The National Economic Council has approved the sum of N100 billion for the rehabilitation and upgrade of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies. The approval was reached during NEC’s virtual meeting and is now awaiting final ratification by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before disbursement can begin.

The new allocation comes after months of assessment work by an ad hoc committee set up by NEC earlier in the year. The committee, chaired by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, was tasked with inspecting police and security training facilities nationwide to determine the level of deterioration and the scale of refurbishment required. According to the committee’s report presented at the meeting, many of the institutions were found in extremely poor condition, with outdated equipment, crumbling infrastructure and inadequate training environments that have hindered the capacity of security agencies to train personnel effectively.

Committee findings and next steps

Governor Mbah explained that the investigation revealed decades of neglect across several training schools, including police colleges and specialised centres for other security agencies. NEC members agreed that immediate intervention was crucial. In response, the Council approved N100 billion for rehabilitation as well as N2.6 billion for consultancy services that will support planning, project supervision and technical input required for the overhaul.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs NEC, stated during the meeting that the rehabilitation plan was part of a broader effort to strengthen national security through professional development. He called on state governors to also contribute where necessary, stressing the importance of modern training infrastructure for effective policing and security operations. The Vice President added that the government is focused on delivering practical outcomes rather than policy announcements that remain on paper.

The approved budget is expected to cover reconstruction of buildings, procurement of training equipment, renovation of classrooms, hostels and parade grounds, as well as the installation of modern facilities suitable for contemporary security training. The consultancy fund will support technical reviews, architectural planning, monitoring and evaluation.

This development follows NEC’s earlier endorsement in October 2025 of President Tinubu’s proposal to revamp all security training institutions nationwide. The endorsement led to a series of visits by the committee to key centres, such as the Police Training College in Ikeja, Lagos, where they documented structural decay and long standing infrastructure issues. The findings strengthened NEC’s argument for an urgent nationwide intervention.

Impact and expectations

The N100 billion approval is being viewed as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges. Analysts have noted that improved training facilities can enhance the professionalism, efficiency and readiness of security personnel. Better trained officers, they say, can improve intelligence gathering, community policing and response to emerging threats.

For now, all eyes are on the presidency, as the funding awaits President Tinubu’s final ratification. Once approved, the Ministry of Police Affairs and relevant security institutions are expected to begin formal planning, procurement processes and phased reconstruction of selected training centres.

The announcement has generated positive reactions from security experts and civil society groups, who see the move as long awaited. With the formal approval now granted at the NEC level, Nigerians are watching closely to see how quickly the funds will be released and how effectively the rehabilitation work will be executed. The hope is that the project will mark a real shift in the preparedness and operational standards of security agencies across the country.