By Oluwakemi Kindness
The United Kingdom on Wednesday reaffirmed its support for Nigeria’s security sector reforms, backing the National Assembly’s push for state policing and stronger institutional accountability.
The affirmation came on Wednesday at a high-level National Security Roundtable held as part of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week.
The UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme said the roundtable brought together lawmakers, security chiefs and state governors to assess Nigeria’s security challenges and identify the legislative and budgetary support required to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Discussions focused on advancing state policing under the ongoing constitutional review, improving oversight of security institutions and enhancing funding for security agencies.
Participants also explored ways to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, deploy technology in security operations and deepen community engagement to tackle insecurity.
Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja, Cynthia Rowe, said sustainable security depends on strong and accountable institutions that respond to the needs of the people.
She said the UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s legislative frameworks to ensure security interventions are transparent, adequately resourced and rooted in respect for human rights.
According to Rowe, the National Assembly’s initiative marks an important step towards strengthening reforms that will protect vulnerable communities and promote lasting peace and stability across the country.
SPRiNG Programme Team Leader, Ukoha Ukiwo, said experience from the programme’s work across its partner states has shown that community peacebuilding efforts require strong legal and institutional backing.
He said the roundtable’s focus on state policing, security funding and accountability offers an opportunity to bridge grassroots security realities with legislative action, enabling formal and informal security structures to work together in building resilient communities.
Attendees included the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, and the Ministers of Defence, Interior and Police Affairs.
Governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Plateau and Benue, SPRiNG’s focal states as well as governors of Kwara, Zamfara, Niger and Borno, also shared perspectives on regional security challenges and peacebuilding efforts.
The discussions also addressed pressing security threats, including banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts, while identifying practical measures to improve coordination among security agencies.
The roundtable concluded with plans to produce recommendations to guide the implementation of state policing and other security reforms, with the SPRiNG Programme pledging continued engagement with relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of agreed resolutions.
