Protect dams in Niger, audit military assets — Reps recommend 11 steps to tackle insecurity

The house of representatives has recommended 11 things Nigeria must do to address its growing security challenges.

At an executive session on Tuesday, the green chamber urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency “to fast track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country.”

TheCable had reported how Nigeria recorded more than 10 security incidents on Monday as killings and attacks continued across the country.

In the north, residents remain at the mercy of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits while security agencies and government facilities are increasingly becoming targets of attacks by gunmen in the south.

Speaking after the meeting, Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker restated the lawmakers’ commitment to helping the Buhari administration to resolve the security challenge.

In addition to calling for more personnel to be recruited into the security agencies, the green chamber also demanded adequate protection of the Shiroro and Kainji dams in Niger following reports that Boko Haram insurgents are present in the state.

Here are the 11 recommendations the lawmakers made at the meeting: 

• (The House) condemns attacks on security agents and formations and sympatise with their families.
• The House sympathizes with all the families and communities that have been victims of banditry, terrorism and criminal elements in the country, particularly in Ukpo, Ifitedunu, Dunukofia, Geidam LGA, Abagana, IDP Camp in Makurdi Urikpam, Jato-Aka, Police Divisions in the South East, Ehime Mbano, Uzo-Uwani in Enugu State, Uzuakoli, Abia State, Balenga Local Government Area of Gombe State, and parts of Imo and Nationwide.
• The House reiterates its commitment to the Security and corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and would therefore accelerate its engagement with stakeholders on a Special Security Summit to be organised by the House of Representatives.
• The House should urgently invite the NSA, Service Chiefs, and Paramilitary Chiefs, Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service and the MD of Nigerian COMSAT to brief the House on the Security situation in the Country.
• Considering the Security situation, the President should immediately declare a State of Emergency on Security so as to fast-track all measures to ensure the restoration of peace in the country.
• Call on the judiciary to accelerate the prosecution of those awaiting trial due to banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities.
• Provide emergency relief to all Communities that have been adversely affected by recent attacks across the country.
• The President should as a matter of urgency, ensure financial autonomy to Local Government Councils to guarantee their functionality to serve the local populace.
• The Federal Government should ensure the protection of National Infrastructure assets, particularly the Shiroro and Kainji Dams in Niger State.
• The House mandate all its Security Committees to immediately commence comprehensive audit of all military and paramilitary assets and arms in our Armed Services and revert back to the House within 4 weeks.
• That the number of personnel in the Police and Military falls far short of the required number to effectively secure the country and calls for immediate recruitment to this effect.