The chairman of the House Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology, and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, has expressed concerns about the inadequate funding of the Nigerian Police Force.
Hon. Olajide said this during the budget defence session on the 2025 Appropriation Bill of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Police.
The two-term PDP lawmaker, who is also a member of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, condemned the poor release of funds, which he described as a significant impediment to the effectiveness and ability of Nigerian police to meet operational demands and adopt modern ICT practices.
While commending the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for the impressive performance of the 2024 budget, Olajide pointed out that, going by figures presented during the session, the federal government allocated 60 billion naira to the police in the 2024 budget, but only 25 billion naira was released, representing less than half of the approved budgetary allocation.
Hon. Olajide argued that this significant shortfall would adversely impact the police’s operational efficiency and put the lives of personnel at risk.
“How do we expect the Nigeria Police to be ICT-compliant and compete with advanced nations if we continue underfunding them?” Hon. Olajide queried.
He stressed that the era of neglecting critical security agencies must end if the country is serious about addressing insecurity and modernising its law enforcement, with a call on both chambers of the National Assembly to support the police by ensuring the full release of allocated funds in the 2025 budget.
Olajide emphasized that releasing the funds should be accompanied by a mechanism for holding the police accountable for their use.
“If we release these funds, we must also put them to task and demand results. The safety of our citizens and the ability of our police to operate efficiently in today’s technologically advanced world depend on adequate funding,” he stated.
The Joint Committee on Police, in reviewing the 2025 budget proposal, noted that the Nigeria Police is requesting N75 billion to enhance its operations, particularly in adopting ICT-driven strategies to tackle crime and bolster intelligence gathering.
