Kalu Advocates for State Police Legislation in Nigeria

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member representing Abia State, is the lead sponsor of a significant bill aimed at establishing state police in Nigeria. This legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow states to create their own police forces, addressing the limitations of the current centralized policing model that has been in place since April 1, 1930.

Kalu argues that the existing model is inadequate for Nigeria's population of over 220 million and the contemporary security challenges, including banditry and kidnappings. The bill is scheduled for consideration on June 11, 2026, and aims to provide states with the authority to manage their own police forces, thereby enhancing local security responses and community intelligence.

Kalu has emphasized the need for this reform to ensure a more effective policing system that is responsive to the unique security needs of different regions in Nigeria.