By Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate has resolved to organise a two-day national security summit in Abuja, with participation from all levels of government, traditional institutions, civil society and the security sector.
This is just as it urged the executive to review and update national security policies based on the recommendations from the summit.
In addition, it took a decision that the summit would be convened by all senators in the 109 senatorial districts, which they represent in order to create widespread awareness on the outcome of the event.
The summit is in response to the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes across the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled: “Urgent Need for a National Security Summit,” sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho (Ondo South) and co-sponsored by Titus Zam Tartenger (Benue North-West), Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) and Osita Ngwu (Enugu West).
In the motion, lawmakers expressed concern over what they described as the pervasive and growing insecurity affecting all regions of the country. They cited widespread banditry, random kidnappings, terrorism and other forms of violent crimes that have placed communities under siege and undermined the work of security agencies.
The Senate noted that global factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the US-China tariff tensions and broader geopolitical shifts are also contributing to economic instability and insecurity in Nigeria. It warned that these global developments, including rising food insecurity and changing immigration regimes, are deepening domestic unrest and undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He stated that the world is experiencing a new form of warfare, one driven by economic tools and geopolitical influence rather than conventional military conflicts. He stressed the need for Nigeria to clarify its strategic engagement in global affairs while addressing internal threats.
The motion also highlighted the historical context of political and security crises in Nigeria, referencing events such as the Kano riot of 1953, the 1962/63 census crisis and the 1983 general election violence. Lawmakers warned that with the 2027 elections on the horizon, there is a need to prevent any recurrence of such instability.
It further urged the adoption of new strategies, including the modernisation of military communication practices and the promotion of a national ideology of peace in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Lawmakers, in their contributions to the debate on the motion, stressed that the summit must go beyond rhetoric and provide actionable, research-backed solutions to Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
However, some senators expressed concern over the motive of the summit. They argued that several of such events have been held by the legislature without desired outcomes or results.
The 9th Assembly had convened a highly publicised security conference under the leadership of Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila but the recommendations are yet to be implemented.
Speaking in that line, Enyinnaya Abaribe, asked: “Do we really want to be true to ourselves, and do we really want to be true to our calling as senators?
“The reason I asked these questions is because I have been here for a long time, and each session, there is a security session. None of us does not know what is going on in his area.
“Do we want to be true, fair and say the truth about what is happening in this country? If we want to be true to ourselves, then we can go ahead with a summit.”
In his debate, Abdul Ningi added: “If we continue to keep on doing things without results and keep on doing them, we are not only deceiving ourselves, we are also deceiving the people that sent us here to represent them. I am not sure the solutions have to do with creating a summit.”
But the Minority Leader, Abba Moro, suggested that all options should be explored in the quest to stop rising insecurity and crime across the country.
He stated: “These security challenges are happening in every area and in different dimensions. In proffering solutions to the security challenges, there is ‘no one side fits all’ approach.
“That we have provided solutions in the past and they have not worked does not stop us from proffering solutions.
“Now that we are confronted with hydra-headed insecurity, there is nothing that stops us from exploring all means of bringing insecurity to a halt.”
On his part, Adamu Aliero warned of the emergence of a new terrorist group attacking some parts of Kwara and Niger states. He urged the Senate to ask for a briefing from the security chiefs on strategies they are adopting to fight the terrorists, rather than convening a summit. “I don’t believe that having a security summit is the answer,” he stressed.
In his remarks, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed that the summit would comprise delegates from states, affected communities, traditional rulers and students unions in order to have a holistic debate because security is everybody’s business.
Meanwhile, the Senate observed a minute silence for the souls of those who lost their lives in the Uromi and Billiri killings in Edo and Gombe states, respectively.
They also urged security agencies to take measures to forestall future occurrence whenever such events are holding across the country, speed up prosecution of the truck driver who was responsible for running down people in the Easter killings, and urged the Gombe State Government to compensate the victims of the incident to assuage their grieving families.