President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the establishment of a National Paramilitary Academy, a move aimed at enhancing security training in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement in a statement released by his media aide, Babatunde Alao, on Thursday.
Highlighting the necessity of a structured training institution, Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for a degree-awarding academy similar to the Nigerian Defence Academy, where young individuals would undergo specialized paramilitary training.
“We need a degree-awarding institution, like the Nigerian Defence Academy, that will train young persons after securing admissions through the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination,” he said. “When they come out, they come out as officers, properly trained to contribute their quota to national security.”
In addition to the academy, the minister also revealed President Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of 50 doctors and 100 nurses to enhance medical services in custodial centres nationwide.
Furthermore, the president has endorsed the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) medical doctors to correctional facilities, ensuring improved healthcare for inmates.
To address immediate shortages in medical personnel, the government has also sanctioned the extension of service for existing healthcare workers within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) beyond the standard retirement age
