By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Nigeria National Assembly |
Abuja, Nigeria – In a shocking revelation that underscores the nation's deepening security crisis, the House of Representatives disclosed on Tuesday that terrorists have threatened to bomb the National Assembly complex.
The grave threat was announced during a public hearing on a critical new security bill, prompting urgent calls for a fortified security apparatus to protect the heart of Nigeria's democracy.
The alarming disclosure was made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad. He stated that recent intelligence reports and security incidents confirm the National Assembly has become a prime target for criminal and terrorist activities.
“The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges,” Muhammad declared. “We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly.”
He further detailed a litany of security breaches plaguing the complex, including car and motorcycle thefts, vandalism, the proliferation of fake identity cards, and unauthorized access by visitors. The lawmaker lamented that the situation had degraded the environment, with "petty trading" making the National Assembly "look like a small market."
Hon. Muhammad issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of inaction. He argued that the ongoing security challenges, if left unaddressed, could paralyze the entire legislative process.
“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, [it] will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly,” he stated. “If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, there will be no plenary at all, and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy and the stability of the system, and our Nation at large.”
The context for these revelations was a public hearing on the "Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and the Functions of Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly (HB 1632)." Also known as the Legislative Security Directorate Bill, this proposed law seeks to create a specialized, internal security agency solely dedicated to protecting the legislative arm of government.
Muhammad emphasized that the bill is vital to "adopt world best practices of Parliamentary security procedures and architecture." The directorate would be responsible for the recruitment, training, and operations of the Sergeant-at-Arms and other security personnel, providing a unified and professional command structure to safeguard lawmakers, staff, visitors, and critical government property.
The lawmaker also urged State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to emulate this initiative and adopt similar security frameworks to protect their own legislative institutions.