Nigeria needs new ideas to tackle security issues, says House Speaker

Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen has said that Nigeria’s growing security problems need new solutions. He stated that past methods have not fully tackled the country’s complicated threats.

Mr Tajudeen spoke on Monday at the start of a two-day public hearing on defence bills. This event was organized by the House Committee on Defence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

His comments come as the House of Representatives begins looking at a set of defence reform bills. These bills aim to strengthen military institutions, improve the welfare of personnel, and prepare the Armed Forces for new security challenges.

“Let me state clearly. The security challenges we face today demand bold, fresh thinking. The old ways have not fully worked. We must be open to legislative innovations,” the Speaker said.

He explained that this proposed legislation is part of the 10th House’s plan to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework for defence. This comes amid rising worries about insecurity across various regions of the country.

Mr Tajudeen said the military is under great pressure as it deals with insurgency in the North-east, banditry and kidnapping in the North-west, farmer-herder clashes in the North-central, and separatist movements in the South-east.

He also pointed out that new threats like maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, cyber warfare, and the growing connections between organized crime and terrorism have made Nigeria’s security situation more complicated.

The Speaker mentioned that the bills being considered aim to modernize military management, enhance operational efficiency, and create a stronger and more inclusive defence institution. This will help respond to both traditional and new threats.

Among the proposed measures is a bill to repeal the Armed Forces Act. It will be replaced by the Nigerian Military Force Act, which aims to reform military governance and administration.

Lawmakers are also looking at the Armed Forces Farms and Ranches Scheme Bill. This bill aims to support national food security while improving military involvement in agricultural areas affected by conflict.

Other proposals include a bill on gender representation in the Armed Forces to promote inclusiveness, and legislation to establish a Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria. This will help improve welfare and representation for retired military personnel.

There are also bills focused on military education, developing military doctrines, and providing healthcare services for active personnel.

Mr Tajudeen stressed that the public hearing is a chance for stakeholders to influence the proposed legislation. He encouraged serving and retired military personnel, civil society groups, legal experts, veterans, gender advocates, and the general public to participate.

He assured stakeholders that the contributions made during the hearing would be reviewed carefully and included in the final reports where suitable.

Earlier, Babajimi Benson, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, described the hearing as a key step in the legislative process. He mentioned that defence laws directly impact national security, military readiness, and the safety of citizens.

Mr Benson said the proposed laws aim to improve military professionalism, boost institutional capacity, and prepare the Armed Forces to respond better to modern security threats.

He highlighted the need for public participation, stating that involving more stakeholders would help create laws that are practical and responsive to national needs.

The hearing brought together representatives from the Armed Forces, security and intelligence agencies, government ministries, civil groups, development partners, academics, veterans, and media members.

One of the most discussed proposals during the hearing was the bill to create the Veterans’ Federation of Nigeria. Some stakeholders supported it, saying it reflects practices in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where veterans’ groups operate independently while the government oversees welfare programs.

But other participants raised concerns about the bill, claiming it gives too much power to senior military officers and does not sufficiently consider lower-ranking veterans.

A retired non-commissioned officer and lawyer, Sadiqe Nwabuezeh, suggested a different approach. He proposed setting up a Ministry of Veterans Affairs led by former military personnel.

He argued that veterans should have a bigger role in managing bodies created to protect their interests, insisting that representation should include all ranks in the military community.

The public hearing aims to produce recommendations that will guide the House Committee on Defence as it prepares the bills for further legislative action.