By Jemimah Welligton, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
HEIGHTENED SECURITY threats against Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS) have triggered fresh calls for a formal security architecture within the legislature, following confirmation that terrorists recently issued threats to bomb the parliamentary complex in Abuja.
The revelation came from the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, which disclosed that the country’s apex legislative building has also faced several other security breaches, including car thefts, fake identity cards, and unauthorised access by unidentified persons.
Chairman of the Committee, Garba Muhammad, disclosed the disturbing details during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, a new body that will define the qualifications and service conditions for the Sergeant-at-Arms and other key security personnel of the National Assembly.
Speaking at the hearing, Muhammad said the measure had become critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s legislative arm against the rising wave of security breaches and threats.
“Security is very crucial to all arms of government, especially to the legislative arm, because it is an institution where legislators, staff, executive, judiciary, individuals, organisations, protesters, and demonstrators troop in daily in their droves to pursue one thing or the other,” he said.
He warned that this steady influx of people, though essential to democracy, has made the National Assembly a soft target for infiltration by criminal elements seeking to exploit the system.
“The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges,” Muhammad stated. “We have experienced car thefts, motorcycle thefts, vandalism, fake identity cards, and unwanted visitors accessing the complex without proper documentation, as well as petty trading, which gives the National Assembly a small market appearance.”
Muhammad disclosed that terrorists have issued direct threats to bomb the National Assembly complex and that some protesters have equally threatened to lock up the building during demonstrations.
He noted that the vulnerability of lawmakers and staff has reached a concerning level, citing cases where individuals gain access to legislative offices without proper appointments, exposing legislators to potential harm from constituents and strangers.
“It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities in the National Assembly,” he cautioned. “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.”
The lawmaker stressed that the bill before the committee aims to establish a robust framework capable of addressing these gaps, while aligning Nigeria’s parliamentary security with international best practices.
According to him, the proposed Legislative Security Directorate will coordinate and professionalise the internal security operations of the National Assembly, strengthen access control, and regulate the movement of people and vehicles in and around the complex.
Muhammad noted that the growing threats underscore the need for a proactive, coordinated response, rather than the fragmented security arrangement currently in place. He argued that legislative business cannot thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity or uncertainty, adding that a formal security directorate will ensure stability, efficiency, and safety within the institution.
“Effective security management needs a total approach,” he said. “It requires various elements to be integrated together to secure our environment for legislative procedure to function effectively and maximally.”
Muhammad also urged State Houses of Assembly across the federation to take proactive steps by adopting similar security mechanisms, noting that legislative institutions at all levels face increasing exposure to criminal threats, vandalism, and infiltration.
“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be over-emphasised,” he said. “Stringent security measures must be implemented to protect lawmakers, staff, and visitors who access the complex daily.”
The chairman maintained that the Legislative Security Directorate Bill seeks to institutionalise structured protection for the National Assembly, covering personnel training, surveillance, coordination with national security agencies, and crisis response management.
He explained that beyond physical protection, the bill aims to entrench modern security systems, digital access control, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms that will enable the National Assembly to respond swiftly to emerging threats.
Legislative aides and staff have also expressed concerns over repeated security lapses within the complex in recent years.
Instances of unaccredited persons gaining entry, theft of vehicles from car parks, and infiltration by impostors posing as visitors have been documented, prompting multiple reviews of the access system.
The planned directorate, once established, is expected to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to enhance intelligence sharing, perimeter control, and emergency preparedness across all chambers and offices.
Security experts have long raised concerns over the vulnerability of Nigeria’s key national institutions, especially as insecurity continues to pose major threats across the country.
The call for stronger legislative security comes amid wider government efforts to upgrade the protection of critical infrastructure and public facilities.
While the bill still awaits further consideration, stakeholders have described the move as timely, stressing that the National Assembly — the heartbeat of Nigeria’s democracy, must not be left exposed to criminal or terrorist incursions.
If passed, the proposed law will mark a significant shift in how the legislature manages its internal security operations, bringing it in line with global parliamentary standards, and creating a permanent structure dedicated solely to the protection of Nigeria’s federal lawmakers, their staff, and national legislative processes.
Muhammad’s committee is expected to consolidate stakeholders’ input from the public hearing and submit its recommendations to the House for legislative consideration in the coming weeks.
