Terrorists threaten to bomb Nigeria National Assembly ..as lawmakers push for creation of Legislative Security Directorate

Terrorists threaten to bomb Nigeria National Assembly

..as lawmakers push for creation of Legislative Security Directorate

By Johnson Arua

The House of Representatives has raised alarm over fresh terrorist threats to attack the National Assembly Complex, prompting renewed calls for the establishment of a Legislative Security Directorate to safeguard Nigeria’s top lawmaking institution.

Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a public hearing on a bill seeking to create the directorate and overhaul the current security architecture of the National Assembly.

He revealed that the complex had recently come under security threats, including warnings from terrorists planning to bomb the premises and attempts by protesters to shut it down.

“In recent times, we have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters who vowed to lock down the institution,” Garba stated.

According to him, the parliament continues to battle rising incidents of car and motorcycle theft, infiltration by persons with forged identity cards, and frequent breaches by unauthorized visitors who gain access to lawmakers’ offices without proper clearance.

The lawmaker warned that failure to urgently address the security lapses could cripple legislative functions and undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.

“If legislative activities are disrupted, there will be no plenary, no oversight, no budget passage, and no representation. Such paralysis will pose a major danger to democracy and national governance,” he cautioned.

Garba stressed that the proposed directorate would introduce global best practices in parliamentary security management, integrating multiple safety systems to ensure a more secure working environment for lawmakers, legislative staff, and visitors.

“Parliament must remain open and accessible to the public, but not at the expense of safety. This bill is focused on achieving the right balance — ensuring that the institution remains protected at all times,” he said.

He also encouraged state Houses of Assembly to adopt similar measures to secure legislative bodies nationwide.

The public hearing on the bill titled “An Act to Establish the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly and for Related Matters (HB 1632)” was held at Conference Hall 028 of the House of Representatives, Abuja.

Garba urged stakeholders to support the bill, saying its passage would be a decisive step toward strengthening democratic institutions across the country.