NEC approves N100bn for overhaul of security training institutions with N2.6bn for consultancy

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture, the National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has approved the sum of N100 billion for the comprehensive rehabilitation of training institutions for the police and other security agencies across the country. Additionally, N2.6 billion has been earmarked to engage consultancy services for the project, subject to final ratification by President Bola Tinubu.

According to a statement issued by the media aide to the Vice President, the approval emerged from the 154th NEC meeting held virtually on Wednesday, following the recommendations of an adhoc committee chaired by Governor of Enugu State,Peter Mbah. The Governor, in his presentation, painted a dire picture of the dilapidated state of many training facilities, stressing the urgent need for overhaul to equip security personnel adequately.
Shettima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity not only through rehabilitation efforts but also by ensuring economic reforms across Nigeria produce visible, measurable results for citizens. He called on governors to focus on execution rather than rhetoric, emphasising that governance is meaningful only when it positively impacts lives in communities nationwide.

“Our task is not to admire problems, but to solve them. Not to explain challenges, but to overcome them. And not to hope for progress, but to engineer it,” the he said resolutely. “Today’s agenda speaks to our shared responsibility to build a nation where reforms translate into results, and where policies are not mere promises but convincing instruments of change felt in the markets, schools, clinics and farms across our federation.”

President Tinubu originally proposed the overhaul during the 152nd NEC meeting in October 2025, underlining the urgency of remodeling and re-equipping all security training institutions nationwide. The large investment underscored the administration’s resolve in professionalizing Nigeria’s security agencies through improved training infrastructure and capacity building.

The decision by NEC signals a renewed focus on security sector reform as a pillar of national stability and economic progress, aligning with Shettima’s call for government actions to yield tangible outcomes across all states of the federation. The rehabilitation project aims to create modern, well-equipped training environments that can produce skilled and effective security personnel critical for Nigeria’s peace and security landscape.

This initiative forms part of broader NEC discussions, which also included progress updates on critical national issues like polio eradication and domestic gas supply, reflecting the council’s comprehensive approach to Nigeria’s economic and social development agenda.

The meeting further included updates from the Accountant-General of the Federation on key national accounts such as the Excess Crude Account, Stabilization Account, and Natural Resources Development Account. The council also received progress reports on polio eradication efforts, highlighting a notable reduction in circulating variant poliovirus cases, particularly in Kano and Katsina states.

In other key matters, the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, presented on the cost and availability of domestic gas. The council approved settling ₦185 billion owed to gas producers, following President Tinubu’s directive, to boost domestic gas supply, which is vital for Nigeria’s gas-dependent economy.