Nigeria’s National Assembly has received threats from terrorist groups to bomb the legislative complex, a senior lawmaker said on Monday, calling for urgent action to strengthen security at the country’s top lawmaking institution.
Garba Muhammad, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, disclosed the threats during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate to enhance protection for lawmakers, staff, and visitors.
“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly complex and threats from protesters to lock up the Assembly,” Muhammad told participants at the hearing. “Legislators are also exposed to threats from constituents and others who gain easy access to their offices without appointments.”
He said the Assembly had been facing increasing security challenges, including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, the use of fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered visitors.
Muhammad warned that failure to address the security lapses could disrupt legislative operations and threaten Nigeria’s democracy. “If proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities — there will be no representation, no oversight, no budget, and that will destabilise the system,” he said.
The lawmaker explained that the proposed bill aims to align the National Assembly’s security procedures with global best practices while maintaining public access to the Parliament.
“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasised,” he said. “This bill will ensure the best security architecture to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property.”
Muhammad also urged state Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to adopt similar measures to ensure comprehensive legislative security nationwide.