the head of protocol at the PSC, said: “The PSC, in collaboration with the NPF, is pleased to announce the commencement of recruitment of 50,000 police constables into the NPF, 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 NPF, the commission has approved the opening of the recruitment portal for applications from eligible Nigerians.

“For the general duty cadre, applicants are required to possess GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/Neco or equivalent qualifications with at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in no more than two sittings. Applicants for the specialists cadre must possess a minimum of four credits, including English and Mathematics, also in no more than two sittings and must have at least three years of experience and relevant trade test certifications.”

He added that eligible applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth. An official of the Nigerian Army, speaking, said the army too may recruit about 14,000 new soldiers following the president’s directive and although the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force did not provide exact numbers, sources said both services will increase their intakes.

These planned recruitments follow a surge in violence across the country, with the expectation that increased manpower will help strengthen security operations. Northern Nigeria in particular has been hard hit by a surge in banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery.