Day Two of National Assembly Open Week 2026 featured the National Security and Traditional Rulers Roundtable, bringing together legislators, security leaders, governors, traditional rulers, development partners, civil society and policy experts to examine legislative pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, with particular focus on the proposed establishment of State Police.
Delivering the keynote intervention, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, described the Executive Bill on State Police as a landmark constitutional reform that balances decentralised policing with national oversight.
While highlighting the safeguards built into the Bill, he proposed three conditions for successful implementation: nationally enforceable minimum standards before rollout, phased implementation based on state readiness, and sustainable financing. He also advocated stronger intelligence-sharing, integrated criminal databases, technology-driven policing and enhanced legislative oversight to build a modern and accountable security architecture.
Chairing the Roundtable, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.), CFR, former Chief of Defence Staff, urged participants to approach security as a shared national responsibility requiring coordinated institutions, trusted communities and forward-looking reforms. He identified citizen-centred security, constitutional reform, intelligence-led policing, technology, sustainable financing and public trust as the foundations of an effective national security ecosystem.
H.E. Governor Uba Sani, CON, of Kaduna State, argued that Nigeria’s evolving security realities require a complementary federal-state policing framework anchored on community intelligence, professionalism, independent oversight and technology. Drawing on Kaduna State’s experience, he maintained that constitutional reform must be matched by strong institutions capable of delivering security closer to the people.
Speaking on behalf of Nigeria’s traditional institution, HRH Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, CFR, the Etsu Nupe, reaffirmed the commitment of traditional rulers to support security reforms through community engagement, grassroots intelligence and continued collaboration, while expressing strong support for a well-structured State Police system.
Goodwill messages from the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) underscored the importance of evidence-based policymaking, parliamentary cooperation, accountable institutions and international partnerships in advancing sustainable security reforms.
The Roundtable featured panel discussions moderated by Dr. Charles Omole, with contributions from Dr. Uba Sani; Rep. Babajimi Benson, Chairman, House Committee on Defence; Maj. Gen. Pat Akem (Rtd.); Brig. Gen. Sani Usman (Rtd.); Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, MFR; representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff; and the Director-General, National Institute for Police Studies, among others.
Discussions broadly emphasised community policing, constitutional safeguards, the role of traditional institutions, intelligence-sharing, national training standards, sustainable funding, phased implementation, technology, human rights, media responsibility and stronger collaboration across all levels of government.
The Roundtable reinforced the House of Representatives’ commitment to an inclusive constitutional reform process that strengthens Nigeria’s security architecture through collaborative governance, institutional accountability and practical legislative solutions.
