As Nigeria battles persistent terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, the Senate on Thursday approved a combined N404.07 billion budget for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), describing the expenditure as a critical investment in strengthening the country’s internal security architecture.
The approvals, covering the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, are expected to finance the procurement of operational equipment, rehabilitation of police facilities, personnel training, welfare programmes and other interventions designed to improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
The upper chamber approved N170.10 billion for the 2025 budget and N233.96 billion for the 2026 fiscal year after adopting reports presented by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
The reports were laid before the Senate by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC, Oyo Central), on behalf of the Chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Malam-Madori.
Explaining the rationale behind the appropriations, Akintunde said the committee was convinced that sustained funding of the Police Trust Fund had become imperative given the increasing security challenges confronting the country.
He noted that the Trust Fund remains one of the Federal Government’s key intervention mechanisms for equipping the police with modern operational tools, improving infrastructure, expanding training opportunities and enhancing the welfare of officers.
According to him, the committee recommended that the bulk of the allocations should be directed towards projects capable of delivering immediate improvements in policing and public safety.
The committee also called for strict monitoring of all projects to ensure transparency, accountability and value for money.
“The Committee is of the firm view that effective implementation of these budgets will strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force and enhance the protection of lives and property across the country,” Akintunde said.
The 2026 budget allocates N222.89 billion for capital projects, including investments in police infrastructure and operational assets, while N11.07 billion is earmarked for personnel and overhead costs.
Similarly, the 2025 budget provides N159.74 billion for capital projects and N10.36 billion for recurrent expenditure.
The committee explained that implementation of the 2025 budget was delayed following amendments to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, necessitating its reconsideration alongside the 2026 estimates.
Funding for both budgets will come from statutory allocations, including deductions from Federation Account revenues, Value Added Tax (VAT), contributions from the net profits of companies operating in Nigeria, as well as grants and donations.
By approving both budgets simultaneously, the Senate effectively cleared the funding backlog for the Police Trust Fund while providing fresh resources for the coming fiscal year, a move lawmakers believe will enable the Nigeria Police Force to respond more effectively to terrorism, kidnapping and other emerging security threats.
The Senate also urged the Police Trust Fund to fast-track implementation of the approved budgets to ensure Nigerians quickly benefit from improved policing, enhanced security infrastructure and better-equipped personnel.