The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, convened its 153rd meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in attendance, underscoring the significance of the issues discussed, including economic transformation, national security, proactive disaster management, agricultural innovation, and public health.

A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of President Tinubu’s comprehensive proposal for the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide. This initiative followed a presentation by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, who emphasized that increased investment in security across all three tiers of government is essential to achieving President Tinubu’s vision of a one trillion-dollar economy by 2033.

President Tinubu expressed deep concern about the dilapidated state of police training facilities across the country, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to reversing the decline and ensuring more conducive learning environments for both trainers and trainees. To oversee this critical reform, the NEC established a high-powered committee chaired by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, with former Inspector General of Police Baba Alkali as secretary. Other members include Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Umoh Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa). The committee was given a strict one-month timeline to produce a detailed blueprint for the renovation and conduct on-the-spot assessments of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies nationwide. State governors unanimously pledged their partnership with the federal government in these rehabilitation efforts.

Beyond security, President Tinubu urged state governors to prioritize citizens’ wellbeing, especially at the grassroots level. In his opening remarks, Vice President Shettima reinforced this call, urging state governments to translate optimism into tangible prosperity for households and communities. He emphasized that the true measure of governance lies in improved living conditions, not rhetoric, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which anchors national prosperity on macroeconomic stability, job creation, food security, and subnational competitiveness.

The Council also received a presentation on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). VP Shettima lauded National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu for pioneering a shift from reactive crisis response to proactive disaster preparedness. The framework aims to strengthen early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and subnational response capacities to mitigate the devastating impact of recurring floods on vulnerable communities.

In the area of agricultural innovation, the NEC was briefed on the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) by Nasir Yammama, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Innovation. Already launched in Katsina State, KASPA was presented as a scalable model for adoption by other states, designed to empower smallholder farmers and enhance the agribusiness value chain. The platform provides integrated support services, including extension services, market linkages, and climate information. The Council commended this technology-driven approach and urged state governments to replicate the model nationwide to unlock Nigeria’s full agricultural potential. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was directed to include in its 2026 budget the establishment of agricultural data and control centers across all six geopolitical zones.

The NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, chaired by Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma, also presented an update. The committee reported significant progress in unifying efforts against oil theft, engaging with the NNPC and key industry stakeholders. These efforts are critical to raising Nigeria’s oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2025, supporting the country’s quest for a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030. The Council encouraged continued collaboration to surpass the current 1.72 million barrels per day and expanded the committee’s mandate to include illegal mining and the theft of other mineral resources nationwide.

Public health featured prominently in the discussions, with an update from the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Polio Eradication, chaired by Gombe State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya. The committee reported a 44% reduction in cVPV2 polio cases, from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025, with major gains recorded in Kano and Katsina States. However, new cases in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi underscored the need for continued vigilance. Progress was attributed to In-Between Round Activities (IBRA) and the ongoing nationwide Integrated Campaign, launched by the First Lady on October 6, 2025. This campaign delivers a comprehensive health package, including Measles-Rubella and Polio vaccines, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) interventions in high-burden states. The Council urged state governments to release necessary funds for immunization programs and sustain momentum to protect every Nigerian child from polio. Finally, the NEC received an update on national account balances as of October 2025: the Excess Crude Account stood at $535,823.39, the Stabilization Account at ₦87,665,172,169.67, and the Natural Resources Account at ₦141,585,815,908.16.

The meeting concluded with commendations for the sustained platform of trust, cooperation, and policy innovation within the NEC, reaffirming Nigeria’s deliberate path toward economic recovery and shared prosperity.