State police needed now – Deputy Speaker

The 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 tackle Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

Kalu made the call in Abuja after returning from Geneva, Switzerland, where he represented Nigeria at the 55th WTO–Inter-Parliamentary Union Public Forum.

According to him, Nigeria’s centralised policing structure is outdated, inadequate, and inconsistent with global best practices.

“The only way we can achieve this is by unbundling the centralised structure, just as other countries operate municipal and state policing systems,” he said.

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The deputy speaker disclosed that the state police bill before the National Assembly aims to improve response time and bring policing in line with international standards. He further revealed that a national public hearing on the bill will hold on Monday to allow Nigerians contribute their views.

While acknowledging concerns about potential misuse, Kalu stressed that the need to ensure security for the majority outweighs such fears.

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He also noted that Nigeria, alongside other African delegations, is advocating for Afrocentric issues to take centre stage at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, scheduled for March 2026, insisting that Africa’s concerns must be “on the table, not outside the room.”