Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says Nigeria’s current security approach is not working and is pushing for new laws to modernize the military.
As reported by Champion Newspapers, Abbas said this on Monday while opening a public hearing on security bills organized by the House Committee on Defence. He said the 10th National Assembly wants to leave a legacy by updating the laws that guide the armed forces.
“The security challenges we face need bold, new thinking. The old ways have not fully worked, so we must embrace legislative innovation,” Abbas told lawmakers, veterans, and civil groups.
The bills under review aim to link military capacity with food security in conflict zones, increase women’s role in the armed forces, replace the outdated Armed Forces Act with modern rules, and improve welfare for retired soldiers. Abbas said the proposals directly address Nigeria’s evolving threats.
He urged serving and retired officers, gender experts, lawyers, veterans, and citizens to submit ideas without fear. “Every memo will be read and useful suggestions will be included in the final bills,” he promised.
Abbas assured Nigerians the committee will act with transparency. “We are not here to protect any hidden interest. We are here to serve the people and make our military more professional, accountable, gender-sensitive, and effective in protecting lives and property,” he said.
Committee chairman Babajimi Benson added that the bills also cover military training, joint operations, medical care, research, and governance reforms. He noted that as threats shift from terrorism to cybercrime, Nigeria’s laws must change too.