Sen. Babagiba Seeks Stronger Legal Framework to Tackle Emerging Security Threats, Demands Impact Assessment of Police Trust Fund Projects
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
The Senator representing Jigawa Northwest senatorial district in the 10th senate, Sen. Babagida Hussaini has called for a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing policing and security interventions in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for stronger provisions on project monitoring, evaluation, and responses to emerging security threats across the country.
Speaking during a one day public hearing on a bill for an act to repeal the Nigeria police trust fund (establishment) act, No. 6, 2019 and enact the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (establishments) Act, 2026 to provide funds for training, security equipment, machinery, and improve the general welfare of the Nigeria Police force to ensure accountability and effective service delivery; and for related matters (SB. 1030) expresses concern that while government agencies and institutions often present impressive records of achievements, little attention is paid to measuring the actual impact of such interventions on national security outcomes.
The astute lawmaker noted that the Nigeria Police Trust Fund had highlighted numerous accomplishments in procurement, infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives. However, he stressed that the critical question remains whether those investments have translated into measurable improvements in security across the country.
“Agencies of government and MDAs come before us and reel out numbers of achievements. It is not different here today. The Police Trust Fund has portrayed that they have done this and that, but the most critical element in all of this is evaluation,” he said.
According to him, lawmakers are particularly interested in determining the extent to which government-funded security projects have contributed to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
“What is the impact of all those procurements on the security situation in Nigeria?” he queried.
He further observed that Nigeria is confronted with a new wave of security concerns that require deliberate legislative attention. These include urban crime, drug addiction, substance abuse, cultism, cybercrime, and other threats associated with the rapidly evolving digital economy.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund to work collaboratively in developing proposals and recommendations that would enable lawmakers to strengthen existing laws and effectively respond to these emerging threats.
He emphasized that the ongoing legislative review process provides a timely opportunity for security stakeholders to make meaningful contributions that would shape a more responsive and future-oriented legal framework.
“I think the Police Trust Fund and the Police Force should put their heads together and avail the National Assembly of their initiatives and ideas on how to strengthen our lawmaking to address these emerging security threats,” he stated.
He also assured stakeholders that all submissions made during the review process would be carefully considered and harmonized to produce a robust legal instrument capable of addressing both current and future security challenges.
“It is not too late because we are going to go back, sit down, look at all your submissions and harmonize them to come up with a very robust Act that will address these issues,” he added.
The remarks underscore growing concerns within the Nigerians over the effectiveness of security interventions and the need for evidence-based evaluation mechanisms to ensure that public investments deliver tangible improvements in national security.
