NIGERIANS have reacted sharply to the revelation by the House of Representatives that the National Assembly complex in Abuja is under threat of a terrorist attack.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Internal Security, Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed during a public hearing on Tuesday, October 28, that intelligence reports had revealed plans by terrorists to bomb the legislative complex.
The hearing was on a proposed bill seeking to establish the Legislative Security Directorate, an internal security agency that will coordinate protection within the parliament.
Muhammad explained that the complex had become vulnerable due to the daily influx of visitors, lobbyists and demonstrators, which had made it a soft target for criminals and terrorist groups. He listed recent security lapses such as car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, fake identity cards, and infiltration by unregistered persons.
According to him, “The National Assembly is going through a lot of security challenges. We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly. Legislators are exposed to threats from constituents and others who have gained easy access to their offices without any formal appointment.”
He warned that without adequate security reinforcement, legislative activities could be disrupted, which could in turn destabilise the country’s democracy.
Following the lawmakers’ revelation, Nigerians took to social media, especially X, to express anger, disbelief, and in some cases, indifference to the security alert.
One user, Akhenoba Ishehoshime, said the lawmakers should not be alarmed since they had often ignored the cries of communities under attack. “They shouldn’t be alarmed yet. When it was towns and communities, they shouted with their voice votes in glee. So, they can be alarmed now,” he wrote.
Another user, Emerald Bliss, questioned the relevance of the legislature to citizens’ welfare, saying, “What exactly is the usefulness of the so-called rubber stamp National Assembly on the lives of the Nigerian people they claim to represent?
Ugo Ihejirika described the threat as a sign that insecurity in the country now affects everyone. “Insecurity will get to everybody. It’s turn by turn. Bulletproof cars and flying first class cannot shield you when you come down.”
Similarly, Ukachi Godwin noted that the country’s growing insecurity shows that years of legislative activities had not translated into safety or stability. “That means your legislations over the years which have cost the nation trillions of naira into the legislators’ pockets could not stop terrorism. Too bad for the country. It means the legislators are irrelevant. Only God help Nigerians,” he wrote.
Iykogueri, another user, accused the lawmakers of being selective in raising alarms, saying they only react when affected directly. “When the negativity is against them, they raise alarm but look the other way when it concerns the economic crises in the land.”
Some users, like Baresy Tunde, dismissed the alert as a ploy to distract citizens. He wrote, “It’s all gimmicks to distract Nigerians. I can’t trust anything from this government, not even their propaganda.”
Another user, Ebony Pullah, argued that the lawmakers only take issues seriously when their own safety is threatened. “These are the only issues that concern the members of the National Assembly. Now, they will look out for themselves, but when it comes to the well-being of the masses, they will turn their backs on us.”
The proposed Legislative Security Directorate Bill seeks to provide a legal framework for protecting lawmakers, staff, visitors and government property through a dedicated internal security structure.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that the rising number of threats against state institutions in Abuja reflects the growing boldness of armed groups and the need for coordinated intelligence operations.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance