By Deborah Nnamdi
The House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed deep concern over growing security threats to the National Assembly, including intelligence reports of a terrorist plot to bomb the legislative complex.
Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, raised the alarm during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate, held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and Functions of the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly; to Provide for the Qualification and Condition of Service of the Sergeant-at-Arms and Other Personnel of the Directorate and for Related Matters, 2024 (HB 1632),” aims to create a specialised security framework for the legislature.
Muhammad revealed that recent intelligence reports and security incidents show the National Assembly has increasingly become a target for criminal and terrorist activities.
He said the daily influx of visitors, lobbyists, and protesters into the complex has made it vulnerable to attacks.
“The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges. We have experienced car thefts, motorcycle thefts, vandalism, fake identity cards, and even unwanted visitors gaining access without documentation. Petty trading has also made the National Assembly look like a small market,” Muhammad stated.
He added: “We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly. Legislators are also exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access to their offices without formal appointments.”
The lawmaker warned that if urgent steps are not taken to strengthen internal security, legislative activities could be severely disrupted.
“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities in the National Assembly. Without effective security, there will be no representation, no oversight, no budget, and no plenary, which could destabilise democracy and the nation at large,” he cautioned.
Muhammad emphasised that effective security management requires a comprehensive approach and said the proposed bill seeks to introduce world-class parliamentary security architecture.
He further urged State Houses of Assembly to adopt similar frameworks to safeguard their legislative environments.
The Legislative Security Directorate Bill (HB 1632) proposes the establishment of a specialised internal security body within the National Assembly to handle recruitment, training, and operations of the Sergeant-at-Arms and other security personnel responsible for protecting lawmakers, staff, visitors, and government property.
