…Interior Minister blames porous borders for security failure
…Agencies are working in silos, we must break constitutional barrier – Kalu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has issued a strong warning to security agencies, stating that Nigerians should never find themselves fearing the police more than terrorists or bandits.
Speaking during the Constitution Review Dialogue on National Security Architecture, held in Abuja on Tuesday, Kalu condemned the deep-rooted mistrust between citizens and law enforcement. He described it as clear evidence of structural and legislative failure within Nigeria’s security framework.
He said, “The day Nigerians begin to fear those who are paid to protect them more than those attacking them, then we have lost the meaning of internal security.”
The Deputy Speaker referenced the recent killings in Yelewata and Daudu communities in Benue State as a grim reminder of Nigeria’s uncoordinated and ineffective security response. He described the attacks as “barbaric and unacceptable” and urged all security agencies to respond with urgency and greater collaboration.
He stressed, “Security agencies can no longer afford to work in isolation. Intelligence without collaboration is useless. There must be a unified, determined, and legally supported approach to internal security.”
Kalu disclosed that the House Committee on Constitution Review has launched national consultations aimed at identifying weaknesses in Nigeria’s existing security laws. Tuesday’s session specifically addressed the legal hurdles obstructing effective policing and border control.
He affirmed that the legislature is committed to pushing reforms that will strengthen local policing structures, clearly define the roles of security agencies, and improve accountability to the public.
“The laws must change. Policing must evolve. Our people deserve to sleep with both eyes closed,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, lamented the continued budgetary neglect of internal security and the nation’s porous borders, which, he argued, continue to sabotage efforts to combat terrorism.
“You kill one terrorist today, and twenty more enter through our open borders. The Nigeria Immigration Service has a capital budget of less than N10 billion — how are they expected to protect over 4,000 kilometres of borderlines?” he asked.
Dr Tunji-Ojo criticised the overreliance on the military in discussions around national security.
“When people talk about security in Nigeria, they think of soldiers. That alone tells you how broken the system is. Internal security is about police, immigration, and intelligence, not just military operations.”
He further described the dependence of the Nigerian Police Force on capital releases from the federal budget as a major constraint, calling for a sustainable and independent funding structure for effective policing.
Both Kalu and Tunji-Ojo stressed the urgent need to revise the Constitution to align with modern security challenges, transnational crimes, and the evolving landscape of technology-driven crime.
Kalu concluded by reiterating the readiness of the House of Representatives to enact constitutional amendments that empower citizens and hold public institutions to account.
“We cannot continue to bury victims of attacks that could have been prevented. The law must serve as the shield of the people,” he declared.
The summit, which brought together service chiefs, legal experts, and civil society organisations, represents a crucial step in Nigeria’s move to overhaul its security architecture through legislative change and coordinated national strategy.
