Nigeria Police Force (NPF) recruitment runs annually and draws over a million applicants per cycle. This guide walks you through the 7-step process, the exact eligibility, and the small missteps that get strong candidates disqualified.
The 7-step application process
- Visit the official portal - recruitment.npf.gov.ng. Avoid lookalike sites.
- Create an account with a valid email and Nigerian phone number. Verify both.
- Choose a cadre: Constable (SSCE), Cadet Inspector (OND/HND), or Cadet ASP (degree).
- Fill the biographical form: full name as on your birth certificate, LGA, state of origin.
- Upload required documents: birth certificate, SSCE/NECO result, LGA ID, recent passport photograph (jpeg/png, under 1MB).
- Submit and print your acknowledgement slip. Store copies digitally and physically.
- Watch the portal for shortlist publication - typically 2-6 weeks after close.
Eligibility (2026)
- Nigerian citizen by birth
- Age 18-25 for Constable (28 for Cadet Inspector, 30 for Cadet ASP)
- SSCE/NECO/GCE: 5 credits including English and Mathematics
- Height: 1.67m (men), 1.64m (women)
- Medically fit, no criminal record
- Minimum chest measurement: 86cm (men only)
Documents checklist
- Birth certificate or sworn declaration of age
- SSCE/NECO/GCE result (and degree certificates if applicable)
- Local Government of Origin (LGA) identification letter
- NIN slip
- Recent passport photograph with white background
- Any professional certifications (optional, but helps)
Common disqualifiers
- Age mismatch between your birth certificate and SSCE
- Missing LGA identification
- Blurry or incorrectly sized passport photograph
- Spelling of names that doesn't match across documents
After you submit
- Keep your acknowledgement slip. You will need it at the screening venue.
- Follow NPF news on the Nigeria Police Force news feed.
- Expect a physical screening (height, physical fitness) and later a written test for shortlisted candidates.
Beware of scams
The Nigeria Police Force does not charge application fees. If anyone - WhatsApp group, agent, "DPO contact" - asks you to pay to apply, be "shortlisted" or "guaranteed" a slot, it's fraud. Report via [email protected] and apply only through the official portal.
Browse live civil-sector openings on openings.ng/jobs if the NPF window has closed.