News
CDS Advocates For Police, NSCDC to Unify Success On Insurgency
…as Reps say 2026 budget must align with Nigeria’s national security priorities
By Gloria Ikibah
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for the urgent need to strengthen of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to consolidate gains recorded by the Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency and banditry across the country.
General Oluyede who stated this during the 2025 budget appraisal and the 2026 budget defence on Tuesday in Abuja, the police and civil defence corps, has larger personnel strength and wider community reach than the Armed Forces, and should be adequately equipped to take over and secure areas already cleared of criminal elements by the military.
“If these institutions are strengthened, they can effectively hold and secure territories where the Armed Forces have succeeded, ensuring that such areas remain safe,” the CDS said.
Giving an update on the country’s security landscape, Oluyede said plans had been finalised to deploy special forces to Kwara State and parts of Niger State in response to the recent rise in insecurity. He emphasised, however, that the task of restoring safety could not be left to the Armed Forces alone.
He also reassured Nigerians that fresh operations were being intensified to confront persistent security challenges in the Middle Belt, especially in Benue and Plateau states, with troops moving proactively to flush out criminal elements from their strongholds.
“We are doing everything within our capacity to ensure that Nigeria becomes safer.
“As we speak, the situation has improved significantly in the North-East. In the North-West, we still face serious challenges, and the same applies to parts of the North-Central, including Benue, Plateau and even Kwara. But we are evolving modalities to address these challenges within the resources available to us”, the CDS said.
He also said that new special forces had been deployed to Benue and Plateau, while a new Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Savannah Shield, will be inaugurated to specifically cover Kwara State and parts of Niger State.
“We are pulling resources from other theatres to strengthen this operation and ensure improved security in the area,” he added.
The CDS further stated that Nigeria was in partnership with some allied countries to bridge gaps in intelligence gathering, and such partnerships were being streamlined to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.
“Our partners have been quite helpful, particularly in intelligence. But we are careful to streamline these collaborations in line with the guidelines of Mr President, to ensure that Nigeria’s sovereignty is not compromised,” he stated.
Oluyede lamented that the Armed Forces is challenged with adequate manpower and so cannot be deployed everywhere, he added that continuous movement of troops from one theatre to another had placed enormous strain on personnel.
“The soldiers hardly have rest because we don’t have the numbers. Recruiting more personnel comes with other challenges—housing, logistics and welfare. That is why strengthening the police and civil defence is critical. They have more men and better reach to fill the gaps after military operations,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Chairman House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson said Nigeria’s current security challenges cannot be solved through force alone.
While recognising the progress made by the Armed Forces and other security agencies, Rep. Benson argued that lasting peace would only be achieved by combining military action with well-planned non-kinetic strategies.
“The defence and security sector occupies a central place in Nigeria’s development discourse. No nation can make sustainable progress without guaranteeing the safety of lives, property and critical national assets,” he said.
He pointed out that ongoing security threats highlighted the urgent need for deeper institutional reforms, stronger collaboration among security agencies and more strategic use of limited resources.
Benson noted that higher budgetary allocations must be backed by clear results, value for money, transparency and accountability.
“The era of input-focused budgeting without commensurate impact is no longer acceptable. Nigerians expect results that translate into safer communities, restored livelihoods and renewed confidence in the authority of the state,” he added.
He therefore called for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to security, urging increased investment in strategic communication, community peacebuilding, defence intelligence systems, cyber defence, border security technology, police reforms and inter-agency data fusion centres.
According to him, the 2026 budget proposals must clearly reflect a balance between military capability and the tools required for sustainable peace.
Benson restated the commitmentof the 10th House of Representatives’ to peace, unity and national security, pledging the Committee’s support for initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence framework through local defence production, research and development, improved welfare for personnel and modernisation driven by efficiency, transparency and innovation.
He further emphasised that the 2026 budget must align closely with Nigeria’s national security priorities and ongoing reforms in the defence sector, insisting that submissions before the Committee must be realistic, properly justified and focused on performance.
He added that the Committee will scrutinise closely issues relating to personnel welfare, training and capacity building, equipment maintenance and modernisation, intelligence gathering, logistics support and the sustainability of ongoing military operations.
“Recurring issues such as abandoned projects, procurement inefficiencies and delays in budget implementation must be decisively addressed,” Benson noted.
