Pix: Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, continues to prove his innovative and forward-thinking leadership with his recent call for a National Paramilitary Academy. As someone impressed with his previous success with contactless passport applications through the Nigerian Immigration Service, which has significantly eased the renewal process for Nigerians worldwide, BTO, as Tunji-Ojo is fondly called, has proven to Nigerians that he has the ability to implement transformative policies that will move Nigeria forward. His proposal for a centralised paramilitary training academy institution stands as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s security framework.

Currently, Nigeria operates multiple training institutions for different paramilitary forces, including the Police Academy, the Federal Road Safety Training Institute, Immigration, the Nigeria Security, and the Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Academy. This approach results in high administrative costs, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and operational redundancies—costing Nigeria billions of Naira. BTO’s idea of establishing a unified National Paramilitary Academy could enhance coordination, streamline training, and optimise resource allocation.

As I have always said, Nigeria should borrow a leaf from the working systems of Western countries. Considering how other countries like the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) structure their paramilitary training and security forces, I can say BTO is on the path to ensuring we have working systems here in Nigeria. The United States, for instance, does not operate a singular national paramilitary academy. Instead, agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and state police forces have their specialised academies. However, training is standardised through federal oversight, particularly at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centres (FLETC). This provides consolidated training to multiple law enforcement bodies. This shows that a unified training institution is feasible but must include specialised training tracks for different roles.

The above also ensures that security personnel pass through rigorous training, explicitly focusing on their roles in the security space and as security personnel. Unlike in Nigeria, where anybody can be a security personnel. No exclusive or specialised training. Some of these officials don’t even know the specifics they are to play. This is why Nigerians have no trust in the security system. How do you want me to trust a man who doesn’t even know his real job is to protect me?

Following the Steve Orosanye report, all these multiple security agencies are merely fund suckers. Agencies like EFCC, ICPC, FRSC, and Civil Defence performed tasks when they could have been different units under the Nigeria Police Force. Countries like the United Kingdom operate a singular police system with multiple specialised units, including crime, counterterrorism, and traffic policing. Officers receive training at regional police academies under a centralised curriculum, ensuring uniform standards. The UK model aligns closely with Tunji-Ojo’s vision, where different paramilitary forces (road safety, civil defence, police, and prison wardens) operate under a unified structure while maintaining specialised functions. Instead of operating independently and getting funding individually.

Canada’s security structure also integrates various policing functions under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with a single centralised training academy. This system significantly reduces administrative redundancies and allows officers to transition across different roles within the security framework. Nigeria could adopt a similar model by merging agencies like the EFCC, FRSC, and NSCDC under a single entity with separate units.

Adopting working approaches from these Western models, Nigeria can implement the National Paramilitary Academy (NAPA) through several strategies. Once the bill is passed and the Paramilitary Academy is in full speed, the Orosanye report’s recommendations on agency consolidation should be revisited to streamline redundant security institutions. Existing academies should be merged under the NAPA to eliminate overlapping functions while retaining unit-specific training programs. Roles within the Nigerian security apparatus should be redefined so that agencies such as the EFCC, FRSC, and NSCDC function as specialised units within the broader Nigeria Police framework. Instead of having multiple DGs and DDGs across several academies, this will reduce administrative costs by replacing multiple Director-Generals (DGs) with a single academy head and unit-specific directors, cutting unnecessary expenditures.

The Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, continues to propel my dream and vision in believing Nigeria will one day have working systems implemented by working leaders. Leaders who care about the country and her citizens at large. BTO is a testament to this dream of mine. His call for a National Paramilitary Academy is a transformative idea that could improve Nigeria’s security.

By adopting best practices from countries like the UK, USA, and Canada, Nigeria can establish a unified security training system that promotes efficiency, reduces costs, and improves coordination among paramilitary forces. Nigeria’s security system will only have trained personnel, not just regular men in uniforms.

With the right legislative backing, strategic planning, and stakeholder involvement, the National Paramilitary Academy could become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s security architecture, creating a more effective and well-coordinated law enforcement system with the people’s best interest at heart.

Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, a Strategic Communications Expert, writes from London, United Kingdom.