The origin of the Nigeria Police Academy dates back to the early 80s when the Government of Nigeria in 1981 requested the British Government to make available to Nigeria, some united Kingdom Police officers to assess the training needs of The Nigeria Police.

In response to this request, a team of three British Police officers led by M.A. H Pacy ( Assistant Chief Constable, Hamberside Police) was sent to Nigeria by the British Government. The team submitted its report known as the pacy report in 1982. This report was formally published as the white paper of the Federal Republic, of Nigeria, on the future training needs of the Nigeria Police Force. A follow up of recommendations of the pacy report led to the search for the best training orientation for The Nigeria Police.

The The Academy officially took off simultaneously in 1988 at two temporary campuses; the Police training school Challawa, Kano where cadet Inspectors were trained; and the Police college Kaduna, where cadet ASPs were trained. The two campuses were merged and relocated to its permanent site in Wudil, Kano, after its was formerly Commissioned on the 2nd April,1996, by then Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, General Sani Abacha, GCON, dss, mni., with the expectation that the Academy will be affiliated to a University for degree awarding courses.