The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has harped on the need for a decisive legislative action toward establishing a multi-level policing system in the country as it is a necessary step to address the present security challenges.
Abbas said this at the public hearing on the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill, 2024, organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday.
Represented by the member representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency, Hon Muktar Shagaya, the speaker said security reforms have become a national priority and must now move from “theory to decisive action.”
The Speaker said establishing state police through constitutional amendment remains a viable option, which deserve serious national consideration.
He also stressed the need to strengthen community policing as provided in the Police Act 2020 to make it more effective and responsive to local realities.
“The time has come for the debate on multi-level policing to move from theory to decisive legislative action. Creating state police through constitutional amendment remains a viable option that deserves serious consideration,” he stated. “However, beyond constitutional reform, we must also strengthen community policing to make it more effective and responsive to local realities.”
Abbas said the House remains committed to reforms that will enhance public safety and strengthen Nigeria’s overall security architecture.
According to him, the National Assembly’s focus on security-related legislation, including the proposed Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill, underscores its determination to provide a legal framework that promotes accountability, professionalism, and collaboration among both public and private security actors.
The Speaker explained that the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill seeks to create a regulatory framework for private intelligence and investigation services, ensuring they operate ethically, responsibly, and in compliance with professional standards.
He said the bill aims to implement uniform practices that will enhance service quality, promote continuous training and capacity development, and encourage stronger cooperation between private and public security institutions.
He reaffirmed that the 10th House of Representatives remains committed to transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in all legislative engagements.
The chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ahmad Satomi, said the proposed legislation to establish a Private Intelligence and Investigation Council will mark a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture through the regulation and professionalisation of private intelligence operations.
Satomi described the bill as a forward-looking initiative that seeks to ensure accountability, professionalism, and ethical conduct within the country’s growing private intelligence and investigation industry.
He said the proposed Council will serve as a regulatory body responsible for standardizing industry practices, providing accreditation and certification, and promoting continuous training and collaboration between the private and public security sectors.
“This marks a significant step towards strengthening our national security framework and ensuring the professionalism of private intelligence and investigation services.
“The proposed bill seeks to establish a regulatory framework that ensures ethical conduct and accountability. If established, the Council will standardize practices, promote continuous training, and foster collaboration between private and public security sectors” he said.
Citing recent data, Satomi said the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported over 51.89 million household crime incidents between May 2023 and April 2024, with kidnapping alone accounting for 2.23 million incidents and ₦2.23 trillion paid in ransoms during the same period.
“These figures,” he said, “underscored the magnitude of the security threats confronting our nation and the need for all stakeholders, governmental and private, to work collaboratively. Security, as it is often said, is everyone’s business.”
The Borno lawmaker emphasised that while the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies are commendable, the evolving nature of threats demands additional layers of support, regulation, and intelligence coordination.
However, Satomi acknowledged that not all stakeholders fully agree on every provision of the proposed legislation, saying while many of the submissions received by the Committee were supportive, some expressed concerns regarding possible overlaps with existing laws and the mandates of established security institutions.
“For instance, there is a concern that upholding Section 1(3)(a–f) of the Bill as it stands may dilute the exclusive statutory responsibility of an agency in matters of security clearance and internal vetting. Another concern referenced Section 4(i) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, warning that the bill may create duplication, legal disputes, and confusion over authority.
“The obvious disparities in the stance adopted by various security agencies on oversight of intelligence matters once more bring to the fore the problem of non-collaboration in intelligence sharing and utilization,” Satomi observed.
“This issue has hampered efficient delivery of security services, and this Bill may present us an opportunity to address that important aspect of our national security governance structure,” he added.
