The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has said that there is an urgent need to improve security infrastructure, training, equipment, and personnel capacity, particularly within the Nigeria Police Force, to enhance effectiveness in combating insecurity.
This is as the NCDC and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) have resolved to collaborate towards addressing security challenges and enhancing safety across the North Central region.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, who announced this when he led the management team of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, said that the partnership became imperative considering the critical role security plays in achieving sustainable development within the region.
He assured of the Commission’s preparedness to work closely with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund through funding support, counterpart collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening security architecture in the region.
He said the NCDC was established to drive development in the North Central through the provision of infrastructure, economic empowerment, youth development, peacebuilding, rehabilitation, and other strategic interventions.
Tsenyil noted that the region is grappling with various security challenges which must be effectively tackled to create an enabling environment for meaningful growth and development.
The NCDC MD/CEO also proposed the establishment of a joint working group and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide a clear framework for the partnership.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu, described the establishment of the Commission as a strategic step towards accelerating development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Sheidu said the Nigeria Police Trust Fund has continued to implement programmes focused on improving police welfare, training, housing, and operational infrastructure across the country.
He further said that the Fund is also collaborating with government agencies and development partners to address critical infrastructure and welfare gaps affecting police efficiency and service delivery.
Sheidu noted that the NCDC’s intervention aligns with ongoing conversations around state policing and regional security collaborations, stressing that agencies such as the NCDC have a vital role to play in supporting security institutions.
He expressed support for the proposed joint working group and signing of an MoU to formalise cooperation between both organisations.
