By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has raised alarm over alleged threats by terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, an initiative designed to strengthen security management within the National Assembly.
According to Hon. Garba, the National Assembly has been facing rising security threats, including theft, vandalism, the use of fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
He warned that the latest threat poses serious danger to lawmakers, staff, and visitors, stressing the urgent need to overhaul the security architecture of the complex.
Garba further revealed that in addition to the bomb threat, some protesters had threatened to lock down the National Assembly, a situation he said could disrupt legislative activities and undermine democracy.
“If these lapses are not urgently addressed, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, and no plenary sessions,” he warned.
The lawmaker emphasized that the proposed bill, A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and Functions of the Legislative Security Directorate (HB 1632), would introduce a coordinated and world-class security framework for the legislature.
He said while Parliament must remain open to citizens in line with democratic principles, effective security measures are essential to protect lives and property.
Hon. Garba also urged state Houses of Assembly to adopt similar security frameworks to strengthen legislative institutions across the country.
He called for collective support for the passage of the bill, describing it as vital to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring the safety of all who work within the National Assembly.