Police Trust Fund seeks improved funding to tackle insecurity

The Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) has called on the Senate to increase its statutory allocation from 0.5 per cent to one per cent to enhance police operations and strengthen efforts to combat rising insecurity in the country. The proposal was presented on Tuesday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs on a bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019 and enact a new law. Executive Secretary of the Fund, Mohammed Sheidu, said the proposal had already been approved by the National Police Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu, along with governors and key security stakeholders. He said increased funding is necessary to address kidnapping, terrorism, cybercrime and other emerging security threats. He said the additional resources would support the deployment of modern policing tools such as surveillance systems, drones, forensic laboratories and command-and-control centres. Sheidu also urged lawmakers to remove the sunset clause in the current law to ensure long-term stability and attract support from development partners and private sector contributors. He added that the proposed framework would expand funding sources through international grants, levies, intervention funds and donations. Senate President Godswill Akpabio said security remained central to national development, stressing the need for sustainable funding to support police modernisation and improved service delivery. Senator Ahmed Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, acknowledged the Fund’s achievements but noted challenges such as funding gaps and legal disputes. He said the new bill would strengthen governance, accountability and financing structures. The Attorney-General of the Federation also endorsed the bill, describing it as consistent with constitutional provisions and national security reform objectives.