President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, in a major move aimed at strengthening police training and improving national security.
The President also approved a special take-off grant of ₦15 billion for the institution. The development was disclosed in a statement issued by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.
The approval reflects the federal government’s broader efforts to expand security institutions, improve police manpower, and modernise law enforcement training across the country.
Expansion of the Police Academy
The decision is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which provides for the expansion of the Police Academy currently located in Wudil, Kano State, into multiple campuses nationwide.
For years, the Wudil campus has served as the country’s main institution for training cadet officers. However, increasing recruitment demands and the growing need for modern policing have made expansion necessary.
The newly approved Erinja campus is expected to serve as an additional centre for officer training, particularly for the southern part of the country.
₦15 Billion for Immediate Take-Off
To ensure a smooth commencement, President Tinubu approved a ₦15 billion intervention fund for the new campus.
According to the Presidency, the fund will be sourced from the 2026 allocation of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The grant will be used to finance key take-off needs such as:
- Infrastructure development
- Academic buildings
- Student hostels
- Administrative offices
- Training grounds
- Security equipment
- Learning facilities
- Core operational assets
The funding is expected to accelerate the project and position the campus to meet modern training standards from inception.
Why Erinja Was Chosen
The decision to locate the campus in Erinja followed recommendations from a high-level consultative meeting involving key stakeholders in the education and security sectors.
Those present at the meeting included:
- The Minister of Police Affairs
- The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa
- Officials of the Federal Ministry of Education
- The Inspector-General of Police
- The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC)
The meeting reportedly considered several factors, including available funding, student intake capacity, academic quality assurance, and the long-term manpower needs of the Nigeria Police Force.
Strengthening Security Institutions
The Presidency said President Tinubu believes the expansion of the Police Academy will help strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education, and national security.
The approval comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to tackle insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, violent crime, and terrorism in different parts of the country
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Part of Wider Security Reforms
The new campus announcement comes nearly five months after President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency in response to rising attacks and abductions.
As part of that directive, he approved fresh recruitment into the police and the armed forces.
The President specifically authorised the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers to improve security presence across the country.
Security experts say expanding recruitment must be matched by expanded training capacity, making the new Ogun campus a strategic development.
Earlier Measures to Improve Police Capacity
In November 2025, Tinubu also approved the nationwide upgrade of police training facilities.
He further authorised the use of selected National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as temporary training depots to accommodate growing recruitment numbers.
At the same time, police personnel assigned to VIP security duties were ordered to be withdrawn and retrained for deployment to security-challenged areas.
The administration said those officers would undergo crash programmes to prepare them for more effective operational duties.
Benefits for Ogun State
Beyond national security, the new Police Academy campus is expected to bring economic and social benefits to Ogun State.
These may include:
- Job creation during construction and operation
- Increased commercial activities
- Improved infrastructure in surrounding communities
- New housing demand
- Greater federal presence in the area
The host community of Erinja is also expected to benefit from road development and business opportunities linked to the institution.
Modern Policing Through Better Training
Experts have long argued that today’s police officers require more advanced education and skills.
Modern policing now involves:
- Intelligence gathering
- Cybercrime investigation
- Community policing
- Human rights compliance
- Crisis response
- Counter-terrorism operations
- Digital forensics
A multi-campus academy system could better prepare future officers for these evolving responsibilities.
Expectations Going Forward
With the approval now granted, public attention will shift to implementation.
Many Nigerians will be watching for:
- Construction timelines
- Release of funds
- Recruitment of academic and training staff
- Admission plans for cadets
- Infrastructure progress
- Operational launch dates
Successful delivery of the project could become a major milestone in Nigeria’s police reform efforts.
