Terrorists threaten to bomb National Assembly, says Reps panel

Terrorists threaten to bomb National Assembly, says Reps panel

The House of Representatives has raised concerns over a looming terrorist threat targeting the National Assembly complex, prompting calls for urgent security reforms.

Chairman of the Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Muhammad, disclosed during a public hearing on Tuesday that terrorists had issued threats to bomb the legislative premises. He also cited warnings from protesters threatening to shut down the complex.

The hearing was convened to deliberate on a proposed bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate within the National Assembly.

Muhammad said the daily influx of people into the parliament — including lawmakers, staff, members of the executive and judiciary, civil society groups, and demonstrators — has made the complex vulnerable to infiltration by criminal elements.

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“The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges,” he said. “We have experienced car and motorcycle thefts, vandalism, fake identity cards, and unauthorised access by individuals without proper documentation. Petty trading has also turned parts of the complex into a mini-market.”

He warned that the threats, if not addressed, could disrupt legislative activities and undermine democratic governance.

“If proper measures are not taken, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, and no plenary. That will destabilise legislative procedure, democracy, and the stability of our nation,” Muhammad said.

He stressed the need for a comprehensive security framework, noting that the proposed bill aims to adopt global best practices in parliamentary security architecture.

Muhammad also urged state houses of assembly to replicate similar measures to safeguard their institutions.

Terrorists threaten to bomb National Assembly, says Reps panel