Thursday December 4, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The National Economic Council, NEC, has approved ₦100 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of training institutions operated by the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies across the country.
The decision was one of the key outcomes of the Council’s 154th meeting, which was held virtually on Wednesday, December 3, and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The proposal now awaits the final endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, said the approval followed the recommendations of an ad‑hoc committee set up to assess the condition of security training facilities nationwide.
Presenting the findings, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah explained that the facilities were in a state of disrepair and required urgent attention to boost the nation’s security capacity.
In addition, NEC approved ₦2.6 billion for consultancy services linked to the rehabilitation project.
Vice President Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security institutions and called on governors to ensure reforms at all levels lead to visible improvements in citizens’ lives.
“Our task is not to admire problems, but to solve them. Not to explain challenges, but to overcome them. Reforms must produce outcomes felt in our markets, schools, clinics, and farms across the federation,” he said.
During the meeting, the Accountant‑General of the Federation presented updated national financial records.
As of November 2025, the Excess Crude Account stood at $525,823.39; the Stabilisation Account held ₦71.6 billion; and the Natural Resources Development Find contained ₦79.2 billion.
NEC also considered progress reports on the ongoing national polio eradication campaign. The Gombe State Governor, who chairs the Council’s Ad‑Hoc Committee on Polio, revealed that Nigeria recorded a significant 39 per cent drop in cases of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVPV2)—from 119 cases in 2024 to 73 in 2025.
Kano and Katsina states made the most progress, cutting cases by 94 per cent and 88 per cent respectively, while six states, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Zamfara, still require intensified surveillance and vaccination drives.
NEC was informed that an integrated Measles–Rubella, HPV, and Polio vaccination campaign across 20 northern states and Oyo achieved 83 per cent geographic coverage and over 90 per cent immunisation uptake among children.
In a separate briefing, Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo reported that gas producers are owed more than $1 billion for domestic supplies dating back to 2011.
Of the amount, ₦185 billion of naira‑denominated debt has been verified by the NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
President Tinubu has already approved the immediate settlement of the verified debt through oil and gas royalty deductions.
The Council endorsed the measure, calling it a necessary step to stabilise domestic gas supply, enhance electricity generation, and support industrial growth.