The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and Senator Osita Izunaso have called for broad national support for the establishment of state police and other security reforms aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing and evolving security challenges.
They made the call at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 held in Abuja, themed “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capabilities into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture.”
Kalu urged the Senate and State Houses of Assembly to support the recently passed State Police Bill, describing it as a patriotic and necessary response to Nigeria’s rising insecurity.
He explained that the proposed reform represents a significant step toward strengthening the country’s security architecture and improving policing at the grassroots level.
“The bill will proceed to the Senate and thereafter to the state assemblies for consideration. I urge stakeholders to see this not as a political issue, but as a national necessity,” he said.
According to him, state policing would improve response time to security incidents, enhance intelligence gathering, and enable officers operate more effectively within communities where they understand the social and cultural environment.
Kalu noted that the strong support the bill received in the House of Representatives reflects growing national consensus on the need to reform Nigeria’s security system.
He also stressed that while military operations remain essential, sustainable peace requires addressing underlying issues such as poverty, unemployment, weak education systems, social exclusion, and poor local governance.
The Deputy Speaker further called for stronger cooperation between government institutions, security agencies, the private sector, and local communities in tackling insecurity. He cited the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) as an example of how dialogue and community engagement can complement military operations.
In his remarks, Senator Osita Izunaso said Nigeria’s security challenges have become too complex for government alone, stressing the need for a whole-of-society approach.
He noted that threats such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, and economic sabotage require coordinated responses involving both public and private sectors.
According to him, private sector participation in job creation, education support, and community development plays a vital role in reducing youth vulnerability to criminal recruitment.
“This is why public-private partnerships must be a central pillar of Nigeria’s security strategy,” he said.
Izunaso also called for increased use of technology in security operations, including artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics, and intelligence-sharing platforms.
He further emphasized the importance of strengthening indigenous defence production through institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), as well as improving data systems and local government structures to enhance security response.
Both lawmakers commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies for their sacrifices in protecting the country. They also praised the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, for promoting stakeholder engagement and reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security ecosystem.
The conference brought together policymakers, security experts, private sector leaders, and civil society organizations to explore practical solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
