In a renewed effort to tackle Nigeria’s deepening security challenges, the Senate on Thursday constituted a 20-member committee to organise a National Security Summit, aimed at generating actionable strategies to address terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the formation of the committee during plenary after securing overwhelming support through a voice vote.
The committee will be chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), with Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) serving as Vice Chairman.
Members of the Committee:
- 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)
- Gbenga Daniel (Ogun)
- Austin Akobundu (Abia)
- Shehu Buba (Bauchi)
- Ahmed Madori (Jigawa)
- Emmanuel Udende (Benue)
- Adams Oshiomhole (Edo)
- Shuaib Salisu (Ogun)
- Isah Jibrin (Kogi)
- Clerk of the Senate, Andrew Nwoba
Committee Mandate:
The committee is tasked with designing the framework for the upcoming two-day national summit, including:
- Setting a realistic agenda
- Identifying key areas of discussion
- Proposing concrete and actionable strategies to end persistent insecurity
- Addressing sensitive issues such as the leakage of military intelligence to insurgents and bandits
Senate President Akpabio has given the committee two weeks to submit its report.
Background:
The Senate’s decision stems from a motion sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC – Ondo South) on May 6, which called for a comprehensive national dialogue on insecurity. Despite previous summits — including one held by the 9th National Assembly in May 2021 — Nigeria’s security problems have worsened, sparking public concern over the lack of tangible progress.
Since its inauguration in 2023, the 10th Senate has repeatedly summoned service chiefs and security heads, and passed several motions on the matter, yet killings, kidnappings, and banditry persist, particularly in northern regions and the nation’s capital.
The proposed summit aims to move beyond discussions to implementable policy solutions, reflecting the growing urgency to secure lives and property across Nigeria.
