By Saint Mugaga

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has said that a centralized police system cannot adequately secure a nation with over 200 million people.

He said this is the reason Nigeria is moving to amend its Constitution to allow states establish and oversee their own police services.

Speaking during an engagement with the UK Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, at the House of Commons in London, United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday, Kalu said the reform is driven by the failure of a centralized model to address Nigeria’s scale, diversity of threats, and security gaps.

The Deputy Speaker told the UK lawmakers that centralized policing has created response time delays and intelligence gaps.

He said: “The challenge is clear. Centralized policing struggles with Nigeria’s size. State Police is about federalism working better, not fragmentation”.

He explained that the House has already passed the State Police Bill with 289 votes.

“The proposed amendment will enable states to create and oversee police, while the Nigeria Police Force will retain jurisdiction over inter-state crimes”, Kalu said.

To address rising concerns over abuse, Kalu said the Bill has given state police commissions, independent oversight bodies, and National Assembly audit powers to curtail abuses.

“The fear of ‘state militias’ is being addressed legislatively,” he noted.

The Deputy Speaker requested comparative insights from the UK on how it balances local control and national standards across the Metropolitan Police, Police Scotland, and local forces, and sought technical support on legislative drafting for oversight.

“CPA members like Canada, Australia, India have made it work. We want to learn,” he said.

Kalu also briefed the CPA on other amendment priorities.

On women’s representation, he presented the Reserved Seats Bill, HB1349, which seeks 30% of seats for women across federal and state legislatures.

He cited Nigeria’s 4.2% female representation in the House and 181/193 global ranking.

“We’re not asking for quotas forever. We’re creating a ladder for 2-3 cycles until culture catches up”, he said.

On energy, the Deputy Speaker said Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan targets net-zero by 2060 but must be a “just transition” that delivers jobs and energy access first for 200 million people without reliable power.

He sought UK-Nigeria collaboration on green finance and technology transfer.

On health, the Deputy Speaker highlighted the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022 and called for ethical workforce partnerships and UK parliamentary oversight models to curb brain drain and strengthen trust in government.

By Philip Nyam

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Abdulrazak Namdas PhD. as the new Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement in Abuja.

Dr Namdas replaces Dr Dakorinama Alabo George, who resigned to contest for an elective post in his home state.

A former member of the House of Representatives representing Ganye/Jada/Mayo Belwa/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa State, Namdas was the spokesperson of the 8th House of Representatives, and an aspirant in the just-concluded governorship primary election in Adamawa State.

As a seasoned journalist and public relations practitioner, he also served as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Boni Haruna of Adamawa State.

Also, President Tinubu has appointed Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, as the Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial, of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

President Tinubu also reappointed Mr Chukwuma Umeoji as Executive Director, Corporate Services of the NDPHC.

Obahiagbon replaces Engineer Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who resigned from his position as Executive Director, Strategy & Commercial, to pursue his political aspiration in his home state.

Obahiagbon served in both the Edo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

Mr Umeoji, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Aguata Federal Constituency, Anambra State, in the 9th National Assembly, was reappointed as Executive Director, Corporate Services, after resigning to pursue his political ambition in his home state.

All appointments are effective immediately.

–Gov Alia Calls for Calm, Immediate Probe

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

The Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, in Benue State, Ardo Muhammad, and one Yakubu Isah have been killed by gunmen in Otukpo Local Government Area, an incident that has triggered tension in Otukpo and neighbouring Ohimini LGA.

His eldest son confirmed the incident to journalists late Friday, saying his father was ambushed and killed while returning from the meeting.

It was gathered that the MACBAN chairman attended a peace meeting on Friday convened by the Divisional Police Officer of Ohimini with leaders of Ayunne community in Ohimini LGA. The meeting was part of efforts to address a previous crisis in Ayunne where some people were killed.

When contacted, Chairman of Ohimini LGA, Adole Gabriel, said the meeting was fruitful and the MACBAN chairman left afterward. “Unfortunately, I learnt that some gunmen ambushed his vehicle at Okudu community in Otukpo LGA and killed him with one other person,” Gabriel stated.

Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the killing and said there was palpable tension in the community and environs. “It is true that the state chairman of MACBAN was killed within Otukpo LGA this afternoon. The killing has raised tension in the community and environs,” Ogiri said, urging residents to remain calm while security operatives handle the situation.

The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed she had received the report and said an investigation was ongoing.

In a statement issued Saturday June 27, 2026, Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed deep shock and sadness over the killing of “Alhaji Ardo Risku and his friend.” He said the heinous act came at a time when the state was witnessing a significant return to peace and stability.

“It is deeply regrettable that this unfortunate incident occurred shortly after a security meeting,” the governor said, describing it as “a direct attempt to undermine the hard-earned peace and the atmosphere of reconciliation” his administration has worked to foster.

He directed security agencies to launch a thorough and transparent investigation immediately to uncover the circumstances surrounding the killing. He emphasized that the security should leave no stone unturned in fishing out the perpetrators and bring them to justice swiftly.

The governor urged MACBAN members and the public to remain calm and law-abiding. “We must not allow those who profit from chaos to succeed in inciting further violence or disrupting the peace we have taken time to build,” he said.

Alia extended condolences to the family of the deceased and the entire MACBAN community, adding: “Our administration remains resolute: Benue is a home for peace, and we will not allow the shadows of the past to eclipse the bright future we are currently building.”