He reiterated that oversight remained a core constitutional duty of the House Committee on Defence, emphasising that funds approved by the National Assembly are public resources that must be carefully and responsibly used.
“Appropriations approved by the National Assembly are public funds, and we will continue to track their utilisation to ensure strict compliance with the Appropriation Act and extant financial regulations,” he stressed.
Benson explained that accountability should not be seen as punishment, but as a shared responsibility that builds public trust and strengthens institutional credibility.
“Our oversight is not an obstacle but a necessary catalyst for efficiency and effectiveness. We stand ready to advocate for the resources the Armed Forces genuinely require to succeed. However, this partnership is predicated on mutual transparency, a shared vision and an unyielding commitment to measurable results,” he added.
He again affirmed the House of Representatives’ firm commitment to the peace, unity and security of the country, noting that the Committee on Defence will continue to back efforts aimed at expanding local defence production, boosting research and development, improving personnel welfare and modernising Nigeria’s defence architecture.
“These efforts are driven by our conviction that a strong, professional and well-motivated military is indispensable to national stability. This budget defence session should therefore be seen not merely as a routine legislative exercise, but as a collective opportunity to recalibrate our approach to securing Nigeria today and safeguarding her future,” Benson said.
By Gloria Ikibah
Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, has urged West African countries to draw lessons from Nigeria’s experience with farmer-herder conflicts and the humanitarian crises arising from them.
First Deputy Speaker made the call in a presentation titled, “Strategies for addressing internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria”, delivered on his behalf by Senator Sadiq Umar during the Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana.
He said Nigeria’s experience offered important lessons for the region and the African continent, particularly in addressing conflicts linked to competition for land and water.
According to him, Nigeria has extensive agricultural and pastoral economies, with a large proportion of the population depending on farming and livestock production for their livelihoods.
He, however, said increasing pressure on land and water resources had contributed to conflicts, banditry, terrorism and other humanitarian disasters.
Barau said the Federal Government had introduced measures to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflicts, including the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
He said the ministry was, among other responsibilities, established to manage emergency relief operations and responses to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He said: “Nigeria’s approach is increasingly consistent with the international shift from short-term humanitarian response towards government-led development-orientated solutions.
“Nigeria is also one of the countries selected under the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internally Displaced and Focused National Pathways towards Durable Solutions.
“Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of internally displaced persons has also been strengthened through its engagement with the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, commonly known as the Kampala Convention”.
Despite these interventions, Barau expressed concern that the crisis had continued to defy efforts to resolve it, with more than three million Nigerians still living in internally displaced persons’ camps across the country.
He argued that internal displacement should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of humanitarian agencies, but should involve coordinated action by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), traditional institutions and other stakeholders.
First Deputy Speaker also called for greater attention to early warning systems, conflict prevention mechanisms and climate adaptation as part of efforts to prevent conflicts before they escalate.
He said livestock should not be viewed merely as a security issue but also as an important economic sector capable of contributing to livelihoods and national development.
According to him, investment in ranching, animal feeding and breeding could help reduce some of the pressures associated with uncontrolled livestock movement.
Barau also urged ECOWAS parliamentarians to develop appropriate legislative frameworks for the protection of displaced persons and the regulation of land and livestock management.
“Parliamentary committees should conduct evidence-based oversight of government programmes and expenditure relating to displacement, security, agriculture, livestock and reconstruction,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s experience had shown that internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts were complex challenges that could not be resolved through isolated interventions.
The Senator said effective implementation of policies and programmes was equally important to ensuring that farmers and herders could pursue their lawful and productive livelihoods without unnecessary conflict.
Barau’s presentation focused on Nigeria’s internal security challenges and their socio-economic consequences, while urging other countries in the region to focus more on preventing similar crises rather than waiting to respond after they occur.
“For Africa, the challenge extends beyond responding to crises after they occur, it requires building resilient institutions, economies and communities capable of preventing conflicts and protracted displacement.
“As parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to support appropriate legislation, strengthen oversight, promote inclusive dialogue and ensure that public resources are directed towards sustainable solutions,” he added.
By Gloria Ikibah
Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and member of Ghana’s delegation, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called on parliamentarians to remain close to the people they represent and ensure that regional integration delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Afenyo-Markin made the call during the ongoing Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana, where he formally handed over his responsibilities to George Kweku-Ricketts Hagan of Cape Coast South, following the completion of his tenure.
