In a bold step to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a national emergency on police and security training institutions, marking the beginning of what officials describe as a comprehensive overhaul to reposition the nation’s law enforcement agencies for modern challenges.

The announcement was reaffirmed on Tuesday by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, who serves as Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) Committee on the Overhaul of Police and Other Security Training Institutions, during the inaugural inspection of the Police Training College, Ikeja, Lagos.

Governor Mbah revealed that the initiative followed President Tinubu’s proposal at the 152nd meeting of the National Economic Council held two weeks ago, where he expressed grave concern over the dilapidated state of police and security training facilities nationwide.

“The President recognises that bold and urgent steps must be taken to restore the pride, professionalism, and confidence of men and women in the security space,” Mbah told newsmen. “You cannot expect those protecting our communities to be trained in inhumane environments. That is not acceptable.”

A Proactive Vision, Not a Reaction

Governor Mbah emphasized that the reform drive was a proactive presidential initiative, not a response to any external commentary or criticism.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction or linked to anyone’s remarks,” he clarified. “It is the vision of a forward-thinking president who understands that our training institutions have suffered decades of neglect and urgently need modernisation.”

The governor disclosed that the President had directed the committee to submit its report within 30 days, underscoring the urgency of the assignment.

The committee—comprising Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), with former Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman, as Secretary—has already divided into two teams to inspect facilities across the northern and southern regions of the country.

Laying the Foundation for Modern Policing

Governor Mbah disclosed that the President’s vision includes not only physical rehabilitation of facilities but also a complete transformation of Nigeria’s training curriculum to meet 21st-century security demands.

“We cannot use 20th-century systems to train a 21st-century police force,” Mbah said. “Our officers must be equipped with advanced digital and technical competencies — from Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to Mechatronics and Cybersecurity. What we are doing is a total, technology-driven revamp.”

He added that the initiative was directly linked to the President’s recent approval for the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, noting that such expansion would be impossible without adequate training infrastructure.

Commitment and Collaboration

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who joined Mbah on the inspection tour, praised President Tinubu’s commitment, describing the composition of the committee as a reflection of the seriousness and political will behind the reform.

“We have listened to the management and seen the situation first-hand. This intervention will be immediate because we don’t have the luxury of time,” Abiodun assured.

During an interactive session, the Commandant of the Police Training College, Ikeja, AIG Omolara Oloruntola, expressed deep concern over the infrastructural decay that has plagued the college since its establishment in 1949 by the British colonial authorities.

“This institution has suffered years of neglect,” she said. “We sincerely commend President Tinubu for this intervention. It is the only way to restore the college’s lost glory and rebuild the foundation of professional policing in Nigeria.”

A Turning Point for Security Reform

As the committee continues its nationwide tour, analysts say the President’s declaration marks a critical turning point in Nigeria’s security sector—one that shifts focus from reactionary measures to institutional reform and capacity building.

Governor Mbah assured Nigerians that the committee’s findings and recommendations would translate into immediate, sustainable interventions aimed at repositioning the police and other security agencies as modern, efficient, and people-centered institutions.

“The President has declared this an emergency,” Mbah concluded. “We owe it to the nation to ensure that this process delivers the foundation for a safer, stronger, and better-equipped Nigeria.”