Ninth NASS: Security beefed up ahead of inauguration

Ahead of the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly on June 11, security is being beefed up around the National Assembly located in the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

This is coming just as the lawmakers in the outgoing Eighth Assembly have stepped up massive movement of their personal belongings out of the complex as the usual practice at the end of each session since 1999.

Consequently, passage of vehicles involved in the evacuation of the personal belongings of the lawmakers has now been restricted to the main entrance of the complex for thorough screening and inventory documentations as other exits are shut against such activities for now.

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Sunday Tribune observed that vehicles without proper and valid receipts to show proof of ownership of such personal effects of the lawmakers were turned back at the check-point mounted by combined team of security forces supervised by the NASS’ internal security outfit, the Sergeants-at-Arms

Also, movement of such personal effects had been restricted to between Monday and Friday, while the usual free access into the complex at weekends or public holidays, has been cancelled.

It was gathered that the massive movement of the personal belongings of the lawmakers was not limited to the non-returning ones, but included the principal officers of the both chambers who are subjected to the same scrutiny by the security operatives.

A top security official at National Assembly told Sunday Tribune in confidence that the exercise was routine and informed by previous happenings at the complex.

The source added that most of the offices would still be put to proper shape for the smooth takeoff of the next session and that the inauguration day was fast approaching.

“This exercise is not limited to the non-returning ones. It is across board. In some cases, even the returning ones do move out their personal effects, because of the possibility of not retaining their offices.

“This is usually the normal practice at the end of each session, but this time, it is different, because of the past experience, where offices were massively looted

“Also, this time is more complex because of the security challenges in the country. We don’t want to be caught unaware. That’s why we are doing all these. Above all, there is need to secure this complex for the inauguration proper. We will not wait till the zero hours before we will start to rush to do the needful. So, we are in order.”

However, when Sunday Tribune visited the complex on Saturday, the situation was calm as there was no movement of such loads as witnessed on Friday, while security had been intensified in and around the complex.