The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, yesterday disclosed that the National Assembly has received threats from terrorists to bomb the complex.
Garba, who stated this 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.
He said, “We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly”, and called for urgent fortification of the edifice as a pro-active measure.
The lawmaker said the National Assembly 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.
“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 destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the nation at large”, Garba warned.
Garba emphasised that effective security management requires a well-coordinated strategy that integrates multiple elements to ensure a safe and secure environment for legislative operations.
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.
