The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Okezie Kalu says the proposed establishment of state police must be anchored on accountability, professionalism and service to the people.
Kalu warned that it must never become a tool for political repression.
He stated this at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit, themed, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”
Kalu said; “addressing security challenges in the South-East and across Nigeria requires collective effort, sustained collaboration and a shared commitment among governments, security agencies, communities and other stakeholders.”
The Deputy Speaker, who also chairs the House Committee on the Review of the Constitution, said Nigeria’s centralised policing structure can no longer provide the local knowledge, personnel strength and response time required by a federation as large and complex as Nigeria.
Kalu cited the Executive Bill HB 2797 on the Establishment of State Police Services and Other Related Services as a response to the need for faster response times and community-based policing.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a bold initiative to address structural deficiencies in Nigeria’s policing architecture.
He also welcomed the Nigerian Government’s decision to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and recruit about 28,000 additional personnel.
Kalu commended the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East) for convening the summit, saying “it should produce a practical regional security framework with defined responsibilities, timelines and effective coordination.”
He said that “technology must be complemented by community trust, urging authorities to establish secure reporting channels, protect informants and strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, town unions, youth and women groups, transport unions and neighbourhood associations.”
The Deputy Speaker also proposed a permanent South-East regional security coordination council and a shared intelligence platform to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
He recommended that relevant institutions produce an operational plan within 60 days, outlining responsible agencies, funding requirements, timelines and performance indicators, and reconvene within six months to assess measurable progress.
Kalu promised that the House of Representatives would continue to support necessary appropriations, legislation and oversight while strengthening engagement with security institutions to ensure public funds translate into improved public safety.
