Southern Youths Shun Nigeria Police Employment, As Statistics Reveal Low Interest

By Frank Oshanugor

The low percentage of applicants from Southern parts of Nigeria in the ongoing police recruitment exercise has revealed the disinterestedness of youths of the states in the South in taking jobs as police constables.

The statistics of applicants available to the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force indicate that greater percentage of those who had already applied came from the states in the Northern parts of the country, thereby creating an imbalance likely to breach the Federal character principle.

The management of Force in other to avoid such breach has therefore chosen to extend the application period to accomodate more applications from the states in the South.

In a statement on Tuesday, police spokesman; Commissioner of Police Frank Mba said “the Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform citizens that the online registration in the ongoing 2021 recruitment exercise for interested and eligible Nigerians into the service of the Nigeria Police Force as Police Constables, has been extended to Saturday, January 22, 2022.

“With this extension, the NPF recruitment portal will remain open till midnight of the new date.

“The extension of the online application is informed by the need to ensure equal opportunity and even spread of applications, particularly from States in the South-East, South-South geopolitical zones and Lagos State, to enable them meet up with the required quota for their respective areas.”

The statement said “a statistical analysis shows that a total of 81,005 applications were received nationwide as at January 7, 2022. Out of this figure, only 1,404 applications – less than 2% of the total applications – were received from the five States in the South East and 261 from Lagos State, with Anambra State having the least figure of 158 applicants.

“Consequently, the Force enjoins States and Local Governments, religious bodies and other interest groups in the affected Geopolitical zones and Lagos State to assist in mobilizing and encouraging their citizens and wards to take advantage of the opportunity to seek a career path in the Nigeria Police Force.”

Interested applicants have been urged to log-on to the NPF recruitment portal, www.policerecruitment.gov.ng to register before the expiration of the new deadline.

“Applicants are further advised to call 08100004507 for any inquiry or complaints or technical difficulties in the use of the portal” adding that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge.