Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for an end to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported military hardware, urging the country to build a robust homegrown defence industry capable of strengthening national security, creating jobs, and reducing strategic vulnerabilities.
Kalu said Nigeria must move from being a consumer of foreign defence equipment to becoming a producer, arguing that strengthening local arms manufacturing would not only enhance national security but also stimulate economic growth and technological development.
He spoke in Abuja at the Nigeria People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026, themed “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capacity into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture.”
The Deputy Speaker stressed that tackling Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be left to government and security agencies alone, insisting that every sector of society has a critical role to play.
According to him, the conference must produce concrete commitments rather than remain a platform for discussions.
Kalu urged the technology sector to develop platforms that facilitate intelligence gathering, information sharing, and community-based early warning systems capable of preventing security threats before they escalate.
He also challenged the financial sector to strengthen due diligence processes and transaction monitoring mechanisms to block the flow of illicit funds used by criminal networks, terrorists, and other non-state actors.
“The defence industry must deepen local capacity so that we do not import what we can produce. The technology sector must offer platforms for intelligence sharing and community early warning.
“The financial sector must tighten the checkpoint through which criminal and terrorist financing flows. The civil society must continue to build the bridges between communities and government that make sustainable peace possible,” he said.
Legislature Committed to Security Reforms
Kalu reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to supporting security reforms through legislation, constitutional amendments, budgetary allocations, and oversight functions.
He said lawmakers would continue to provide the legal framework required to strengthen security institutions and ensure accountability in the implementation of government programmes.
“And the legislature, we will continue to provide the legal scaffolding on which all of this is built. We will continue to review the Constitution where it needs reviewing. We will appropriate resources where resources are needed.
“We will provide oversight to ensure that what is promised is delivered. We will legislate not for public applause but for the protection of lives and the dignity of every Nigerian,” he stated.
Highlighting recent legislative efforts to address insecurity, Kalu pointed to the House of Representatives’ overwhelming support for the State Police constitutional amendment.
According to him, the House voted 289 to 2 in favour of the proposal, describing the near-unanimous decision as a demonstration of patriotism rather than partisan politics.
“I am proud to serve in an assembly that just two days ago voted 289 to 2 in favour of a safer Nigeria. That near-unanimity was not partisan. It was patriotic,” he said.
He added that the same spirit of unity displayed by lawmakers must be replicated across all sectors if Nigeria is to overcome its security challenges.
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Addressing growing concerns about the country’s security situation, Kalu rejected suggestions that Nigeria is a failing state.
Instead, he argued that the country remains resilient despite the scale of its challenges.
“Nigeria is not failing. Nigeria is fighting. There is a difference. A failing country stops trying. Nigeria has never stopped trying. That is our heritage. That is our irreducible character,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker concluded with a call for collective action, urging government institutions, businesses, communities, civil society groups, and citizens to work together to build a safer and more secure nation.
“There is a Nigeria on the other side of this season. That Nigeria is not a promise. It is a project.
“A project that belongs to all of us — the legislature and the executive, the uniform and the suit, the community and the corporation, the government and the governed.
“We are a people worth fighting for. This republic is worth building. Let this moment be the moment we decide, formally and finally, to build it together,” Kalu said.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.