FG to establish National Paramilitary Academy to bolster security

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a National Paramilitary Academy to strengthen the country’s security infrastructure.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television, emphasising the need for a dedicated institution to train young Nigerians in safeguarding critical national assets.

According to the minister, the academy will offer specialized training similar to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Police University, ensuring graduates are equipped to manage paramilitary operations across various sectors.

Admission into the institution will be through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), with students undergoing an intensive four to five-year training program before deployment.

“We want young Nigerians we can mold and train to ensure that critical national assets are secure,” Tunji-Ojo said.

The initiative, he explained, was partly inspired by the success of the Mines Marshals, a security project launched in March 2024 to combat illegal mining activities.

The minister pointed out that the academy would prioritise sector-specific security strategies rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

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“What we had before we (the Bola Tinubu administration) came was the generalization of national assets. But we said no, you cannot have one specific medication that can treat all illnesses,” he noted.

He stressed the importance of tailoring security measures to the unique needs of various sectors, such as power, water, education, and health.

According to him, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will oversee the deployment of these specialized units across the country.

The operational groundwork for the academy, according to the minister, is already in progress.

“Screening processes have begun to evaluate potential officers based on competence, area of specialisation, and physical fitness.

“We’ve already agreed on the modus operandi; the offices are being screened. We are already in the process of onboarding those officers; we have to profile them, look at their capacity, look at their competence, look at their area of specialization, and consider a lot of factors, even physical strength,” Tunji-Ojo noted.

He also confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s full support for the project, describing it as a structural and systemic investment in national security.

“The President is very keen on creating this academy because it is about building structure, a lasting system, and legacy. What we inherited was a room that fits all, but that is not the ideal for security,” the minister said.

”Beyond asset protection, the paramilitary academy will align with the nation’s broader counter-terrorism efforts. Paramilitaries dovetail to counter-terrorism units because of the critical assets at their disposal. We will revamp that,” Tunji-Ojo added.