President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s security training institutions, citing outdated facilities affecting police and paramilitary effectiveness.
President Tinubu state of emergency security training — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s internal security training institutions, including those of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other paramilitary agencies.
The President made the decision following growing concerns over the outdated condition of these facilities, which has raised serious questions about their capacity to produce adequately trained and modernized security personnel.
The development was announced by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who serves as the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Revamping Security Training Institutions.
Governor Mbah revealed the new directive on Monday during an on-the-spot assessment of security training facilities in Lagos State, where he inspected multiple police and paramilitary training centres.
According to him, the declaration of a state of emergency was a decisive step by the Tinubu administration to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria’s internal security system.
“What we have seen here shows why the President’s decision is both timely and necessary,” Governor Mbah said.
“Many of these training institutions are in a state of decay, lacking modern equipment and resources required to produce 21st-century security officers. This declaration is aimed at reversing that decline and repositioning our security architecture.”
He further explained that the committee, set up by the National Economic Council, has been given 30 days to submit a comprehensive report to guide immediate interventions.
“We have just 30 days to review all findings, identify critical gaps, and present actionable recommendations to NEC for full implementation,” he added.
Also present during the inspection were Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, the former Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, who serves as Secretary of the Committee, and Assistant Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, the head of the Special Protection Unit (SPU).
Governor Abiodun commended President Tinubu for what he described as a “bold and visionary intervention,” emphasizing that without functional training institutions, reforms in the nation’s security system would remain incomplete.
“You cannot expect effective policing without effective training,” he said.
“What President Tinubu has done is to address the root — ensuring our men and women in uniform are trained in line with global best practices.”
The former Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, also noted that many security training schools across the country were established decades ago and have not been upgraded to meet modern threats like terrorism, cybercrime, and drone warfare.
“Security has evolved, and our training systems must evolve with it,” Alkali said.
“We cannot fight new-age threats using outdated doctrines and inadequate facilities. This is why this initiative is essential.”
Assistant Inspector General Disu added that the inspection tour would cover all six geopolitical zones, ensuring no training centre is left out in the nationwide assessment.
The committee’s work is expected to influence broader reforms across Nigeria’s internal security architecture, including modernizing infrastructure, revising curricula, integrating technology-driven training, and improving welfare conditions for trainees and instructors.
A senior official from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), who spoke anonymously to LeadNaija News, disclosed that the federal government aims to “establish a uniform standard for all security training institutions” under the new emergency directive.
“This move will help harmonize training standards, promote inter-agency cooperation, and build a truly professional force capable of tackling complex security challenges,” the source said.
The declaration aligns with President Tinubu’s broader agenda to overhaul Nigeria’s national security framework and restore public confidence in security institutions through improved capacity, accountability, and discipline.
Security experts have lauded the move, describing it as a critical step toward addressing Nigeria’s long-standing internal security weaknesses.
Dr. Mike Ejiofor, a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), said the initiative reflects “political will backed by action.”
“For years, we have talked about reforming security institutions, but this is the first time we are seeing real structural commitment from the highest office,” he noted.
With the 30-day deadline ticking, Nigerians are watching closely to see how swiftly the committee will implement the President’s directive and what immediate impact the reforms will have on the nation’s fight against insecurity.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
