Nigerian Police Force Zones and Their Headquarters

Last updated: 29 October 2026

The Nigerian Police Force zones and their headquarters are important for understanding how policing is organised across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Nigeria Police Force operates through zonal commands that supervise police operations across designated states and support coordination between state commands and the national Force Headquarters.

According to the Nigeria Police Force’s official announcement on its reorganisation, the Force expanded from 12 to 17 police zonal commands in 2020.

The additional zones were created to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security coordination, and bring police services closer to the public.

This article provides a list of the Nigerian Police Force zones, their headquarters, and the states covered by each zone.

It also explains the difference between zonal headquarters, state police commands, and the national police headquarters.

List of Nigerian Police Force Zones and Their Headquarters

The Nigeria Police Force has 17 zonal commands, each identified by a zone number and a headquarters location.

The table below lists the zonal headquarters and the states or territories associated with each command based on available NPF organisational information.

Nigerian Police Force Zonal Headquarters

Here is a closer look at the locations of the 17 zonal headquarters.

Zone 1 – Kano

Zone 1 is headquartered in Kano, in northwestern Nigeria. Kano has historically served as the headquarters of this zone, which has been associated with Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states. The Force’s current online zone profile lists Kano and Jigawa, so applicants should verify the latest coverage directly with the NPF.

Zone 2 – Lagos

Zone 2 is headquartered in Lagos State and is associated with Lagos and Ogun states. The zonal command supports coordination of police administration and operations across this part of southwestern Nigeria.

Zone 3 – Yola

Zone 3 is headquartered in Yola, Adamawa State. It has historically been associated with Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba states in northeastern Nigeria.

Zone 4 – Makurdi

Zone 4 has its headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State. It has historically covered Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states.

Zone 5 – Benin City

Zone 5 is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State. Its zonal structure has been associated with Edo and Delta states in southern Nigeria.

Zone 6 – Calabar

Zone 6 is headquartered in Calabar, Cross River State. Its established coverage includes Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, although readers should check the current NPF command directory for any administrative changes.

Zone 7 – Abuja

Zone 7 is headquartered in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Published organisational information has associated the zone with the FCT and Niger State. Confirm the current coverage through the NPF’s official channels.

Zone 8 – Lokoja

Zone 8 is headquartered in Lokoja, Kogi State. Some published references associate the zone with Kogi and Kwara states, while other records reflect different arrangements following the creation of additional zones.

Zone 9 – Umuahia

Zone 9 has been listed with its headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State. Historical and published records associate the zone with southeastern states, but its current state coverage should be verified with the NPF.

Zone 10 – Sokoto

Zone 10 is headquartered in Sokoto State. It has historically been associated with Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states in northwestern Nigeria.

Zone 11 – Osogbo

Zone 11 is headquartered in Osogbo, Osun State. Published records associate this command with Osun and Oyo states in southwestern Nigeria.

Zone 12 – Bauchi

Zone 12 is headquartered in Bauchi State. Older police organisational lists associated this zone with Bauchi, Borno and Yobe, but Borno and Yobe were subsequently included in the newly created Zone 15, headquartered in Maiduguri.

Zone 13 – Awka

Zone 13 is headquartered in Awka, Anambra State. It was among the additional zonal commands created during the 2020 reorganisation and was announced to cover Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states.

Zone 14 – Katsina

Zone 14 is headquartered in Katsina State. It was created to provide a dedicated zonal command for Katsina and Kaduna states.

Zone 15 – Maiduguri

Zone 15 is headquartered in Maiduguri, Borno State. It was established to cover Borno and Yobe states, strengthening the zonal command structure in northeastern Nigeria.

Zone 16 – Yenagoa

Zone 16 is headquartered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The NPF announced this zone to cover Bayelsa and Rivers states as part of its 2020 restructuring.

Zone 17 – Akure

Zone 17 is headquartered in Akure, Ondo State. It was established to cover Ondo and Ekiti states, bringing their police administration under a dedicated zonal command

Difference Between Police Zonal Headquarters, State Commands and Force Headquarters

Although these police formations work together, they perform different administrative and operational functions.

The national Force Headquarters is located at Louis Edet House, Garki, Abuja. The organisational hierarchy and responsibilities are described on the official NPF website.

How to Find the Nigerian Police Zonal Headquarters Near You

If you need to contact a police zonal command, follow these steps:

• Visit the official Nigeria Police Force website at https://www.npf.gov.ng/.
• Look for “Find a Station” at the top and click on it.
• Input the State of choice and click on “Search”

For an urgent security matter, contact the appropriate local police service rather than waiting to reach a zonal office.

For routine complaints, emergencies or reports of crime, the nearest police station or relevant state command may be more appropriate than a zonal headquarters.