Open Letter to President Tinubu Calls for ₦3 Trillion Emergency Intervention Fund for Nigeria Police
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
A security expert, Matthew Ibadin, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging the establishment of a ₦3 trillion Emergency Intervention Fund (EIF) to overhaul and modernize the Nigeria Police Force.
In the letter, Ibadin commended the appointment of Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, describing it as a step toward strengthening the nation’s policing system. He, however, argued that sustainable reform of the Nigeria Police Force requires urgent and large-scale financial intervention beyond routine budgetary allocations.
The security expert traced historical attempts at police restructuring, noting that the last significant phase of heavy investment in policing infrastructure and equipment occurred during the Shehu Shagari administration (1979–1983). He stated that since then, the absence of a dedicated emergency intervention fund has limited the operational effectiveness of the police.
Ibadin highlighted several structural challenges affecting policing in Nigeria, including inadequate operational vehicles, limited air support, poor welfare conditions, weak intelligence infrastructure, and over-reliance on public funding for police investigations.
He also raised concerns over low morale within the force, poor retirement benefits, insufficient training in modern security practices, and declining public trust in law enforcement institutions.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges have been worsened by gaps in logistics and technology, including the absence of a comprehensive national police database and limited deployment of modern surveillance tools.
The letter further compared Nigeria’s policing capacity with other countries, noting disparities in air support and operational mobility relative to population size and security demands.
Ibadin proposed the creation of an Emergency Intervention Fund to be managed by credible technocrats and security stakeholders. He suggested that the fund would improve equipment procurement, training, welfare, intelligence systems, and overall operational capacity of the police.
He also referenced President Tinubu’s previous commitments to modernising the Nigeria Police Force into a professional and technology-driven institution.
The open letter concluded with a call for urgent government action, stressing that effective policing remains critical to national stability, economic development, and public safety.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Insecurity in Nigeria: The Need for an Emergency Intervention Fund (EIF) for the Nigeria Police Force
May I begin this open letter by thanking Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for appointing one of Nigeria’s finest police officers, Tunji Disu, as the new Inspector General of Police.
In one respect, this open letter is to help the new IGP carry out a radical transformation of the Nigeria Police and possibly achieve greater success than his predecessors. Towards this end, I am beaming a searchlight on serious setbacks which, if eliminated, would enhance the success of the new IGP. These identified setbacks have obviously posed serious obstacles to the success of past Inspectors General of Police.
1. Lack of Emergency Intervention Fund (EIF) for the Nigeria Police Force
Since Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s administration ended on December 31, 1983, in a military coup, there has not been any emergency intervention fund for the Nigeria Police by any successive president in Nigeria till date.
2. Achieving Success Without Adequate Funding
One needs not over-emphasize the fact that achieving success is an uphill task without adequate funding. We all know the impact of adequate funding in ensuring the effectiveness and success of any organization, enterprise, or agency. When it is not adequately funded, it is always an uphill task to expect effectiveness or positive results.
3. Lessons from the Shehu Shagari Era (1979–1983)
During the Shehu Shagari tenure, the Nigerian leadership executed a planned strategy to restructure the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). This step was prompted by a longing to bolster the Police’s function in internal security and authorize the police as the lead agency for internal security.
Equipment and Strategy under Shagari
The government invested heavily in police gear and tactical hardware like Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), assault rifles, and other advanced arms precisely for the police.
- Specialized Units: SWAT teams were created and mobile police units increased nationwide
- Intelligence Expansion: The police intelligence wing was strengthened to evolve from reactive to proactive crime prevention
4. No Helicopter Service for Accelerated Operations
South Africa has about 47 police helicopters with a population of about 65 million people, whereas Nigeria with over 240 million people has less than 3 functional police helicopters.
At least 50 helicopters are required by the Nigeria Police Force to be able to contain criminal and operational activities more effectively in Nigeria.
5. Inadequate Operational Vehicles
The Nigeria Police Force does not have adequate operational vehicles. At least 500 operational vehicles are required for each of the 36 states and FCT, Abuja to enable the police carry out their operations effectively. Furthermore, some high-ranking officers such as Area Commanders and DPOs do not have official vehicles.
