The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Garba Muhammad, has revealed that the National Assembly has received terrorist threats to bomb the complex, stressing the urgent need to reinforce security around Nigeria’s legislative headquarters.
Speaking during a public hearing on a bill to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, Muhammad said the proposed body aims to improve security management and protect lawmakers, staff, and visitors. He noted that the National Assembly had become increasingly vulnerable to serious security breaches, including cases of theft, vandalism, fake ID card usage, and infiltration by unregistered individuals.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly complex and threats from protesters to lock it up,” Muhammad stated. “Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access into their offices without any formal appointment.”
He warned that failure to act swiftly could disrupt legislative operations and threaten national stability. “If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no budget, no plenary—and that would destabilise democracy and governance,” he cautioned.
Muhammad emphasised that effective security management requires a holistic and well-coordinated system that integrates surveillance, intelligence, and access control. “This bill is crucial because it seeks to adopt global best practices in parliamentary security procedures and architecture,” he added.
While acknowledging that the National Assembly must remain open and accessible to citizens, Muhammad stressed that safety cannot be compromised. “Parliament has to stay open, but it must also be secure,” he said, calling the proposed directorate a step toward protecting Nigeria’s democracy from both internal and external threats.
He further urged state Houses of Assembly across the country to replicate the initiative to ensure uniform security standards nationwide. “Passing this bill will mark a major step toward safeguarding our democratic institutions,” he concluded.
The alarming revelation underscores growing security concerns within Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber, heightening calls for stronger protection of democratic spaces amid rising threats across the nation.
