Tinubu's Plans for 2027 Include Hiring Over 100,000 Security Staff

Insecurity is a big worry for many Nigerians as the 2027 elections approach. President Bola Tinubu plans to increase the number of security personnel in Nigeria by over 108,000 if he is re-elected.

This plan combines earlier announced recruitment for the military and police with a new goal for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

This commitment is part of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s 2027, 2031 presidential manifesto. It details the party’s security goals for a possible second term for Mr Tinubu.

The proposed increase includes 50,000 police officers, 28,000 military personnel, and 30,150 NSCDC staff.

But these numbers are not completely new. Mr Tinubu had already approved the hiring of 28,000 more military personnel and allowed the police to recruit an extra 20,000 officers. This means the total police recruitment target is now 50,000.

In November 2025, while declaring a nationwide security emergency, the president authorized the police to recruit the extra 20,000 officers. He said this would increase the police force’s target to 50,000.

Then in July 2026, Mr Tinubu approved increasing the Nigerian Army from eight divisions to twelve. This included hiring 28,000 more personnel.

The four new divisions will be based in Makurdi, Benue State; Ilorin, Kwara State; Jalingo, Taraba State; and Benin City, Edo State.

The APC manifesto states that Mr Tinubu’s government will finish setting up and equipping the four divisions, hire and train the new personnel, and publicly share their deployment details.

On police matters, the manifesto promises to train and send out the 50,000 newly recruited officers. It also aims to improve recruitment and training to achieve a police-to-citizen ratio of one officer for every 400 people.

The plan includes moving static security duties from the police to the NSCDC. This will start with hiring 30,150 personnel. This change will allow more police officers to focus on frontline security and crime prevention.

The party also promises to bring in modern systems. This includes digital records, geographic mapping tools, body cameras, emergency dispatch channels, and better forensic facilities for the police force.

The manifesto says they will work with the National Assembly, state lawmakers, and governors to create a legal framework for accountable state and community policing.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that setting up state police is a major reform for Mr Tinubu. He hopes this will improve Nigeria’s security situation.

The manifesto did not give a clear timeline or cost for hiring the 30,150 NSCDC personnel.

Nigeria faces many security problems. These include years of insurgency, increasing banditry, conflicts over resources, and community clashes. All these issues are stretching security forces thin.

The APC believes that hiring more security personnel, along with better training, equipment, and intelligence, will help the country deal with these challenges.