Lawmakers endorse the Nigeria Police Trust Fund’s 2025 and 2026 budgets to strengthen security operations, infrastructure and policing nationwide

The Senate of Nigeria on Thursday approved a combined N404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, endorsing the Fund’s 2025 budget of N170.10 billion and 2026 budget of N233.96 billion to strengthen policing, improve security operations and expand critical infrastructure across the country.

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The Police Trust Fund approval followed the presentation of reports by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, delivered by Acting Chairman, Yunus Akintunde, on behalf of the committee chairman, Abdulhamid Ahmed Mallam-Madori, during plenary in Abuja.

Presenting the report, Akintunde explained that the proposed 2025 appropriation was a re-presentation of an earlier budget that could not be implemented because of legal issues surrounding proposed amendments to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019.

“This budget proposal under consideration was previously approved for implementation under the 2024 fiscal period.

However, owing to developments arising from the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019, and other circumstances beyond the control of the Fund, implementation of the approved budget could not commence,” Akintunde said.

“Consequently, the budget is being represented as the 2025 budget proposal for legislative consideration and approval.”

Following debate, senators unanimously approved the N170.10 billion allocation for the 2025 fiscal year before proceeding to consider the Fund’s 2026 budget proposal of N233.96 billion.

During deliberations, Abdul Ahmed Ningi described the Nigeria Police Trust Fund as a vital intervention mechanism designed to bridge funding gaps within the Nigeria Police Force, expressing concern that prolonged legal disputes had prevented the agency from accessing appropriated funds for almost three years.

“The Trust Fund is supposed to fill the funding gap, but for almost three years, because of legal issues, the Trust Fund has not been able to spend a kobo.

We encourage the Fund to ensure that every kobo appropriated is properly utilised, and the National Assembly will track its implementation,” Ningi said.

The Senate also commended the spending framework for the 2026 budget, with more than 90 per cent of the allocation earmarked for capital expenditure.

Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno described the capital-focused budget as a strategic model that other government agencies should emulate.

“I am highly impressed by the fact that more than 90 per cent of the budget is devoted to capital expenditure, while the rest goes to recurrent expenditure.

Other MDAs should take a cue from this because capital spending has greater potential to positively impact the operations of agencies,” Monguno said.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, praised the committee’s work and expressed optimism that the approved funds would improve the operational effectiveness of the police in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

“Your report is well put together and well articulated. The overwhelming support it received speaks for itself.

We hope that this sum of money approved today will be utilised in a manner that will add more impetus to the Nigeria Police Force in fighting crime and addressing insecurity, especially kidnapping, banditry and terrorism,” Barau said.

The Nigeria Police Trust Fund was established under the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019 to provide supplementary funding for the Nigeria Police Force through investments in training, operational logistics, equipment procurement, technology, infrastructure and other capacity-building initiatives.

The latest Police Trust Fund approval comes as Nigeria continues to confront persistent security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes.

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Successive administrations have increasingly relied on the Fund to complement regular budgetary allocations to the police, with lawmakers emphasising the need for transparent implementation and effective oversight to ensure value for public expenditure.