Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Senate has approved ₦404.07 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, endorsing the agency’s 2025 and 2026 budgets to strengthen policing, security operations and critical infrastructure across the country.
The upper chamber approved ₦170.10 billion for the 2025 fiscal year and ₦233.96 billion for 2026 during Thursday’s plenary after considering a report presented by Yunus Akintunde on behalf of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
Akintunde said implementation of the previously approved budget had been delayed by legal disputes surrounding proposed amendments to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019.
“This budget proposal was previously approved for implementation under the 2024 fiscal period. However, developments arising from the proposed amendment to the Act prevented implementation,” he said.
The Senate unanimously adopted the committee’s recommendation to approve the revised 2025 appropriation.
During debate, Abdul Ahmed Ningi described the Police Trust Fund as a vital mechanism for addressing funding shortfalls within the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Trust Fund is supposed to fill the funding gap, but for almost three years, because of legal issues, the Fund has not been able to spend a kobo,” Ningi said, urging strict oversight of the approved expenditure.
Lawmakers also approved the Fund’s ₦233.96 billion budget for 2026, with more than 90 per cent allocated to capital projects.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno praised the spending plan, saying its emphasis on capital expenditure should serve as a model for other government agencies.
“I am highly impressed that more than 90 per cent of the budget is devoted to capital expenditure,” Monguno said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, expressed confidence that the funding would improve the Nigeria Police Force’s capacity to combat kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other security threats.
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