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National Assembly Deliberates Urgent Security Challenges Across The Country

National Assembly Deliberates Urgent Security Challenges Across The Country

The Senate and the House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 27 April 2021 deliberated extensively on the rising the cases of insecurity across the country following the recent cases of kidnapping, killing, armed banditry, farmers-herders crisis and armed robbery.

In the Senate, lawmakers had expressed dismay over the incessant reports of attacks on citizens, public infrastructures, police formations and commands and security personnel noting that the country is in dire need of measures to address these challenges and resolved to:

  • Call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to immediately delpoy troops to defend unarmed populace and bring back security and safety to the affected communities.
  • Urge the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency direct the establishment of a permanent military and police command bases at the axis of Shiroro- Rafi LGA and to redesign the modus operandi of the military operation within affected areas to curtail escalating insecurity.
  • Urge the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to as a matter of national emergency provide relief materials and medical support team to victims.
  • Urge the leadership of the Senate to meet with the President, Muhamamdu Buhari to discuss the insecurity challenges,
  • Invite the Chief of Army Staff to an Executive Session of the Senate.
  • Mandate the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, National Security to liaise with the Ministers  of Foreign Affairs and Defence, National Security Adviser, DG of the National Intelligence Agency on the regional implication of the recent security situation on economic growth.
  • Call for the immediate recruitment of military and police personnel in order to combat the security challenges.
  • Adopt the report of its Ad-hoc Committee on Review of Security Architecture in Nigeria.
  • Call for the procurement of necessary equipment for the military and police.
  • Urge the Executive to provide more resources for the military through a Supplementary Budget.

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers had deliberated on issues pertaining to the security situation in a closed-door session. Although details on their discussions remain undisclosed, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, mentioned that the resolutions adopted were as follows:

  • Condemn the attack on security agents and formations across the country.
  • Sympathise with families and communities who are victims of kidnapping, killings, armed robbery and banditry especially in Benue, Gombe, Imo, Ebonyi, Niger, Kaduna, Abia and other states across the country.
  • Reiterate its commitment to tackle security challenges and accelerate engagement with stakeholders through a special security summit to be organised by the House of Representatives.
  • Invite the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs and the MD of  Nigeria Communication satellite (NIGCOMSAT) to brief the House in an executive session.
  • Call on the President, Muhammadu Buhari to declare a State of Emergency on Secuirty across the country in order to fast track the restoration of peace.
  • Call of the Judiciary to accelerate the prosecution of those awaiting trail due to banditry, terrorism and other criminal activity.
  • Urge the FG to provide relief materials to all the communities that have been adversely affected by the recent attacks across the country.
  • Call on the President, Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency ensure financial autonomy to local governments to guarantee their functionality and serve the local populace.
  • Call on the FG to ensure protection of infrastructures and assets particularly the Shiroro and Kainji Dams in Niger State.
  • Mandate all its Security Committees to immediately commence a comprehensive audit of all military and para-military assets, arms and ammunition in Nigeria’s armed services and revert back within 4 weeks.
  • That the number of personnel in the police and military falls far short of the number required to secure the country and the House calls for immediate recruitment to this effect.

Hon. Gbajabiamila further stated that the House of Representatives had constituted a Special Ad-hoc Committee on Security which will be inaugurated on Wednesday, 28 April 2021.

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