The Senate has approved a combined budget of ₦404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund covering the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, in a move aimed at strengthening policing, security operations and infrastructure across the country.
The approved package comprises ₦170.10 billion for 2025 and ₦233.96 billion for 2026.
The approval followed the adoption of a report presented by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs. The report was delivered by Senator Yunus Akintunde on behalf of the committee chairman, Senator Ahmad Mallam-Madori.
Akintunde explained that the 2025 budget had initially been approved under the 2024 fiscal cycle, but implementation was stalled due to legal issues arising from proposed amendments to the Police Trust Fund Act.
“The budget could not be implemented because of developments relating to the proposed amendment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Establishment Act, 2019, and other circumstances beyond the control of the Fund,” he told lawmakers.
Following the committee’s recommendation, the Senate first approved the ₦170.10 billion allocation for 2025 before endorsing the ₦233.96 billion proposal for 2026.
During the debate, Senator Abdul Ningi described the Trust Fund as a critical mechanism for addressing funding gaps within the Nigeria Police Force, lamenting that legal disputes had prevented the agency from spending allocated funds for nearly three years.
“The Trust Fund is meant to bridge the funding gap in the police, but for almost three years it has not been able to spend a kobo because of legal challenges,” Ningi said.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno commended the structure of the 2026 budget, noting that more than 90 per cent of the allocation is dedicated to capital projects.
“This is a commendable budget because over 90 per cent is devoted to capital expenditure, with only a small portion going to recurrent spending. Other MDAs should emulate this approach,” he said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, expressed confidence that the approved funds would improve the police’s capacity to tackle kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other security threats.
“We hope the funds approved today will be utilized effectively to strengthen the Nigerian Police Force in fighting crime and addressing insecurity across the country,” he said.
The approval comes weeks after the Senate passed the Police Trust Fund Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to strengthen the legal and institutional framework of the Fund. The proposed legislation also raises the Fund’s statutory allocation from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account.
With the new approval, lawmakers say the Trust Fund is expected to accelerate police infrastructure projects, equipment procurement and operational support aimed at improving national security.
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