The House of Representatives has raised alarm over fresh terrorist threats to bomb the National Assembly Complex, prompting lawmakers to push for urgent measures to tighten security around the country’s top legislative seat.
Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed the development during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate.
The bill aims to strengthen protection for lawmakers, staff, and visitors within the National Assembly.
Hon. Garba revealed that the National Assembly has been facing increasing security challenges, including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identification, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” he said.
He warned that these threats, if not swiftly addressed, could disrupt the activities of the legislature and destabilize governance.
“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 cautioned.
The proposed Legislative Security Directorate, he explained, would help coordinate and implement modern security strategies in line with global best practices to safeguard Nigeria’s Parliament.
Garba emphasized that while the National Assembly must remain open to the public as a symbol of democracy, adequate security should not be compromised.
“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 added.
He also urged state Houses of Assembly to adopt similar measures to strengthen security at their respective complexes.
The public hearing on 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 held at the National Assembly Conference Hall 028 in Abuja.
Hon. Garba concluded by calling for collective support for the passage of the bill, describing it as a critical step toward safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.