Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for increased local production of military equipment in Nigeria
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for increased local production of military equipment and stronger measures to curb the financing of criminal and terrorist activities as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Nigeria People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja, Kalu said the country must reduce its dependence on imported weapons by investing in a robust indigenous defence industry capable of meeting national security needs while creating jobs and strengthening the economy.
The conference, themed “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capacity into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture,” brought together stakeholders from the defence industry, financial institutions, civil society organisations and security agencies.
Kalu stressed that every sector must play a defined role in addressing the country’s security challenges, urging the defence industry to expand local manufacturing capacity.
“The defence industry must deepen local capacity so that we do not import what we can produce,” he said.
He also charged the technology sector to develop platforms that would improve intelligence sharing and provide community-based early warning systems, while calling on financial institutions to strengthen due diligence and transaction monitoring to block illicit financial flows that sustain criminal and terrorist networks.
According to him, civil society organisations should continue to bridge the gap between communities and government to foster lasting peace, while the National Assembly would provide the legal framework needed to support the country’s security architecture through constitutional amendments, budgetary allocations and oversight functions.
“The legislature will continue to provide the legal scaffolding on which all of this is built. We will review the constitution where necessary, appropriate resources where needed and provide oversight to ensure that what is promised is delivered,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker also referenced the recent House of Representatives vote in support of the proposed constitutional amendment on state policing, describing the overwhelming approval as a demonstration of patriotism.
“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,” Kalu stated.
He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into concrete actions, saying Nigeria’s security challenges require collaboration between government institutions, the private sector and local communities.
Kalu also rejected suggestions that Nigeria was a failing state, insisting that the country remained resilient despite its security challenges.
“Nigeria is not failing. Nigeria is fighting. There is a difference. A failing country stops trying. Nigeria has never stopped trying. But resilience must be matched by structure and courage must be matched by policy,” he said.
He added that Nigerians deserved a security ecosystem capable of protecting lives and sustaining peace, describing the country’s future as a collective project that requires the commitment of all stakeholders.
