Senate names 20-member panel to organise security summit
The Senate on Thursday constituted a 20-member committee to plan a national security summit towards addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee during the plenary after the majority of the senators supported it through a voice vote.
Akpabio said the committee would be chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Yahaya Abdullahi representing Kebbi North would serve as vice chairman.
Other members of the committee are Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Adebule Idiat (Lagos), Barinada Mpigi (Rivers), Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa), Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo), Osita Ngwu (Enugu), Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno), Titus Zam (Benue), Ahmed Lawan (Yobe), Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina) and Gbenga Daniel (Ogun).
Others are Austin Akobundu (Abia), Shehu Buba (Bauchi), Ahmed Madori (Jigawa), Emmanuel Udende (Benue), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Shuaib Salisu (Ogun), Isah Jibrin (Kogi), and the Clerk of the Senate, Andrew Nwoba.
The Senate President said the committee’s primary assignment is to design the framework for the proposed national summit, including setting the agenda, identifying key discussion points, and proposing actionable strategies to effectively tackle Nigeria’s security lapses.
He directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks.
The Senate had on May 6, during plenary, resolved to organise a two-day national security summit with a view to proffering solutions to terrorism, insurgency, and other security challenges in the country.
The red chamber decided after adopting a motion sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC – Ondo South).
One of the critical issues the upcoming summit intends to address is the leakage of sensitive military information to insurgents and bandits, an issue widely believed to be undermining security operations across the country.
This is not the first time a national security summit has been organised by the National Assembly.
The 9th National Assembly, under former Senate President Ahmad Lawan and former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, held a security summit in May 2021 to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
However, despite the participation of security experts, civil society organisations, and government representatives, and the recommendations from the summit, security challenges have persisted.
The current 10th Senate has also summoned service chiefs and heads of security agencies several times to address it since its inauguration in 2023, and there have been several motions and debates on security in the two chambers of the National Assembly, yet killings kidnappings and banditry have persisted, with many citizens expressing frustration over the lack of visible progress.
