Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for comprehensive police reform, citing the failure of Nigeria’s centralised policing system to ensure security across the 36 states.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary debate on the country’s security situation, Kalu highlighted the multi-dimensional security challenges facing Nigeria and urged adequate funding for the police alongside the establishment of state and local government policing structures.
“Today is not about eloquence; it is about identifying our problems and proposing solutions as Parliament,” Kalu said. “Nigeria has strong deterrent laws, but we suffer from weak institutional implementation, inadequate funding, transparency issues, and misalignment between policy and execution. The solution requires structural legislative reform, not merely reactive military responses.”
Kalu detailed the escalating internal security threats, noting indiscriminate kidnappings targeting schools, places of worship, and communities in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto.
He referenced recent incidents, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, dozens of worshippers from Zungu Mosque in Zamfara, and Catholic priests in Anambra.
He also warned of armed groups imposing parallel governance structures, collecting millions of naira in community “taxes” in Tsafe, Zamfara, reflecting a shift from criminality to insurgent administrative control.
On the international front, Kalu noted Nigeria’s designation by the U.S. as a country of particular concern (CPC) and the potential implications of the proposed Nigerian Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which could target northern governors and other officials with sanctions.
“The Nigerian Police Force is constrained by centralised command, inadequate funding, and a lack of accountability. To address our multidimensional security crisis, legislative action is urgently needed,” he added.
“Number two is military modernisation, drones, and potential jet acquisition proceeding without a published defence policy on a robust legal framework. The next is weak border control and inter-agency cooperation, enabling illicit arms and terrorism financing. On external sovereignty threats, the U.S. political pressure is there.
“President Trump’s military threat against Nigeria over Christian killing. Number two, analysts view this as political theatre with low operational feasibility. It creates diplomatic and reputational risk.
“Nigeria must assert sovereignty while demonstrating domestic commitment to justice. We will respect our allies, but we will maintain the dignity of our sovereignty. That is the position of the parliament.
Despite strong anti-kidnapping laws like life imprisonment, the death penalty for kidnapping, the practice continues because it is alleged that government entities negotiate with bandits and pay ransom.
“That is one of the things that the House must investigate. Security analysts confirm that amnesty deals and peace negotiations delegitimise violence. They embolden armed groups and undermine the rule of law.
“Documented pattern across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto shows ceremonies where captives are released and rusty weapons surrendered, followed by rapid resolution or resumption of violence. What then is the legislative solution to that?
“The legislative solution required is to ban unstructured amnesty negotiation and ransom payment by any government entity. Mandate criminal justice enforcement over expediency.
“Another issue is the police funding crisis. The Nigerian police force suffers from low budgetary allocation with incomplete and late disbursement, unaccounted state government and private donations creating corruption channels and a lack of a transparent auditing mechanism.”
Kalu said the impact of this is that operational paralysis is observed, leading to an Inability to plan effectively and perpetuation of inefficiency, adding that the legislative solution is to mandate sustained and predictable funding. Require rigorous record keeping and audit all Nigerian police force funds, including donations.
Kalu said the centralised policing model can no longer meet the diverse localised security needs of 36 states and 774 local governments, hence the need for a policing system that will meet the needs of all.
He said, “Let’s tell ourselves the truth. Whether we call it state police, whether we call it community police, or whether we call it local government police, the need to decentralise has become very necessary. Some argued for the amendment of section 214 of the Constitution and the Second Schedule. Some say leave it as it is.
“Whatever it is, it is important that we consider that. The next is critical sequencing. State police reform must allow Nigerian police force accountability reform to avoid replicating a dysfunctional structure at the state level.”
He advocated moving policing to the concurrent list, enabling state and local governments to have a say, adding that, “we should provide safeguards to be able to guide that. Mr. Speaker, I say so because a police force that cannot plan beyond the next pay cheque cannot protect this nation.
“This new plan guarantees our police the predictable, transparent funding that they need. They need wildlife to ensure every Naira is accounted for. State police are not a silver bullet.
“It is a necessary evolution of our federal system, and we should be looking at that decentralisation. These are the core messages of my suggestion, Mr. Speaker, the core message pillars. Number one is legislative leadership, not reactive politics.
“For too long, the National Assembly has been viewed as reactive on security matters. Today, we assert our constitutional role as the primary law-making body of this nation. These measures represent proactive, structured reform, not political theatre.
“Sovereignty with accountability. Nigeria will never cede sovereignty to external actors, but sovereignty also demands responsibility. We will protect our citizens, prosecute perpetrators, and demonstrate to the world that Nigeria solves Nigerian problems.
“From militarised response to institutional reform, drones and jets have their place. But no amount of military hardware can substitute for accountable policing, for transparent funding, and for a criminal justice system that actually delivers justice. The legislative agenda addresses root causes, not just symptoms.”
