LAGOS — In a major move to decentralize police training and bolster national security, President Bola Tinubu has officially approved the establishment of a new Nigeria Police Academy campus in Erinja, Yewa South LGA, Ogun State.
To ensure the project hits the ground running, the President has also sanctioned a ₦15 billion special take-off grant. The announcement was made Monday via a statement from Presidential Media Aide, Bayo Onanuga.
The Blueprint for Expansion
The move follows the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act of 2021, which mandates the expansion of the primary institution in Wudil, Kano State, into a multi-campus system.
According to the Presidency, the ₦15 billion intervention fund will be drawn from the TETFund 2026 allocation. The funds are earmarked for:
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Critical Infrastructure: Development of academic facilities and training assets.
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Student Welfare: Construction of modern accommodation for cadets.
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Quality Assurance: Ensuring the new site meets NUC standards for policing education.
Strategic Siting in Erinja
The choice of Erinja wasn’t arbitrary. It resulted from high-level consultations involving:
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Minister of Police Affairs.
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Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
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The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The committee reportedly weighed the long-term recruitment needs of the Force against current funding realities and academic standards.
Security Context: A Force in Transition
This expansion comes roughly five months after President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency. The administration is currently pushing for an additional 20,000 officers to join the ranks to combat the persistent threat of abductions and terrorist activity.
“President Tinubu believes the expansion will strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education, and national security,” the statement read.
Recalibrating the Force
The Erinja campus is part of a broader “security reset.” In late 2025, the President ordered a significant shift in police operations:
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VIP Duty Withdrawal: Police personnel are being pulled from private guard duties to focus on public safety.
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Crash Training: These officers, alongside new recruits, are undergoing specialized training to be deployed to the country’s most “security-challenged” zones.
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Facility Upgrades: Until the new campus is fully operational, the government continues to utilize various NYSC camps as temporary training depots to meet the surge in personnel.
With this ₦15 billion injection, the Gateway State is poised to become a central pillar in the federal government’s strategy to modernize the Nigeria Police Force.
