Fear gripped Nigeria’s corridors of power on Tuesday as the House of Representatives revealed that terrorists have threatened to bomb the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The shocking disclosure was made by Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, during a public hearing on a bill to establish a Legislative Security Directorate aimed at protecting lawmakers, staff, and visitors.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” Garba declared, sending murmurs across the packed conference hall.
According to him, the National Assembly, Nigeria’s seat of democracy, has become increasingly vulnerable, with incidents of car and motorcycle theft, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
“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,” he warned.
Garba stressed that the proposed bill would transform parliamentary security, aligning it with global best practices to prevent any breach within the hallowed chambers.
“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.
While acknowledging the need for public access to Parliament, he maintained that safety must come first.
“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.
The public hearing, 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 held at the House of Representatives Conference Hall 028, Abuja.
Hon. Garba urged state Houses of Assembly to replicate the initiative to strengthen 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 argued.
