Senate reschedules security brief meeting with security chiefs to Feb 13

The Senate has rescheduled its much-publicised security briefing by security chiefs to Tuesday, next week.

 

It took the decision in Abuja during plenary on Tuesday, blaming it on the absence of some key security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief the of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa.

 

Nigerian Tribune observed that though the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, and the Inspector-General of Police; Kayode Egbetokun, appeared before senators on Tuesday, the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, announced the decision of the lawmakers to postpone the briefing till next week.

 

Akpabio said it was better to have all the security chiefs in attendance in order to have a “holistic view” of the current security challenges in the country

 

In addition, the Senate invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, the DG, NIA, and the Minister of Interior.

 

Others also invited to be part of the briefing next Tuesday were the Minister of (State) Defence; Minister of Police Affairs and Minister of (State), Police Affairs.

 

The Senate President explained, “Our view is to complement the Executive and support it to succeed.

 

“If the (President Bola) Tinubu administration fails, it means we have all failed.

 

“The Senate is of the view that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is (also) under threat in addition to other parts of the country.

 

“In view of the fact that the people we have mentioned aren’t here and we need holistic review, it is the view of the Senate that this security briefing is now adjourned to 13 February.”

 

Before the briefing was rescheduled, Akpabio had earlier spoken on the reason for inviting the security chiefs in the first place.

 

He said the Senate responded to the recent surge in security challenges in the country by passing a number of motions.

 

Akpabio listed the challenges as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and “even killing people after taking ransom.”

 

He added that in some instances, security personnel lost their lives while fighting to rescue the victims or bring situations under control.

 

He stated, “We had motions on insecurity in Agatu, Benue State, Taraba State, Oyo State and also disturbing cases in Mangu, Bokkos and Barkin Ladi in Plateau State.

 

“In FCT, places like Buari, Kubwa, among others. We also heard that they have cells in parts of the FCT.”

 

He said the Senate invited the security heads for briefing “on the efforts being made to contain these problems.

 

“The invitation is not an indictment but to let us hear from you so that together, we can all seek solutions.”