….Push for Legislative Security Directorate
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has disclosed that the National Assembly recently received threats from terrorists to bomb the complex — a development that has prompted calls for the establishment of a Legislative Security Directorate to enhance protection for lawmakers, staff, and visitors.
Hon. Garba made the revelation on Tuesday during a public hearing on the bill seeking to create the Legislative Security Directorate, held at the National Assembly Conference Hall 028 in Abuja.
According to him, the National Assembly — the symbol of Nigeria’s democracy — has increasingly come under security threats ranging from car and motorcycle theft to vandalism, use of fake identity cards, 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,” Garba stated.
“Legislators are exposed to danger from constituents and others who gain access to their offices without formal appointments,” he added.
The lawmaker warned that such lapses, if not urgently addressed, could disrupt legislative activities and endanger the democratic process.
“It is clear that if these security threats persist, they could paralyze legislative functions — meaning no representation, no oversight, no budgeting, and no plenary. This would undermine democracy and the stability of our nation,” he cautioned.
Hon. Garba stressed that effective security management must be comprehensive, involving coordination among various security elements to ensure a safe environment for legislative operations.
“This Bill is very critical. It seeks to adopt global best practices in parliamentary security architecture and ensure that the National Assembly remains both accessible and secure,” he explained.
He emphasized that while the legislature must remain open to the public to uphold democratic ideals, safety must not be compromised.
“The National Assembly must continue to be accessible to citizens, but with enhanced and efficient security measures to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.
The lawmaker also urged state Houses of Assembly to adopt similar security frameworks to protect legislative institutions nationwide.
Hon. Garba concluded by calling for collective support for the passage of the bill, describing it as a decisive step toward safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
“With this initiative, we aim to strengthen the security architecture of the National Assembly and ensure uninterrupted legislative governance,” he stated.
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