In a major legislative move to combat the country’s pressing security challenges, the Senate has greenlit a combined N403.1 billion budget for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund spanning two fiscal years.
The substantial funding is intended to boost law enforcement efforts and aid the national crackdown on terrorism, kidnapping, and widespread crime.
Breaking down the figures, the upper legislative house approved N170.1 billion for the 2025 financial year, alongside an allocation of N233 billion for the 2026 fiscal cycle.
This 2026 budget is earmarked to handle capital infrastructure projects, essential overhead expenses, and personnel costs, all geared toward scaling up the operational readiness of the Nigeria Police Force.
Senators voiced confidence that the capital injection will significantly upgrade the supply of vital weaponry, tactical gear, training programs, and infrastructure needed to turn the tide against Nigeria’s evolving security threats. The decision aligns with a public outcry for stricter law enforcement as communities deal with a recent uptick in criminal activities.
In a parallel development, President Bola Tinubu has sent a new executive bill to the Senate designed to reshape Nigeria’s legal landscape by updating how criminal cases are handled.
The bill seeks to completely discard the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 and establish a modernized Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2026.
A central element of this proposed law is the creation of a specialized criminal justice monitoring council.
This body will be tasked with supervising how the law is applied across federal courts and courts within the Federal Capital Territory.
In his official note to the Senate during plenary, President Tinubu explained that the proposed legislation is designed to address procedural gaps and long-standing challenges that have hindered the speedy dispensation of justice.
The President further noted that the bill aims to drag Nigeria’s legal processes into the modern era by adopting technological tools, integrating innovative legal practices, and improving how relevant agencies enforce the law.
The reform bill has now been forwarded to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for deep legislative review.
