Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and Senator Osita Izunaso have called for broad support for state policing and other security reforms aimed at addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

They made the call at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 held in Abuja on Saturday.

The theme of the conference is “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capabilities in Nigeria’s National Security Architecture”.

Mr Kalu, in his remarks, urged the Senate and State Houses of Assembly to endorse the State Police Bill recently passed by the House of Representatives, describing it as a patriotic response to the country’s growing security concerns.

According to him, the proposed reform represents a historic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and improving policing at the grassroots.

“The bill will now proceeds to the senate and subsequently to the state houses of assembly for consideration.

“I urge all stakeholders to view this reform not as a political project, but a patriotic necessity.”

Mr Kalu explained that state policing would reduce response times, improve intelligence gathering, and enable security personnel operate more effectively within communities they understand culturally and socially.

He noted that the overwhelming support the bill received in the House reflected a growing national consensus on the need to reform the country’s security framework.

The deputy speaker emphasised that while military operations remain necessary, lasting peace requires addressing poverty, unemployment, poor education, social exclusion, and weak local governance.

He also advocated stronger collaboration between government, security agencies, the private sector, and local communities in tackling emerging security threats.

He cited the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) as evidence that dialogue, reconciliation, and community engagement could complement kinetic operations in restoring peace and stability.

In the same vein, Mr Izunaso said Nigeria’s security challenges have become too complex for government institutions alone to handle, underscoring the need for stronger public-private sector collaboration.

He said terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism, organised crime, cybercrime, and economic sabotage require a whole-of-society approach.

According to him, businesses contribute to national security by creating jobs. Supporting education and investing in communities reduces the vulnerability of young people to criminal recruitment.

“This is why public-private partnerships must become a central pillar of Nigeria’s security strategy.”

Mr Izunaso also advocated greater deployment of technology in security management, including artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, data analytics, and intelligence-sharing platforms.

He said Nigeria must continue to support indigenous defence production and innovation through institutions such as the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

The senator further emphasised the importance of credible national data and effective local government administration in addressing insecurity and promoting development.

Both lawmakers commended the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies for their sacrifices in safeguarding the nation.

They also lauded the Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, for promoting stakeholder engagement and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security ecosystem.

The conference brought together policymakers, security experts, private sector leaders, and civil society organisations to discuss solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.

 (NAN)