The federal government has approved the establishment of a National Paramilitary Academy, a degree-awarding institution designed to train young Nigerians for paramilitary service.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the decision on Wednesday during a visit by Ali Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), to his office in Abuja.
According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the academy at the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Much like the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the new institution will offer structured academic and tactical training to young citizens who gain admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
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“When they come out, they will be officers—properly trained to contribute their quota to national security,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The initiative aims to professionalize paramilitary services, ensuring that recruits receive rigorous, standardized training before taking on critical roles in border control, immigration, correctional services, and other security operations.
Beyond security training, the government is also taking steps to improve healthcare for inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities. The minister revealed that President Tinubu had approved the employment of 50 doctors and 100 nurses to address the long-standing medical gaps in correctional centers.
Additionally, the government has directed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to deploy medical doctors to correctional facilities during their service year, ensuring sustained medical care for incarcerated individuals.