From Victor Osula, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday raised alarm over alleged threats by terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, expressing deep concern over rising security breaches within the legislative premises.
Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed this during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate — a specialised agency designed to strengthen internal security within the National Assembly.
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 structured framework for the protection of lawmakers, staff, and visitors.
Muhammad said intelligence reports and recent incidents indicate that the National Assembly has increasingly become a target for criminal and terrorist groups.
He noted that the daily influx of visitors, lobbyists, and protesters into the complex has heightened security risks.
“The National Assembly is facing serious security challenges. We have experienced car and motorcycle thefts, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unauthorized persons. We have also received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly and from protesters to lock up the premises,” he said.
He added that some lawmakers have been harassed or intimidated by individuals who gain unrestricted access to their offices, describing the trend as a threat to the safety and independence of the legislature.
Muhammad warned that failure to address the threats could cripple the country’s democratic process.
“If proper measures are not taken, legislative activities could be disrupted. Without a functioning legislature, there will be no representation, no oversight, no budget passage, and no plenary sessions. That would destabilise democracy and the stability of the nation,” he cautioned.
He stressed the need for an integrated security system that goes beyond traditional policing, saying the proposed Directorate would coordinate and professionalise all security operations within the National Assembly.
“This bill is timely and essential. It aligns with global best practices in parliamentary security and will ensure that the National Assembly remains a safe and secure environment for legislative business,” he stated.
When enacted, the Legislative Security Directorate Bill (HB 1632) will create an internal security agency for the National Assembly, headed by a Director-General and supported by trained officers under the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Muhammad also urged state Houses of Assembly across the country to establish similar frameworks to prevent infiltration and threats.
He concluded that protecting the legislature is critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that “a parliament under threat is a democracy under siege.”
