…as Speaker Abbas want urgent review of existing laws
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By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has called for a robust legal framework to enhance collaboration and intelligence sharing among security agencies.
President Tinubu stated this at a one-day Legislative Dialogue on Constitutional Review and National Security Architecture, organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, on Monday in Abuja.
Represented by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the President emphasised the need for a multi-pronged approach to tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
According to him, it is time to align Nigeria’s security framework with present-day realities, warning that neither full centralization nor outright fragmentation can sufficiently guarantee the nation’s safety.
He said: “The growing calls for state police, the challenges of cybercrime and cybersecurity, and the urgent need for improved intelligence sharing demand a more adaptive and cooperative security architecture”.
The President drew attention to various threats from terrorism in the Northeast and banditry in the Northwest, to farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt and separatist agitations in the Southeast—as issues that transcend the capacity of any single agency.
According to him, the government’s integrated security strategy characterized by intelligence fusion, joint task force operations, and synchronized offensives—has yielded significant results, including the dismantling of separatist cells in the Southeast and the disruption of criminal networks in the Northwest.
“These efforts have led to a reduction in high-profile kidnappings and improved responses to cross-border threats, demonstrating the effectiveness of a whole-of-government strategy,” he said.
The President also cited strides under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the establishment of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, the procurement of surveillance drones and mine-resistant vehicles, and the adoption of a community policing framework to foster public trust.
He further emphasised the importance of addressing Nigeria’s porous borders, advocating for constitutional clarity on federal and sub-national roles in frontier security.
Earlier in his remarks, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the dialogue was timely, given the urgent need to review and update existing laws to address current and emerging security threats.
He said Nigeria’s complex security landscape demands strategies that are “multi-dimensional, inclusive, technology-driven, and adaptable,” anchored in a solid legal and institutional framework.
“The goal is to reposition the security architecture to effectively confront insecurity. This dialogue also allows us to refine proposed security-related bills, including the one seeking to establish state police,” Abbas said.
He highlighted the prevalence of terrorism, banditry, piracy, militancy, and oil theft across regions, stressing that the House is committed to taking practical legislative steps beyond motions and bills to support the government’s anti-insecurity efforts.
The Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, described the dialogue as a necessary diagnostic process.
He said previous legislation on security was often developed without adequate input from those directly involved in frontline operations.
“As legislators, we must base our reforms on accurate diagnoses. We are here to listen to those who wear the shoes and know where it pinches,” Kalu said.
Also speaking, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, also called for urgent legal and constitutional reforms to address emerging threats like cyber warfare, hybrid threats, and insurgency.
Musa described the current legal framework as increasingly inadequate and highlighted operational ambiguities such as unclear command authority and detention procedures that hamper effectiveness during internal operations.
He proposed key reforms including: Amending the Armed Forces Act and relevant constitutional provisions;
Establishing field and standing court martials in all military commands;
Constitutionally recognizing court-martial as superior courts of record;
Empowering the military to investigate and detain suspects during internal operations; Authorizing the Nigerian Navy to collaborate with Customs and Immigration on inland waterways to combat piracy and smuggling;
Introducing a merit-based nomination process for the appointment of service chiefs.
He also advocated for legal provisions to enable court-martials to try individuals captured in acts of terrorism or insurrection under martial law conditions.
“Security is not just about military hardware; it’s about legal clarity, institutional strength, and public trust,” Gen. Musa stated.
National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said security and constitutional order are deeply intertwined.
Ribadu, represented by the National Coordinator, National Centre for Anti-Counter Terrorism, Maj.Gen Adamu Laka, emphasized that a responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking constitution is essential for fostering national unity and addressing the root causes of insecurity.
“The Constitution must evolve to reflect the hopes and challenges of Nigerians. Addressing grievances, protecting rights, and fostering trust between citizens and the state are all constitutional imperatives,” Ribadu said.
He commended the National Assembly for initiating the dialogue and called for constitutional reforms that decentralize service delivery, strengthen institutions, and promote more effective governance.
“As we deliberate today, let us remember that constitutional reform is not just about structure—it’s about the survival, stability, and sovereignty of our Republic,” he added.
