SOUTH EAST SECURITY SUMMIT: Ben Kalu Calls for Permanent South-East Security Architecture, Called for 6 Months Roadmap (VIDEO)

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called for the establishment of a permanent South-East security architecture and renewed his support for state police, describing both as critical to ending insecurity and restoring lasting peace in the region.

Speaking at the First South-East Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, Kalu said the increasing sophistication of criminal networks demands coordinated regional action rather than isolated efforts by individual states.

The event attracted top government officials, including Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, the Minister of Defence, representatives of the Senate President, traditional rulers, security chiefs, and other stakeholders committed to addressing insecurity in the region.

Delivering the keynote address at the summit, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” Kalu warned that insecurity has continued to threaten lives, weaken economic growth, discourage investment, and disrupt agriculture, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors across the South-East.

The Deputy Speaker advocated stronger regional collaboration through joint intelligence sharing, coordinated interstate security patrols, a unified database of wanted criminals, harmonised emergency response systems, and the deployment of modern security technologies such as drones, forensic tools, geospatial mapping, and automated vehicle identification systems.

He also emphasized the importance of integrating traditional rulers, town unions, youth groups, women organisations, and other community stakeholders into intelligence gathering and early warning mechanisms.

Kalu also renewed his support for the creation of state police, revealing that the National Assembly, through the ongoing constitutional amendment process, is considering legislation that would establish state policing with adequate safeguards against political abuse. According to him, Nigeria’s centralized policing structure is overstretched and requires reforms that will improve local security while ensuring accountability through clear legal and institutional checks.

He further stressed that achieving lasting peace requires tackling the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, and the manipulation of young people by criminal elements. He urged governments across the South-East to invest more in youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, digital skills, technical education, and agriculture to reduce crime and create sustainable economic opportunities.

To strengthen security coordination, Kalu proposed the establishment of a permanent South-East Regional Security Coordination Council, a shared intelligence and criminal information platform, joint protection of highways, forests, and critical infrastructure, community-based early warning systems, and a public performance scorecard to monitor implementation.

He also recommended a 60-day timeline for developing a comprehensive implementation plan and a six-month review meeting to assess progress.

The Deputy Speaker commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recent security reforms, including the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve divisions and the recruitment of approximately 28,000 additional personnel. He described the measures as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Concluding his address, Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to supporting legislative measures that will enhance security, protect lives and property, and promote economic prosperity across the South-East.

He maintained that no individual or criminal group should be allowed to hold millions of law-abiding citizens hostage through fear and violence, insisting that peace and security remain the foundation for sustainable development in the region.

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