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By Gloria Ikibah

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.mBenjamin Kalu, has called for a major shift in Nigeria’s security strategy, urging increased local production of military equipment and stronger financial controls to disrupt criminal and terrorist networks.

Speaking at the Nigeria People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja on Saturday, Kalu said the country must reduce its dependence on imported weapons and invest more heavily in building a self-reliant defence manufacturing sector capable of supporting national security needs.

The conference, which focused on integrating private sector capacity into Nigeria’s security architecture, brought together stakeholders from government, business and the security community to discuss solutions to the country’s evolving security challenges.

He argued that expanding domestic arms production would not only strengthen national defence capabilities but also create jobs, stimulate industrial growth and reduce vulnerabilities associated with reliance on foreign suppliers.

The Deputy Speaker also highlighted the critical role of the financial sector in the fight against insecurity, calling on banks and other financial institutions to intensify due diligence measures and strengthen transaction monitoring systems to identify and block illicit financial flows that sustain criminal groups and terrorist organisations.

He emphasised that addressing insecurity requires coordinated action across multiple sectors and urged participants to move beyond discussions towards concrete commitments and measurable outcomes.

According to him, technology companies have a vital role to play by developing platforms that enhance intelligence gathering, information sharing and early warning systems. He also underscored the importance of civil society organisations in strengthening trust between communities and government institutions, particularly in areas affected by insecurity.

Kalu further assured stakeholders that the National Assembly will continue to support security reforms through legislative action, constitutional review processes, budgetary allocations and robust oversight of security-related programmes.

The Deputy Speaker maintained that despite the security challenges facing the country, Nigeria remains resilient and capable of overcoming its difficulties through stronger institutions, innovation and greater collaboration among public and private sector actors.

He said: “Every sector represented in this room must leave with a specific, measurable role in Nigeria’s security architecture. The defence industry must deepen local capacity so that we do not import what we can produce. The technology sector must offer platforms for intelligence sharing and community early warning. The financial sector must tighten the chokepoints through which criminal and terrorist financing flows. The civil society must continue to build the bridges between communities and government that make sustainable peace possible.

“And the legislature, we will continue to provide the legal scaffolding on which all of this is built. We will continue to review the constitution where it needs reviewing. We will appropriate resources where resources are needed. We will provide oversight to ensure that what is promised is delivered. We will legislate not for public applause but for the protection of lives and the dignity of every Nigerian.”

Kalu noted that the House recently voted 289 to 2 in favour of a safer Nigeria through the State Police constitutional amendment, describing the near-unanimity as patriotic rather than partisan.

“I am proud to serve in an assembly that just two days ago voted 289 to 2 in favour of a safer Nigeria. That near-unanimity was not partisan. It was patriotic. And it must be matched by an equal unity of purpose in this room today.

“There is a Nigeria on the other side of this season. That Nigeria is not a promise. It is a project. A project that belongs to all of us; both the legislature and the executive, the uniform and the suit, the community and the corporation, the government and the governed.

“We are a people worth fighting for. This republic is worth building. And let this moment be the moment we decide, formally and finally, to build it together”, he said.

The Deputy Speaker also dismissed the feelings in some quarters that Nigeria was failing.

“Nigeria is not failing. Nigeria is fighting. There is a difference. A failing country stops trying. Nigeria has never stopped trying. That is our heritage. That is our irreducible character. But resilience must be met by structure. Courage must be met by policy. The sacrifice of the Nigerian people deserves a security ecosystem worthy of the sacrifice”, he said.

The event drew participants from the defence industry, financial institutions, civil society, and security agencies.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The ECOWAS Parliament is set to convene a major regional meeting in Dakar aimed at advancing renewable energy deployment and expanding electricity access to millions of people living in rural communities across West Africa.

The five-day Delocalised Joint Committee Meeting, scheduled for June 15 to 19, will bring together Members of Parliament, representatives of ECOWAS institutions, government officials, development partners, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and energy experts to examine practical solutions for accelerating rural electrification throughout the region.

