Kalu Pushes for State Police, Private Sector Partnership to Tackle Insecurity
By Matthew Eloyi
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system and stronger collaboration between government and the private sector as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the country’s security challenges.
Speaking on Saturday at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference (NPSC) 2026 in Abuja, Kalu said Nigeria’s complex security situation requires a combination of legislative reforms, non-kinetic approaches and technology-driven solutions rather than an overreliance on military force.
He disclosed that the House of Representatives had on Thursday passed the Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police, a landmark legislation he sponsored, describing it as a historic step toward improving security across the country.
According to him, 289 out of the 290 lawmakers present voted in favour of the bill, ending decades of unsuccessful attempts to establish state policing.
“A centralized policing structure cannot respond adequately to the complexity of security threats across a nation of over 220 million people,” he said. “The people who know the forest best are those who grew up in it. State police will reduce response time and bring policing closer to the people.”
The Deputy Speaker urged the Senate and state Houses of Assembly to give the bill speedy consideration, stressing that the reform should be viewed as a patriotic rather than a political undertaking.
The lawmaker also stressed that the private sector must become an integral part of Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that businesses, technology firms and financial institutions have critical roles to play in intelligence gathering, early warning systems, job creation and disrupting criminal financing.
“When a business invests in a community, it does not just create profit; it creates a stake in people, and people protect what they have a stake in,” he said.
Kalu highlighted his Peace in South East Project as an example of how dialogue and community engagement can restore trust and improve security, insisting that “guns alone do not make peace.”
He also called for greater investment in local defence production, commending the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) for its efforts to collaborate with government agencies, the private sector and international partners to strengthen national security.
The Deputy Speaker praised the Minister of Defence, the armed forces and other security agencies for their sacrifices, while assuring them of continued legislative support through improved oversight and resource allocation.
Also speaking at the event, Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West Senatorial District said the National Assembly was committed to evolving security governance to address the country’s growing security challenges.
The senator also highlighted the constitutional responsibilities of the legislature in strengthening national security through lawmaking, representation, appropriation and oversight.
He said lawmakers serve as accessible channels for citizens to report security concerns and contribute ideas that could improve governance and public safety.
Earlier, the convener of the event, Dr Charles Awuzie, said the event was conceived to create a platform where Nigerians could openly discuss security, defence capacity, investment, local manufacturing, intelligence support, community safety and public-private collaboration.
In his closing remarks, , co-convener and security studies expert, Dr Mohammed Sani Abubakar, said the gathering had successfully created a “platform for synergy” among private security firms, consultancy groups, government representatives, and non-state actors to align strategies on national security challenges.