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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has disclosed that terrorists have issued threats to bomb the National Assembly Complex.
Garba made the revelation on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate, designed to enhance security management and safeguard lawmakers, staff, and visitors within the National Assembly.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” Garba stated.
The lawmaker said the legislature, Nigeria’s seat of democracy, has been increasingly exposed to security threats including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, infiltration by unregistered visitors, and use of fake identity cards.
He warned that failure to address the lapses could disrupt legislative activities with grave implications for governance and democracy.
He cautioned, “It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities in the National Assembly. If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all, and that will destabilize legislative procedure, democracy, and the nation at large.”
According to Garba, effective security management requires a coordinated approach, integrating multiple elements to ensure a safe environment for legislative business.
“That is why this Bill is very important. It seeks to address all these challenges and adopt world best practices in parliamentary security procedures and architecture,” he explained.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and Functions of the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly (HB 1632)”, was considered at the House of Representatives Conference Hall 028 in Abuja.
While acknowledging the need for the National Assembly to remain open to the public as a democratic institution, Garba stressed that access must not come at the expense of security.
“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized because Parliament has to remain accessible to the public. However, this Bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly, to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.
Garba further urged state Houses of Assembly across the federation to emulate the initiative by adopting similar frameworks to enhance legislative security nationwide.
“With these few points of mine, I wish us a peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture,” he concluded.