The meeting will be held under the theme, “Harnessing Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification and Empowerment of Rural Economies in the ECOWAS Region: The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament”, will be organised by the Joint Committee on Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and Infrastructure under the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The gathering comes against the backdrop of persistent energy deficits across many rural communities in West Africa, where millions of residents still lack access to reliable electricity despite notable progress in recent years. Limited electricity access continues to affect key sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, digital connectivity and economic productivity.

With ECOWAS targeting universal access to sustainable and affordable energy by 2030, participants are expected to focus on the role of parliamentary action in advancing that objective and supporting policies that encourage investment and innovation in the energy sector.

Central to the discussions will be the potential of decentralised renewable energy solutions, including solar mini-grids, hybrid energy systems and stand-alone solar installations, to close the electricity access gap in underserved areas.

Delegates will also assess how West Africa can better harness its vast but largely untapped solar and hydropower resources to meet growing energy demand.

The meeting will further review major regional energy frameworks, including the ECOWAS Renewable Energy Policy (EREP), the Energy Efficiency Policy (EEEP), the updated ECOWAS Energy Policy and the Regional Electricity Market (REM).

Participants will also evaluate the contributions of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) in strengthening regional energy integration.

One of the key features of the programme will be a field visit to a renewable energy installation in Senegal. During the visit, lawmakers will engage directly with beneficiary communities, local entrepreneurs, women and youth groups to gain first-hand insight into the impact of rural electrification on livelihoods, economic activity and community development.

At the end of the meeting, Members of Parliament are expected to adopt a set of recommendations aimed at reinforcing regional rural electrification initiatives, attracting greater investment into renewable energy infrastructure and strengthening parliamentary oversight of ECOWAS energy policies and programmes.

The outcomes of the Dakar meeting are expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to bridge the energy access gap and support sustainable economic growth across the ECOWAS region.

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By Ojomah Austin.

…Nigeria no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance, Marwa warns drug cartels

Barely six months after their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing 31.5 kilograms of cocaine from Marshall Islands into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport in Lagos, 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel marked MV Aruna Hulya have been convicted and fined a total of Six Million US Dollars ($6million) by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Agency took into custody the Indian crew members and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship by NDLEA operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa port Lagos on Friday 2nd January 2026.
The Master of the Vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 10 other crew members, namely: Bharati Manoj Kumar; Nevage Sandesh Suresh; Pandey Prashant; Nuttu Anand; Akash Babu; Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad; Melethil Insaf Rahman; Barla Chantanya Krishna; Prabhasukhan Singu; and Jai Parkash were eventually arraigned on two counts charge in suit number
FHC/ L/56C/2026 before Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
After months before the court, the trial judge on Thursday 11th June 2026 delivered his ruling on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defence in the case. As a result, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay the sum of 100,000 Naira each which is the penalty for the offence under the Act. ⁠In addition, the 1st defendant, which is the vessel, is to pay restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of Five Million Three Hundred Thousand US dollars ($5,300,000) or its equivalent in Naira.
The three principal officers of the vessel who are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, namely: Sharma Shashi Bhushan; Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad; and Melethil Insaf Rahman are also to pay restitution to the Federal Government in the sum of 100,000 US dollars each, while
other crew members, the 5th to 12th defendants are to pay their restitution in the sum of 50, 000 US dollars each.
Reacting to the landmark judgement, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) noted that the conviction of the vessel and its crew members sends a resounding message to every drug trafficking network in the world that “Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance.”
According to him, “This judgment is the third of its kind in recent times, following the convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges. Let it be known that these are not coincidences, they are the direct result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry.

“The NDLEA will not relent. Whether you come by air, land, or sea; whether you are a Nigerian or a foreign national, if you attempt to use our waters as a narcotics highway, you will face the full weight of Nigerian law. Our courts have spoken, and we will continue to give them reason to speak. The war against drug trafficking is one we are winning and we intend to keep it that way.”
He commended the officers, men and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency for their vigilance in identifying the cocaine consignment buried deep within the cargo of a massive commodity vessel. He specifically expressed appreciation to the Agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligence in the prosecution of the case.