The Senate has approved a total of ₦403.1 billion for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to strengthen policing and enhance the country’s response to terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats.
The upper chamber approved ₦170.1 billion for the Fund’s 2025 budget and ₦233 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
The 2026 appropriation provides for personnel costs, capital projects and overhead expenditures aimed at improving the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Lawmakers expressed confidence that the funding would boost the provision of critical equipment, infrastructure, training and other resources needed to enhance security operations and tackle the nation’s growing security challenges.
The approval comes amid increasing incidents of crime and insecurity across the country, with many Nigerians calling for stronger measures to improve public safety.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a bill to the Senate seeking a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the repeal and reenactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The proposed legislation seeks to replace the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, with a new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s criminal justice framework.
A major provision of the bill is the establishment of a Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to supervise the implementation of the law in courts within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal courts nationwide.
In a letter read during plenary, President Tinubu said the proposed law is intended to address procedural shortcomings and long-standing challenges that have slowed the administration of justice.
He added that the bill would align Nigeria’s criminal justice system with modern developments by promoting the use of technology, introducing innovative measures and improving the effective implementation of the law by relevant institutions.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative consideration.
