The Police Service Commission says it has received 242, 455 applications in the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commission had received 158,773 applications as of December 17, 2018, 12 days after the recruitment portal was opened.
NAN also reports that President Muhammadu Buhari recently approved the recruitment of 10,000 police constables to beef-up the strength of the force.
A statement by the commission’s acting Head, Press and Public Relations, Mr Aaron Kaase on Thursday in Abuja, said the applications came four weeks after the recruitment portal was opened on November 30, 2018.
Kaase said that the applications hit the 242, 455 mark at 1:00pm on Wednesday.
“The portal is expected to close on January 11 in line with the Federal Character requirement of six weeks,” he said.
He said Niger State maintained its lead with 15, 633 applications, followed by Kano State with 15, 079, Katsina State, 14, 582, Bauchi State, 12, 652, Kaduna State, 13, 882 and Adamawa State with 11, 449 applicants.
The spokesman said Bayelsa State had the lowest applications of 1, 258, followed by Lagos State, 1, 358, Ebonyi State, 1, 659 and Anambra State, 1,618.
Kaase said out of the 242, 455 applications received so far, 212, 716 were males while 29, 694 were females.
He said Benue State had the highest number of female applicants with 2,251, followed by Akwa Ibom State with 1, 772.
Osun State was third with 1,721, Zamfara State has the lowest number of female applicants with 27.
He said the Chairman of the Commission, Mr Musiliu Smith, had put adequate measures in place to ensure merit-based recruitment.
Kaase said Smith had warned that any applicant who paid for assistance would be prosecuted alongside the receiver, as the exercise was free.
(NAN)