Senate sets up 20-member national security summit planning committee

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate has established a 20-member committee to organise a two-day national security summit aimed at addressing the country’s persistent security challenges. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the committee’s formation during plenary on Thursday, May 15.

Chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and with Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North) as vice chairman, the committee includes Senators Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West), Barinada Mpigi (PDP, Rivers), Babangida Hussaini (APC, Jigawa North West), Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu), Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West), Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North), Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC, Katsina Central), Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), Austin Akobundu (PDP, Abia Central), Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South), Abdulhamid Madori (APC, Jigawa North East), Emmanuel Udende (APC, Benue North East), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), Shuaib Salisu (APC, Ogun Central), Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), and Senate Clerk Andrew Nwoba.

The committee is tasked with designing the summit’s framework, setting the agenda, identifying key discussion points, and proposing actionable strategies to tackle issues like terrorism, insurgency, and leaks of military intelligence to militant groups, which have undermined security operations. Akpabio directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks, by May 29, 2025.

The summit, approved on May 6, following a motion by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), aims to foster collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, traditional institutions, and security stakeholders. However, previous summits, such as the one held in May 2021 by the 9th National Assembly under Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, have yielded limited results, with insecurity remaining a pressing issue.