The National Economic Council (NEC) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for a comprehensive overhaul of training institutions for security agencies across Nigeria.
The decision was reached during the Council’s 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
The presidential initiative, presented to the council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, is a critical component of President Tinubu’s broader vision to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2033.
The presentation underscored the indispensable link between massive investment in security and sustainable economic growth, calling for collaboration from all three tiers of government.
To translate this endorsement into immediate action, the NEC constituted a high-powered committee chaired by the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah. The committee has been given a strict one-month deadline to produce a actionable blueprint for the renovation and modernization of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and other sister security agencies.
Other members of the committee include Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umoh Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa). Former Inspector General of Police, Baba Usman, will serve as the committee’s secretary.
Addressing the council, President Tinubu emphasized the urgent need to address the dilapidated state of training facilities, stating his administration’s commitment to reversing the decay. “We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,” the President was quoted as saying, assuring a concerted effort to fix the institutions that form the bedrock of the nation’s security architecture.
The move signals a strategic shift towards strengthening the nation’s security forces from the ground up, focusing on the quality of training and the welfare of personnel during their formative years.
Shettima Calls for Tangible Governance, Council Approves Flood Framework
In his opening address, the Chairman of the NEC, Vice President Kashim Shettima, set a sober tone, urging state governors to translate political optimism into tangible prosperity for citizens. He reminded the council that “the measure of government is not in speeches delivered; it is in the lives improved,” calling for a focus on issues that directly affect the wellbeing of the people from the grassroots.
Echoing this philosophy of proactive governance, the council also approved an Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding, developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). This framework marks a pivotal shift from reactive crisis management to proactive planning, aiming to prevent the recurring tragedies caused by seasonal flooding.
VP Shettima commended the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for championing the disaster preparedness plan, which is designed to strengthen early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and the response capacities of subnational governments.
Other Key Council Resolutions
The meeting also featured several other critical updates. The NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication, chaired by Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, reported a 44% reduction in cVPV2 cases, from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025. While commending the progress, the council urged states to sustain momentum and ensure the release of funds for immunization exercises.
Furthermore, the council received a presentation on the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA), a tech-driven model for farmer empowerment, and urged other states to replicate it. The Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma, provided an update, with the council noting that Nigeria is on course to achieve a production level of 2.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2025.
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