By Aaron Ossai
The UK Government-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme has welcomed the National Assembly Security Roundtable which took place yesterday as part of the National Assembly Open Week 2026, describing it as an important platform for advancing security reforms and strengthening institutional accountability in Nigeria.
The roundtable which held at the Conference Hall of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, National Assembly Complex brought together senior security officials and members of relevant National Assembly Committees to assess the country’s security landscape.
Discussions focused on the legislative and budgetary measures required to enhance the effectiveness of security agencies, while also advancing key reform priorities, including state policing within the ongoing constitutional review process.
The event also featured remarks from the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Ministers of Defence, Interior, and Police Affairs. Governors from Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau, and Benue—the SPRiNG Programme’s focal states—along with their counterparts from Kwara, Zamfara, Niger, and Borno, are also expected to share perspectives on security challenges and emerging regional priorities.
Commenting on the significance of the dialogue, the Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja, Ms. Cynthia Rowe, said sustainable security depends on accountable institutions that effectively respond to citizens’ needs.
“The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s legislative frameworks to ensure that security interventions are transparent, adequately resourced, and firmly grounded in respect for human rights.
This roundtable represents an important opportunity to advance reforms that will strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities and promote long-term stability,” she said.
The discussions closely align with the SPRiNG Programme’s Security Sector Reform agenda by addressing key security concerns such as banditry, kidnapping, and farmer-herder conflicts.
Participants examined ways to improve inter-agency collaboration, leverage technology and innovation in security operations, and strengthen community engagement in line with modern policing practices.
SPRiNG Programme Team Leader, Ukoha Ukiwo, highlighted the importance of linking legislative action with community-based peacebuilding efforts.
“Our work across the programme’s focal states has consistently shown that sustainable peacebuilding requires strong legal and institutional frameworks. The emphasis on state policing, security financing, and accountability comes at a critical time.
By connecting community experiences with legislative reforms, we can strengthen both formal and informal security systems and build more resilient communities across Nigeria,” he said.
The roundtable is expected to produce a comprehensive communiqué outlining national security priorities and practical recommendations for implementing state policing and other security initiatives.
The SPRiNG Programme reaffirmed its commitment to supporting continued engagement with key stakeholders to help translate the outcomes of the dialogue into meaningful policy and action.
