By Kolawole Ojebisi
In a bid to address the protracted insecurity confronting the country, the Senate has constituted a 20-member committee to plan a national security summit
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee, on Thursday, during the plenary following the support of the majority of the lawmakers through a voice note
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.
Speaking on what’s expected of the committee, the Senate President noted that the primary assignment of the committee is to design the framework for the proposed national summit.
He added that they’re also expected to set the agenda for the summit by 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.This move comes barely a week after the Red Chamber resolved to address the challenge of insecurity by organising a two-day nation security summit.
The resolution was made on May 6 with a view to proffering solutions to terrorism, insurgency, and other security challenges in the country.
The decision was made following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC – Ondo South).
This is not the first time a national security summit would be held by the National Assembly.
Recall that 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.
