The management of the National Assembly Complex has raised the alarm that terrorists may strike at the complex.

A top management official of the complex yesterday said: “Yes! We have this dangerous intelligence report that the National Assembly may be a victim of terrorist attack and we’re not joking with it. The official said the way strange and very suspicious looking persons thronged the National Assembly complex in recent times was worrisome.

He said many of the strange persons, if confronted at the gates of the complex, were quick to claim being constituents of lawmakers.
The official decried that the situation had overstretched security architecture at the National Assembly.

He said though several steps were being taken, many stakeholders were not showing the needed co-operation.

Contacted, Director, Public Affairs, National Assembly Complex, Yahaya Dan-Zaria, also expressed concerns over the situation, noting, however, that steps were being taken to address it.

A security subcommittee set up by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori, had recommended, among other things,that “an arms bearing elite force be established for the National Assembly.

Fred Itua, Abuja

Worried by the presence of strange and suspicious persons, leadership of the National Assembly, yesterday, raised the alarm over possible attack on the assembly complex by terrorists.

Daily Sun learnt that in the last few days, strange persons have been sighted at the National Assembly complex raising security and safety fears among legislators and visitors. It was learnt that the strange persons make their way into the complex, claiming to be from constituents of some lawmakers.

Director, Public Affairs, Yahaya Dan-Zaria, also expressed worries but said steps were being taken to nip the situation in the bud.

A senior official of the National Assembly who spoke to some journalists said: “Yes, we have this dangerous intelligence reports that the National Assembly may be a victim of terrorist attack and we are not joking with it. Several steps are being taken, but many stakeholders are not showing the needed co-operation. The way strange and suspicious looking persons throng the National Assembly complex in recent times is worrisome. The situation has overstretched security architecture in the Assembly.

“Many of them when confronted at the gates are quick to resort to claims of being constituents of one lawmaker or the other. The point must be made that the National Assembly is not a place to meet constituents or have any form of ceremony with them. It is a place for serious legislative businesses bordering on the country’s socio-political and economic life.

“Again, the point must be made that the kind of persons who now seat as members of both chambers of the National Assembly are such that command security attention. They are people who had held very prominent and sensitive positions at various levels in the recent past. Having occupied such positions meant more security burden on the National Assembly to forestall eventuality of any sort.”

In a move to solve the security threat, a security sub-committee set up by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani Omolori, had recommended that “an arms bearing elite force be established for the National Assembly.”

Also in late 2019, a 12-member adhoc committee was set up to work out some remedial measures for the National Assembly. Headed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Brigadier General Mohammed Sani Danwalis (retd), the committee recommended series of measures, which it was learnt, were yet to be implemented.

Some of the recommendations included the rationalisation of banks and other business outfits whose operations are neither incidental nor complementary to the functions of the National Assembly, the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives should prevail on legislators to submit themselves to security checks, especially a the point of entry into the National Assembly, security clearance should be a major requirement for disengaging legislative aides,renewal of identity cards for legislative aides annually, Directorate of Human Resources and Staff Development should maintain a data base of all staff, legislative aides and legislators which should be shared with all security agencies, management of the National Assembly should advise security chiefs to desist from bearing arms within the precincts of the assembly, and that the Directorate of Research and Information, in conjunction with security agencies, must ensure that journalists covering the National Assembly are accredited on yearly.”

isthatso:
somebody wants to award contract for security equipment

OZAOEKPE:
Make them wait make the house full before them carry out operations, I go like am make he be the day Buhari wan present Budget

dre11:



Strange, suspicious faces invade complex



•Lawmakers may opt for establishment of arms bearing elites force