President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s security training institutions, ordering an immediate restructuring of the country’s defense and law enforcement academies to enhance professionalism, efficiency, and national preparedness.
Speaking during a high-level security council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu expressed concern over the outdated infrastructure, inadequate training standards, and poor coordination across various security academies. He stressed that the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture depends largely on the competence and discipline of its personnel.
“Our institutions must be capable of producing officers who can confront today’s complex security challenges — from terrorism and cybercrime to banditry and intelligence operations,” the President said. “We can no longer train with 20th-century tools for 21st-century threats.”
Under the new directive, a joint task force comprising the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, and National Security Adviser’s office will conduct a full audit of all training centers. The aim is to modernize their curricula, improve logistics, and ensure the adoption of global best practices.
Security experts have welcomed the move, describing it as a crucial step toward rebuilding Nigeria’s defense capacity. They noted that previous reforms failed due to fragmented oversight and lack of funding — gaps the current administration appears determined to address.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening national security through education, technology, and inter-agency cooperation, adding that “a well-trained force is the foundation of a secure nation.”
