The Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) has called for stronger partnerships and increased funding to enhance the operational capacity, welfare and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Executive Secretary of the Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, made the call at a stakeholder interaction and engagement forum, where he highlighted the Fund’s achievements since it commenced operations in 2020 and outlined its strategic priorities for 2026 to 2030.
Sheidu said the NPTF had invested in police training, infrastructure, operational vehicles, equipment, healthcare and personnel welfare, but acknowledged that significant gaps remained.
He identified accountability, partnership and strategic policing as key pillars of the Fund’s next phase, stressing the need for sustainable financing and greater collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and the media.
According to him, government could strengthen statutory funding, while private-sector organisations and development partners could contribute through investment, technology, expertise and technical assistance.
He said the Fund would prioritise smart police stations, technology-driven policing, operational equipment, housing, welfare, as well as medical and emergency response facilities.
Sheidu added that the Fund would assess its performance based not only on the number of projects completed or officers trained, but also on their impact on police response, operational efficiency, personnel welfare and community safety.
Also speaking, the Director of Funds Mobilisation and Partnership, Sanusi Aliyu Namaibindiga, said increased funding and stronger partnerships were essential to enable the police to effectively prevent crime and protect lives and property.
Namaibindiga said the Nigeria Police Force currently had more than 371,000 personnel, with about 50,000 additional recruits undergoing training, stressing that the growing manpower required corresponding investments in training, equipment and infrastructure.
He disclosed that the NPTF had trained more than 15,000 police officers in various skills, but noted that the figure remained inadequate given the size of the police force.
He attributed the shortfall partly to funding constraints, explaining that the Fund’s major revenue stream had been affected by litigation following a Federal High Court judgment.
According to him, efforts are ongoing to increase the Fund’s statutory allocation, with the National Assembly having passed the relevant amendment and the legislation awaiting presidential assent.
He appealed to civil society organisations and other stakeholders to support advocacy for the signing of the legislation, saying improved funding would enhance the police force’s ability to discharge its responsibilities.
The Director also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, noting that the Fund had entered into agreements with government institutions and private-sector organisations in areas including power, communications, digital technology and infrastructure.
He said plans were underway to provide standalone power solutions for police facilities, including the Police Identification and Documentation Office, while housing initiatives for police personnel were also being developed.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Abba Abubakar Aliyu said artificial intelligence, data and renewable energy would increasingly shape policing and national security in the years ahead.
He said the world was entering a new energy era in which sectors such as transportation, education, healthcare, agriculture and security would increasingly depend on technology and sustainable energy solutions.
The REA chief executive noted that artificial intelligence had become increasingly integrated into everyday activities, with tools such as ChatGPT demonstrating the ability of technology to provide information and support decision-making within seconds.
He emphasised the need for stronger government-private sector collaboration to accelerate technological development, recalling an initiative that resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding with IBM to expand access to electricity and technology, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
According to him, such partnerships could also strengthen intelligence gathering and the application of data in security operations.
He disclosed that plans were underway to provide solar power to police institutions, including training colleges and the Police Academy, with a proposed capacity of about 30 megawatts.
He described the initiative as a starting point, stressing that sustained partnerships would be necessary to fully harness artificial intelligence, renewable energy and technology for national development and security.
The stakeholders urged all sectors to work together to build a better-equipped, technology-driven and resilient police force capable of responding effectively to emerging security challenges.