Terrorists threaten to bomb National Assembly — Hon. Garba raises alarm, calls for urgent security overhaul

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has revealed that terrorists have threatened to bomb the National Assembly Complex, heightening concerns over the safety of Nigeria’s top legislative institution.

Hon. Garba made the revelation on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, an initiative aimed at enhancing security management and protecting lawmakers, staff, and visitors within the complex.

He explained that the seat of Nigeria’s democracy has increasingly come under various security threats, including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors. According to him, the threats have become more alarming in recent times, making it necessary to strengthen security within the National Assembly.

Garba disclosed that terrorists had threatened to bomb the National Assembly Complex while protesters had also issued threats to lock it up. He added that lawmakers are exposed to potential harm from constituents and other individuals who gain access to their offices without prior appointments.

The lawmaker warned that failure to address these lapses could disrupt legislative activities and have serious implications for governance and democracy. He said it is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, legislative activities in the National Assembly could be truncated. He cautioned that such disruption would mean no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, and no plenary sessions, which could destabilize legislative procedure, democracy, and the nation at large.

Hon. Garba stressed that effective security management within the legislature requires a coordinated and integrated approach that adopts global best practices to ensure a secure working environment. He explained that the bill is crucial because it seeks to address these challenges and implement world-class security procedures and architecture for the National Assembly.

While emphasizing the importance of keeping the National Assembly accessible to the public in line with democratic principles, he insisted that security must not be compromised. He noted that the need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized because Parliament has to remain open to the people. However, he said the bill is designed to ensure the best security architecture within the complex to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property.

Hon. Garba also urged state Houses of Assembly across the federation to emulate the initiative by adopting similar frameworks to strengthen legislative security nationwide. 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 House of Representatives Conference Hall 028, Abuja.

He concluded by calling for collective support toward the passage of the bill, describing it as a vital step in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic institutions. He expressed hope that the deliberations would lead to a major turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture.