Erinja facility to boost training capacity, modern policing, and national security framework

By ifeoma Onyekachi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, alongside a N15 billion take-off grant to accelerate its development.

The approval, which aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy Establishment Act 2021, marks a significant step in the federal government’s plan to decentralise and expand the academy beyond its existing base in Wudil, Kano State.

The new campus is expected to be funded through the 2026 allocation of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with the intervention targeted at critical infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and specialised training equipment.

Presidency sources indicate that the decision followed a high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.

The panel reportedly assessed key variables including projected student intake, funding sustainability, academic quality assurance, and the long-term manpower needs of the Nigeria Police Force, which is currently scaling up recruitment.

By siting the institution in Erinja, stakeholders aim to improve regional access to police education while easing pressure on existing training infrastructure.

President Tinubu is said to view the expansion as central to ongoing efforts to professionalise the police, strengthen institutional governance, and align law enforcement training with contemporary security demands.

The development comes amid increasing calls for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture, with analysts noting that enhanced training capacity could play a critical role in addressing evolving threats and improving public trust in policing.