Terrorists threaten to bomb Nationwide Meeting, Reps committee reveals
The Home of Representatives Committee on Inside Safety has revealed that it just lately acquired threats from terrorist teams warning of plans to bomb the Nationwide Meeting complicated.
Committee Chairman Garba Muhammad made the disclosure on Tuesday throughout a public listening to on a invoice looking for to determine a Legislative Safety Directorate to supervise and strengthen safety inside the Meeting.
Muhammad famous that the Nationwide Meeting had been going through rising safety challenges, together with theft, vandalism, and infiltration by unauthorized people utilizing pretend identification playing cards.
“The Nationwide Meeting goes via severe safety challenges. We’ve had automotive and motorbike thefts, pretend ID playing cards, and people gaining entry with out correct documentation,” he stated.
“Now we have additionally acquired threats from terrorists to bomb the Nationwide Meeting complicated and from protesters threatening to lock up the Meeting. Lawmakers are additional uncovered to dangers from constituents who enter their places of work with out appointments.”
The lawmaker warned that these threats, if left unchecked, may severely disrupt legislative actions and endanger the nation’s democratic course of.
“If these points aren’t urgently addressed, they might halt legislative work — no illustration, no oversight, no price range periods, no plenary — which might destabilize democracy and nationwide stability,” he cautioned.
The proposed invoice (HB 1632) goals to create the Legislative Safety Directorate, tasked with professionalizing and coordinating all safety operations inside the Nationwide Meeting. The Directorate would additionally outline the roles, {qualifications}, and repair circumstances for the Sergeant-at-Arms and different safety personnel.
Muhammad stated the initiative would undertake international greatest practices in parliamentary safety administration, making certain a stability between public accessibility and security.
“Efficient safety requires an built-in method. This invoice is designed to sort out present challenges and implement world-class safety requirements inside our legislature,” he defined.
Whereas acknowledging the issue of sustaining an open and democratic Parliament alongside heightened safety measures, Muhammad emphasised the necessity for a balanced, well-structured method.
“The Nationwide Meeting should stay open to the general public to uphold democratic values. Nonetheless, this makes it more durable to use strict safety measures. This invoice seeks to search out that stability,” he stated.
He additionally inspired State Homes of Meeting throughout Nigeria to undertake related measures to strengthen inside safety of their chambers.
“I urge our State Assemblies to implement comparable methods to safeguard their establishments,” Muhammad added.
Terrorists threaten to bomb Nationwide Meeting, Reps committee reveals