Nigeria Police Academy | The right things to know

Nigeria Police Academy (NPA) Popularly called Polac is one of the top Nigeria-owned tertiary institutions in the country with lots of competition. Admission into the institution is indeed a hot one but not too difficult. Her origin dates back to the early 80s when the Government of Nigeria in 1981 requested the British Government to make available to Nigeria, some United Kingdom Police officers to assess the training needs of the Nigeria Police.

However, in response to the request, a team of three British Police officers led by M.A. H Pacy ( Assistant Chief Constable, Hamberside Police) was sent to Nigeria by the British Government. The team submitted its report known as the Pacy Report in 1982. This report was formally published as the white paper of the Federal Republic, of Nigeria, on the future training needs of the Nigeria Police Force. A follow-up of recommendations of the Pacy report led to the search for the best training orientation for the Nigeria Police.  For more information about the history of the academy, check out Polac’s admission criteria. Download free NPA past questions and answers.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ACADEMY

They are as follows:

To provide an institution capable of producing qualitative manpower, especially at the ASP and Inspectorate cadre, in order to meet the middle-level manpower requirements of the Nigeria Police Force and To equip trainees with competencies backed by sound academic background, high professional and moral standards for effective law enforcement, and selfless service to the Nation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In order to get admission into the Nigeria Police Academy, the following basic qualifications must be met.

1. A University Degree (second class lower) or HND ( Upper Credit) from a recognized University or Polytechnic for cadet ASPs and a school leaving certificate (WAEC or NECO ) with at least five credits including English language and mathematics for the cadet Inspectors.

2. The applicant must not be above 28 years of age for cadet ASPs and 24 years for cadet Inspectors. 3. Applicant must be physically fit.

3. Must not be less than 1.56 meters (5ft 4 inches) for females.

a. Expanded chest measurement of 40 cm (36 inches) for men.

b.The applicant must not be an ex-convict.

c. Must be a Nigerian

d. He or She must be medically fit.

Connect with Polac students here.

DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME

In a nutshell, Both cadet ASPs and cadet Inspectors programmes run for 72 weeks i.e. (18 months) and it is segmented into three stages; namely: The basic stage lasts for six (6) months. The intermediate stage is for six (6) months and the advanced stage is for six (6) months.

Most successful candidates in the academy studied past questions and answers on passbuttons.

COURSES OFFERED IN THE INSTITUTION: – Throughout the 18 months duration; the cadets are taken through the following courses.

A. BASIC STAGE SIX (6) MONTHS:-

1. Documentation/screening, attestation and oath-taking

2. Drill courses

3. Police Duties

4. Laws, criminal law of evidence, and criminal procedure

5. Four (4) weeks first – Aid lay lectures

6. One-month attachment

B. INTERMEDIATE STAGE SIX (6) MONTHS

1. Drill courses

2. Police Duties

3. Laws, criminal law of evidence, and criminal procedure

4. Four (4) weeks first – Aid lay lecture courses

5. Four (4) weeks of detective courses.

6. Four (4) weeks citizenship and leadership training course.

C. ADVANCE STAGE SIX (6) MONTHS

1. Drill courses

2. Police Duties

3. Laws, criminal law of evidence and criminal procedure

4. Four (4) weeks of Police mobile force training

5. One (1) week Police educational visit

6. Four (4) weeks interview

7. Four (4) weeks passing out parade practice (POP)

After the training, the cadets are passed out as ASPs and Inspectors respectively and are posted to state commands to undergo another one-year attachment to acquire practical experience before they are finally allowed to stand on their own.

Meanwhile, the selection into the Academy is done on a quota basis i.e. each state of the federation is given an equal number of slots, e.g. 12 persons from each state. Selection starts from the state level to the zonal level and finally the Force Headquarters Abuja. The Police Service Commission has the sole responsibility of appointment into the Nigeria Police force, application forms are obtainable from the Police Service Commission or Force Headquarters websites after advertisement in National News, the Media and websites.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Polac was founded in 1988, and so far has trained 2,848 Cadet ASPs and 2,374 Cadet Inspectors. Thus a total of 5,222 Cadet officers have passed out through this Academy. Ten of these Officers were from the Republic of Gambia and Sierra Leone. The present set of Cadets who commenced training on the 9th of January, 2012 is made up of 266 cadet ASPs and 224 cadet Inspectors. Secondly, the Federal Government of Nigeria has upgraded the Nigeria Police Academy Wudil- Kano State, to a degree–awarding institution and the National Universities Commission has, accordingly, recognized the Academy as the thirty-seven (37th) Federal University and the one-hundred and twenty-fourth ( 124th) University in Nigeria. Academy activities are scheduled to commence in September 2012. The pioneer faculties would be:-

1. Faculty of Science

2. Faculty of Law

3. Faculty of Social and Management Science

4. Faculty of Humanities.

INFORMATION ABOUT MAJOR OFFICES AND OFFICERS

The following officers served as the Commandant of the Academy to date:-