The House of Representatives convened a special plenary session on Tuesday devoted entirely to Nigeria’s escalating national security crisis
The House of Representatives on Tuesday convened a special plenary session devoted entirely to Nigeria’s escalating national security concerns.
The sitting also featured the admission of a visiting parliamentary delegation from St. Kitts and Nevis, led by its Speaker, Lanein Blanchette, alongside officials from the United States Embassy.
Throughout the session, chairmen of key security-related committees, including Defence, National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force and others, presented situation reports on recent incidents across the country and outlined possible solutions.
A consolidated resolution detailing agreed interventions, timelines, and oversight frameworks is expected at the conclusion of Wednesday’s continuation of the proceedings.
In his address, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and united amid recent violent attacks, stressing the need for vigilance against misinformation and fake news.
Speaker Abbas, who decried the scale and intent of recent assaults on vulnerable communities, said such acts are calculated attempts to spread fear and destabilise the nation.
“Their purpose is to instill fear and weaken public confidence. Nigeria must reject this tactic. We must resist fear and stand firm against those who rely on cruelty and spectacle to advance their agendas,” he said.
He cautioned citizens against consuming unverified information, calling for reliance on official channels and trusted media sources.
“Misleading posts on social media can inflame communities, cause panic, and erode trust in institutions,” he warned, adding that lawmakers must also communicate responsibly to avoid contributing to public anxiety.
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Abbas noted that the House’s decision to suspend all other legislative business to focus solely on national security reflects its commitment to confronting the crisis head-on.
The Speaker commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as decisive leadership in coordinating rapid security responses, including the rescue of abducted worshippers in Kwara State and students in Niger State.
He said the President has maintained close engagement with security chiefs and directed the redeployment of personnel to critical areas.
“The leadership shown by the President reflects both political responsibility and moral urgency,” Abbas noted.
He further highlighted ongoing reforms in the security architecture, saying improved inter-agency coordination has yielded meaningful gains—among them, the release of captives, neutralisation of top commanders within violent networks, and the return of displaced persons to their homes.
The speaker paid tribute to security personnel serving under difficult conditions and extended condolences to families who have lost relatives to violence. Members observed a minute of silence in honour of the fallen.
Underscoring the complexity of Nigeria’s internal and transnational threats, Abbas called for unity of purpose across political divides.
“Leadership must rise above partisanship and speak with one voice in ensuring the safety of every citizen and supporting the efforts of the Executive,” he said.
Contributing, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, renewed calls for far-reaching police reforms, warning that Nigeria’s centralised policing model has failed to deliver security across the 36 states.
Kalu underscored the complex and evolving nature of Nigeria’s security threats. He pushed for increased funding for the police and the creation of state and local government police formations to strengthen grassroots security.
“Today is not about eloquence; it is about identifying our problems and proposing solutions as Parliament,” Kalu said. “Nigeria has strong deterrent laws, but we suffer from weak institutional implementation, inadequate funding, transparency issues, and misalignment between policy and execution. The solution requires structural legislative reform, not merely reactive military responses.”
