The Nigerian Senate has declared strong support for the creation of state police forces, a dedicated National Youth Stabilisation Fund, and a modern, technology-based intelligence system. This move aims to decisively address the nation's escalating security challenges.
Core Drivers of Insecurity Identified
The Senate's position is based on the interim findings of its Ad hoc Committee on National Security. The committee conducted extensive zonal public hearings across the country's six geopolitical zones between November 16 and 30, 2025.
The hearings took place in Maiduguri, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Jos, and Kaduna. They gathered insights from security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society, and community leaders.
The committee pinpointed several interconnected factors as the root causes of insecurity:
- Widespread poverty and youth unemployment
- Porous national borders
- Illegal mining activities
- Rampant drug abuse
- Critical gaps in intelligence gathering
- Governance failures at various levels
These findings will form the basis for a National Security Summit scheduled for early 2026.
A Constitutional Shift for State Policing
A central recommendation in the report is a call for a constitutional amendment to establish state police. The committee argued that the current centralized policing structure is overstretched and ineffective.
It highlighted the contradiction where state governors and local council chairmen are designated chief security officers but lack direct operational control over security assets. This leaves communities vulnerable.
"The safety, dignity and protection of Nigerians should not be privileges reserved for the elite," the report firmly stated. Committee Chairman, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, noted that the hearings revealed a rare nationwide consensus on the urgent need for these reforms.
Leadership Tests in the House of Representatives
In a related development, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, reflected on major challenges faced by the leadership in 2025.
He identified the controversy over alleged discrepancies in Nigeria's newly gazetted tax laws as a significant test. The issue, raised on the floor by Abdulsammad Dasuki, sparked intense public scrutiny and debate.
"The tax law issue was a serious test. It attracted public attention and could have destabilised the House. The leadership ensured it was handled within parliamentary rules and procedures," Agbese stated.
He also cited internal pressures over recruitment into the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and the sensitive deliberations on a potential state of emergency in Rivers State as other critical moments. Agbese expressed hope that the House would strengthen its internal processes in 2026 having learned from these events.
A Message of Hope and Unity for 2026
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, in his New Year message delivered through his Special Adviser on Media, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, urged Nigerians to renew their hope.
He acknowledged the challenges of 2025 but also noted commendable strides in governance and improved security efforts. Abbas praised the resilience of Nigerians as the driving force that propels the nation forward.
The Speaker called for unity across all faiths, regions, and political affiliations to build a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria. He reaffirmed the legislature's commitment to passing people-oriented laws that enhance economic stability, promote inclusiveness, and ensure security, aligning with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
