Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has reiterated the urgent need for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s growing insecurity.
Kalu spoke to journalists in Abuja after returning from Geneva, Switzerland, where he represented Nigeria at the 55th WTO–Inter-Parliamentary Union Public Forum.
He argued that the current centralized policing system is outdated and fails to meet global standards. According to him, the proposed state police bill before the National Assembly is designed to improve response time and align Nigeria’s security framework with international best practices.
“The only way we can achieve this is by unbundling the centralized structure, just as other countries operate municipal and state policing systems,” he said.
Kalu announced that a national public hearing on the bill will take place on Monday to give Nigerians an opportunity to share their views. While acknowledging public concerns about potential misuse, he stressed that the need to guarantee safety for the majority outweighs such fears.
Beyond security reforms, Kalu disclosed that Nigeria and other African delegations are advocating for stronger Afrocentric representation at the WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled to hold in Yaoundé in March 2026. He emphasized that Africa’s concerns must take a central place in global trade discussions rather than being treated as peripheral.