6. Nigerians Fund Their Cases Taken to the Police
Any case involving logistics, transportation or investigation more often than not is funded by the person who brought the case to the Nigeria Police. This is quite opposite to what obtains in the western countries and even in some developing countries of Africa. Ironically, when it comes to other security agencies like the EFCC, government funds investigations of cases brought to the agency. That is why EFCC is one of the most effective agencies in Nigeria.
7. Lack of Motivated Police Force
The living condition of Nigeria police officers, especially the junior ranks, are among the most deplorable in the country. Look at the unsightly state of our police barracks all over the country. Policemen are poorly paid. Also, how can you pay a retirement benefit of just about N2.5million in today’s Nigeria, after a police officer has served the country for 35 years? Furthermore, the current pension scheme of the Nigeria police should be upgraded to be at par with that of other security agencies such as the Nigerian Armed Forces.
8. Lack of Respect for the Nigeria Police by Members of the Public
The Nigeria Police Force has long struggled with earning the respect of the public they serve. They do not enjoy adequate respect and appreciation from members of the public. Several factors such as corruption, brutality and inefficiency contribute to this negative image, which mostly boils down to poor funding and poor standard of living.
9. Redundancy of Some MOPOLs Withdrawn from VIPs
Withdrawing 11,566 Mobile police officers from VIPs in Nigeria was an excellent move by Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to boost security in the country. However, most of the MOPOLs are now redundant. That may make them constitute a security risk.
10. Inadequate Security on Our Highways
Police security activities on our highways are grossly inadequate. Criminals exploit this weakness to increase criminal activities. There is also high travel insecurity in Nigeria affecting transport costs, trade, and supply chains.
Buffer zones at former tollgate locations and mini-barracks along highways are needed to improve operations.
11. Absence of Comprehensive and Interconnected Database
The absence of a comprehensive and interconnected database leads to inefficient investigations. Crime tracking is weak, duplication of efforts occurs, and criminals are repeatedly treated as first-time offenders. There is no proper centralized crime documentation system.
12. Nigeria Police Not Accorded the Relevance it Deserves
The importance of the police force in a country with skyrocketing crime rates cannot be over-emphasized. Despite this, the Nigeria Police Force is not adequately funded compared to other agencies.
13. Lack of Adequate Training
Inadequate training leads to poor handling of cases, ineffective crime-solving skills, missed evidence, escalation of conflicts, excessive force, human rights abuse, and unprofessional conduct. Modern policing requires training in cybersecurity, intelligence, and investigation.
14. Recruitment Process Based on Quota System Rather Than Merit
The current recruitment process needs to be redefined. Younger Nigerians with modern security skills such as cybersecurity, criminology, forensic investigation, drone piloting, intelligence, IT, and new media should be recruited. Recruitment should be based on merit rather than quota system.
15. Funding of Police Institutions Not Backed by Acts of Parliament
Police institutions such as Police Colleges, Police Academy, Police Staff College Jos, Police Detective College Enugu, Police School of Communication Ikeja, and Police School of Intelligence Kwara should be directly funded by the Federal Government and backed by Acts of Parliament.
Call for Emergency Intervention Fund (EIF)
The major problem of the Nigeria Police Force is gross underfunding. What is being advocated is an Emergency Intervention Fund (EIF), not budget funding.
An EIF of at least 3 trillion Naira should be created and managed by technocrats like Aliko Dangote, supported by respected figures such as Bishop Matthew Kukah, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, Omoyele Sowore, Charles Oputa, and select officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Supporting National Statements
The Chief of Defense Staff, General Olufemi Olayede, stated that armed forces alone cannot solve Nigeria’s security challenges.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also stated his commitment to modernizing the Nigeria Police Force during the Police Award Ceremony and again during the appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting IGP.
Conclusion
The Nigeria Police Force requires urgent reform through adequate funding and structural support. An Emergency Intervention Fund is critical to achieving effective policing in Nigeria.
By: Matthew Ibadin
Security Expert and Strategic Analyst
Email: mattsonibadin@gmail.com
About Matthew Ibadin
Matthew Ibadin is a security expert and leading security strategist, community policing advocate, intelligence investigator, property auctioneering expert, educator, and media entrepreneur. He specializes in combining fact-based journalism with security analytics. A trailblazer at the intersection of forensic real estate profiling and national security strategy, he bridges high-level intelligence, infrastructure protection, and ethical real estate practice.
He is a pioneer in civic-based security innovation and defense policy strategy.
Email: mattsonibadin@gmail.com
