The Nigeria Police Force was established in 1930, long before Nigeria’s independence from British colonial masters. The motto of the Nigeria is The Police is Your Friend; though many Nigerians doubt that these days. Many see the police more as fiends instead of friends.
In times past, the Nigeria police were divided into the Northern Nigeria Police and the Southern Nigeria Police. They were later merged to form one body some decades later.
The estimated number of officers in the Nigeria Police Force is 371,800. The present Inspector General of Police is IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris. There are up to 7 Commands in the Nigeria Police Force. These Command Headquarters are located in Ogun Sate, Lagos State,
These Command Headquarters are located in Ogun Sate, Lagos State, Kastina State, Kano State, Jigawa State, Gombe State and Adamawa State.
Their website is at www.npf.gv.ng. As hinted earlier, the estimated numbers of men and officers in the Nigeria police is 371,800. The federal government has a plan in place to increase the number to 650,000. This means about 280,000 fresh people will be added to the president number.
The Nigeria police force is relatively big. The organization is made up of 36 commands and these 36 commands are grouped into 12 different zones. These 12 zones are all divided into 7 administrative organs. The deputy inspector general of police is the one in charge of the training in the Nigeria Police Force. Recruits are trained in various locations, like Ikeja, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Oji River. Men of the Nigeria Immigration services are also trained at these locations. Cadet assistants superintendent and cadet
Recruits are trained in various locations, like Ikeja, Kaduna, Maiduguri and Oji River. Men of the Nigeria Immigration services are also trained at these locations. Cadet assistants superintendent and cadet sub-inspectors are trained at the Police College located at Ikeja, Lagos.
The Nigeria Police Academy was established in August 1989 by Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. The Academy is situated at Kano State. In times past, the training school was affiliated to Ado Bayero University, Zaria until the government was able to provide adequate facilities to make it a stand-alone institution.
Federal character, quota system and merit were the factors via which admission was granted to prospective candidates at the Nigerian Police Academy.
The Commandant of the Nigerian Police Academy must be a minimum of an AIG and he is assisted by a provost. The provost is responsible for organizing and managing academic programs at the institution.
The Nigerian Police Academy is modeled after the Nigerian Defense Academy situated in Kaduna. It offers five-year academic and professional degree program for newly admitted cadets and also an eighteen-month intensive course for college graduates that aspire to become police officers.
Their headquarters is located at Ikeja, Lagos.
Recruitment
From time to time, the Nigeria police force does invite members of the public to apply for various openings in the Force. However, only duly qualified candidates are actually given employment. Due to the huge unemployment problem in Nigeria, many Nigerians are forced to apply for such job openings.
The unfortunate part is many of those who apply do not really have the passion for police services; they only apply because they are looking for a job…just any job. This has led to a reduction in professionalism in the Nigeria police force.
In recent times anyway, the government had placed certain restrictions on the caliber of individuals that can apply for Nigerian police force job openings. They now insist that the individual must be a graduate, with the hope that graduates will bring more professionalism into the Force. Certain requirements are demanded from individuals applying for job openings in the Nigeria police force. Some of these requirements are discussed below
Certain requirements are demanded from individuals applying for job openings in the Nigeria police force. Some of these requirements are discussed below
The authorities of the Nigeria Police Force insist that those applying for recruitment must have the passion for the job. They have put together certain processes to discover those who have a genuine passion and those who are just in it like another form of employment. Each of the candidates is taken through these processes during interview to know who is duly qualified and who is not.
Other criteria on which recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force is based are highlighted below:
- The individual is required to be a Nigerian
- Also, the person must be physically and mentally sound. He/she must be certified fit by a medical practitioner in government establishment or medical doctor attached to the Nigeria Police Force.
- The individual must never have had any criminal record.
- The Nigeria Police Force insist that recruits must be a minimum of 1.67 metres in height if it is a male and 1.63 m minimum if it is a female.
- In addition, then individual must have chest width minimum of 34 inches
- Also, the recruit is expected to present two verifiable references. The references must be a military officer not below Lieutenant Colonel, Police Officer not below CSP rank, career civil servant not below Grade Level 12, Heads of Educational Institutions the recruit attended , Local government Chairman, Magistrate and Traditional rulers
- The applicant is also expected to provide valid National Drivers License. While this may not be a primary consideration, it can serve as a plus for the applicant.
The Nigeria police also place age limit to each of the posts. For example, anyone applying for the post of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police is not expected to be younger than 23 years of age or older than 28 years of age. Virtually all the posts require that the student should have
Virtually all the posts require that the student should have a minimum of Higher National or Bachelors Degree. They also demand N.Y.S.C Certificate from students.
Be that as it may, there are some posts in the Nigeria Police Force that an OND or NCE holder can be accepted. For example, those applying for the post of Cade Inspector of Police, aside from being between the ages of 23 and 28, must also not have less than a National Certificate of Education (NCE ), an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or an Advance Level (A Level) certificate.
Anyone applying for Police Constable, on the other hand, can present O’Level certificate.
Application and submission of completed form and other documents are done online. The online application is done via www.npf.gov.ng.