The Federal Government has inaugurated a National Economic Council (NEC) Committee to overhaul all security training institutions across Nigeria. The announcement was made by the committee’s chairman and Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, during an inspection visit to the Police College, Ikeja, on Tuesday.
Co-chairman and Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, clarified that the establishment of the committee preceded recent national security concerns and was part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Committee Members and Mandate
The committee comprises seven governors — from Enugu, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Zamfara States — with former Inspector-General of Police Alhaji Usman Alkali serving as secretary.
They have 30 days to assess the condition of all security training institutions, particularly police academies, and report their findings to the National Executive Council (NEC).
Divided into two teams — one for the North, led by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, and another for the South, led by Mbah — the committee began its inspections in Lagos.
Shocking Decay at Police College, Ikeja
At the Police College, Ikeja, the team was confronted with severe infrastructural decay. According to the Commandant, AIG Omolara Oloruntola, most facilities have remained unchanged since the college was established in 1949. She reported that many structures were near collapse, with inadequate power and water supply, creating an unconducive environment for training.
President Tinubu’s Reform Vision
Governor Mbah highlighted that President Bola Tinubu personally approved the committee’s inauguration on October 23, emphasizing the urgency of restoring professionalism, confidence, and pride among security personnel.
“What we’ve seen today validates the President’s call for bold and urgent steps to rebuild and re-equip our training institutions,” Mbah said. “You cannot expect officers to uphold law and order if they are trained in inhumane environments.”
He added that the committee’s goal includes digital transformation of training — integrating artificial intelligence, robotics, and mechatronics into security education to meet 21st-century policing standards.
Intervention Fund and National Security Drive
According to Mbah, President Tinubu views the initiative as a national emergency, with plans for an intervention fund to renovate, modernize, and sustain training institutions nationwide. This reform is also crucial to the planned recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, which cannot proceed without adequate training facilities.
“This mission aligns with the President’s vision to grow Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion within five years,” Mbah stated. “That growth depends on private-sector confidence — and security is at the heart of that.”
Committee’s Commitment and Timeline
Governor Abiodun reiterated the committee’s seriousness and urgency: “We have only 30 days to present a comprehensive report and cost estimate for rebuilding our training institutions. The intervention will be immediate.”
He stressed that the review will address not just physical infrastructure but also modern training tools and methodologies to align Nigeria’s security education with global standards.
