Sunday, September 21, 2025 - Nigeria’s current centralized policing structure is inadequate and far behind global standards. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu believes that state police are necessary to tackle security challenges effectively.
“The only way we can achieve this is if we unbundle it from the way it is
centralized,” he said.
Kalu highlighted the importance of response time in
policing, noting that Nigeria’s current system is below global standards. He
emphasized that state police would enable faster response times and more
effective security measures. “Let’s have this conversation on issues like this
to know whether you want it or not,” he urged.
Kalu praised Nigerians for demonstrating rare patriotism and
resilience in supporting President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including
the removal of fuel subsidy. “Nigerians showed keen interest in the
government’s reforms and in issues of representation,” he said.
Kalu highlighted his role in shaping global discussions on
digital trade at the WTO-IPU Steering Committee session. He emphasized the
importance of embedding digital trade as a central pillar of the African
Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The Deputy Speaker rallied support for a bill reserving
seats for women in Parliament, stressing that the exclusion of women from
politics was holding back Nigeria’s democratic and economic progress. “You
cannot talk about advancing democracy when you’re leaving 50 percent of the
population outside the room,” he said.
Kalu shed light on his intervention in the crisis involving
local contractors, using “legislative diplomacy” to calm tensions and secure
commitments from government agencies. He said the meetings led to significant
progress as payments have been made.
Despite his global engagements, Kalu emphasized that his
priority will always be Nigeria. “My WTO program was still on, but duty called,
and Nigeria comes first before the globe,” he declared.
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