The outgoing Deputy Speaker said regional integration must go beyond treaties, protocols and meetings among institutions, insisting that its impact must be visible in the daily lives of citizens across West Africa.
“Regional integration must be understood beyond treaties, protocols and meetings of institutions. Its true value must be felt in our communities, in the opportunities available to our young people, in the movement of our citizens and businesses across borders,” he said.
He said no single member state could successfully confront the challenges facing the region alone, stressing the need for collective action and stronger regional cooperation.
Afenyo-Markin also drew attention to the connection between climate change, poverty and insecurity in the region.
He said climate change could intensify existing pressures, worsen poverty, increase competition over land and water resources and threaten livelihoods.
He, however, cautioned against attributing every conflict in the region to climate change, urging policymakers to understand the relationship between environmental stress and insecurity without oversimplifying complex conflicts.
The outgoing Deputy Speaker also highlighted the importance of taking parliamentary activities beyond national capitals as part of efforts to bring regional institutions closer to the people.
He recalled the parliamentary seminar held in Congo Town, Liberia, in 2019 and the decision to take parliamentary activities to Winneba, the capital of his constituency, in 2021.
According to him, the initiative demonstrated the importance of taking the parliament to communities rather than limiting its activities to traditional political centres.
“Winneba subsequently hosted parliamentary activities on four occasions by 2024,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin said the visits provided residents with opportunities to interact directly with the regional institution, including traditional rulers, members of the business community, young people and the University of Education, Winneba.
“We must from time to time, leave the familiar surroundings of our national capital and meet our citizens where they live,” he said.
He noted that the approach had subsequently been extended to other locations, including Kano and Port Harcourt in Nigeria.
The lawmaker, who took time to highlight some of his contributions to his constituency and the wider region, said greater engagement with citizens remained central to strengthening the relevance of the ECOWAS Parliament.
At the handover ceremony, Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence in his successor, describing Hagan as a worthy parliamentarian with the experience required for the responsibility.
“He is a worthy member of Parliament, who I believe will succeed me in this responsibility. He is bringing his experience in parliamentary diplomacy and an understanding of regional integration to the role.
“Leadership is ultimately about service and continuity,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He also pledged his continued support to the ECOWAS Parliament, assuring that Ghana’s delegation would continue to contribute meaningfully to the work of the regional legislature.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, has described Ghana’s decision to elect a woman as Vice-President as an inspiration for women and girls across West Africa.
Speaker Ibrahima stated this when she met Ghana’s Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on the sidelines of the ongoing Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar in Accra.
She expressed appreciation to the Vice-President for receiving her and for the speech she delivered at the opening of the parliamentary proceedings.
Ibrahima also commended President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, saying the country’s choice to have a woman occupy the vice presidency sent an important message across the region.
She said: “By entrusting the vice presidency to a woman, Ghana sends a powerful message to our entire region: that Africa believes in women’s leadership. Her journey is an inspiration to millions of young girls”.
The meeting also focused on the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament and its core responsibilities, including issuing opinions on matters referred to it, examining the Community’s budget and conducting oversight missions.
The two leaders further discussed issues affecting young people across the region, particularly the harmonisation of curricula and mutual recognition of academic diplomas among ECOWAS member states.
Ibrahima said making it possible for qualifications obtained in one ECOWAS country to be recognised in another will strengthen regional integration and make free movement more meaningful.
She said a graduate from Lomé, Abuja or Dakar should be able to have their skills recognised in Accra, describing such recognition as an important step towards building an ECOWAS of the Peoples.
The Speaker thanked the Ghanaian authorities for their hospitality and the organisation of the parliamentary session.
The meeting forms part of the ECOWAS Parliament’s engagement with regional leaders as the institution marks its 25th anniversary and pursues integration priorities, including youth mobility and the recognition of academic qualifications across West Africa.
Rt. Hon. Ibrahima is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament since its establishment in 2000, having been elected to lead the sixth legislature in May 2024.
Ecoparl: Senator Barau Urges ECOWAS to Tackle Root Causes of Farmer-herder Conflicts
ECOWAS Parliament Must Stay Close to Citizens – Afenyo-Markin
Speaker Ibrahima Hails Ghana’s Female Vice Presidency, Pushes Diploma Recognition
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