The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, has revealed that the National Assembly has received threats from terrorists to bomb the legislative complex.
Garba made this known during a public hearing on a bill proposing the creation of the Legislative Security Directorate, which aims to improve security management and ensure the safety of lawmakers, staff, and visitors to the National Assembly.
According to him, the National Assembly complex has been dealing with several security issues, including vehicle and motorcycle theft, vandalism, the use of fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
A similar security concern was reported on May 4, 2021, when lawmakers were warned of a planned Boko Haram attack on the National Assembly complex and other key government sites in Abuja.
Following that alert, access to the National Assembly premises was restricted for safety reasons, and security analysts urged the Federal Government to strengthen protection for national assets and infrastructure.
The lawmaker emphasised the need for urgent reinforcement of the complex as a preventive measure.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly.
“Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access to their offices without any formal appointment.
“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate the legislative activities in the National Assembly.
“If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all—and that will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of the system, and our nation at large,” Garba said.
