Abuja: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for the strengthening of Nigeria’s intelligence and security institutions to effectively respond to the country’s evolving security challenges.
Tajudeen made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence on three bills aimed at reforming the nation’s intelligence framework.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a Department of State Services (DSS) Trust Fund, a Strategic Intelligence Management Institute, and a DSS Research and Development Institute.
The Speaker stressed that security remains the foundation for economic growth, social development and democratic stability, noting that sustained investment in intelligence capabilities is critical to national progress.
According to him, the bills address key gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture and respond to emerging threats that require innovation, research, professional development and stronger institutional capacity.
“They recognise that the threats facing Nigeria today require more than conventional responses; they demand sustained investment in intelligence capacity, innovation, research, professional development and institutional resilience,” he said.
Abbas noted that security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cybercrime and transnational organised crime continue to place significant pressure on national institutions.
“To effectively confront these threats, we must improve our ability to gather, analyse and deploy intelligence in a timely and coordinated manner,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC–Borno), assured that stakeholders’ inputs would be given full consideration in the legislative process.
Satomi emphasised that national security is a collective responsibility that requires active participation from citizens and collaboration among stakeholders.
He said the committee’s final report would reflect consensus and credible recommendations from the public hearing and wider engagements, adding that the legislature remains committed to a transparent and responsive lawmaking process that addresses Nigeria’s security needs.
