UK Backs National Assembly Security Dialogue as Push for State Policing Gathers Momentum
By Gloria Ikibah
The UK Government-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme has thrown its weight behind the National Assembly Security Roundtable, describing the initiative as a timely platform to advance security sector reforms, strengthen institutional accountability and accelerate discussions on state policing. 
In a statement issued ahead of the roundtable, scheduled for Wednesday as part of the National Assembly Open Week 2026, it said that the engagement will bring together Nigeria’s top security chiefs, lawmakers and governors to review the country’s security challenges and identify the legislative and budgetary measures needed to improve the nation’s security architecture.
The meeting, to be held at the Conference Hall of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, is expected to examine the support required by security agencies while also advancing constitutional reforms relating to state policing.
Among those expected at the event are the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, Ministers of Defence, Interior and Police Affairs, as well as the governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau and Benue — the four focal states of the SPRiNG Programme — alongside their counterparts from Kwara, Zamfara, Niger and Borno states.
Speaking on the significance of the dialogue, the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja, Cynthia Rowe, said lasting security can only be achieved through strong and accountable institutions.
She said: “Sustainable security requires strong, accountable institutions that are responsive to the needs of the people. The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s legislative frameworks to ensure that security interventions are transparent, well-resourced, and firmly rooted in respect for human rights. This roundtable is a commendable step towards codifying reforms that will protect vulnerable communities and foster long-term stability.”
According to the statement, the roundtable’s agenda aligns closely with the SPRiNG Programme’s security sector reform objectives, with discussions expected to focus on banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, inter-agency collaboration, technology-driven security operations and modern approaches to community engagement.
The Team Leader of the SPRiNG Programme, Ukoha Ukiwo, said experience from the programme’s work across participating states had shown that peacebuilding efforts require solid legal backing to succeed.
“Our work across our state compacts has continually highlighted that operational peacebuilding must be backed by robust legal frameworks. The focus of this roundtable on state policing, security funding, and accountability is incredibly timely. By bridging the gap between grassroots realities and legislative action, we can ensure that informal and formal security architectures work cohesively to build formidable resilience in communities across Nigeria”, he said.
The meeting is expected to produce a comprehensive communiqué outlining priority security reforms, including recommendations on the implementation of state policing and other public safety initiatives.
It added that the SPRiNG Programme would continue to support engagements with relevant stakeholders to ensure that resolutions reached at the dialogue are translated into concrete policy actions.
