The Nigerian Senate has approved the 2025 and 2026 budget proposals of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, with both appropriations amounting to more than N404 billion.
The approvals were given during plenary on Thursday in Abuja after the Senate considered the report of its Committee on Police Affairs.
The 2025 budget was passed at N170.1 billion, while the 2026 budget was approved at N233.96 billion.
Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central, presented the report on behalf of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Malam-Madori Abdulhamid of Jigawa East.
In his submission, Abdulhamid appealed to lawmakers to support the proposals, saying the funds were needed to strengthen policing and improve security operations across Nigeria.
He explained that the earlier budget proposal had been approved for implementation in the 2024 fiscal year but could not take off as expected.
According to him, the delay was linked to proposed amendments aimed at extending the tenure of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, as well as other administrative developments.
As a result, the proposal was resubmitted for consideration as the 2025 budget of the Fund.
For the 2025 appropriation, the Senate approved N27.29 billion for personnel costs, N132.45 billion for capital expenditure and N10.36 billion for overhead costs.
The 2026 budget, valued at N233.96 billion, also received Senate approval after lawmakers adopted the committee’s recommendations.
Out of the 2026 figure, N222.89 billion was earmarked for capital projects, while N11.07 billion was allocated for recurrent spending, covering personnel and overhead costs.
During debate on the report, Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central said the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was created to address major funding gaps affecting the Nigeria Police Force.
Ningi, however, raised concern over previous implementation challenges that had slowed the effective use of funds approved for the Fund.
He urged the management of the Police Trust Fund to ensure timely execution of projects and better utilisation of the newly approved appropriations.
According to him, improved funding should result in better arms, uniforms, vehicles, welfare packages and other operational tools needed to enhance police performance.
Senator Mohammed Monguno of Borno North also welcomed the structure of the 2026 budget, especially the decision to allocate more than 90 per cent of the funds to capital expenditure.
Monguno said such priority for capital projects would help improve the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
He also encouraged other public institutions to channel larger portions of their budgets toward developmental and infrastructure-driven projects.
After deliberations, the Senate adopted the committee’s recommendations and approved the two budget proposals.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund to apply the approved funds responsibly and transparently.
Akpabio said the money should be used in ways that would strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and support efforts to tackle kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other security threats across the country.
He expressed hope that the approved allocations would make a measurable impact on police operations and national security.
