From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Ministers and security service chiefs have arrived at the National Assembly in response to the summon of the Senate which asked them to appear before it today to provide the necessary justifications for the nation’s deteriorating security situation.
At about 12.37 pm immediately the Senate suspended its rules by dissolving into the committee of the whole to permit the service Chiefs and the Ministers into the Chambers of the Senate, Leader of the Senate Opeyemi Bamidele at about 12:49 pm announced that the Senate should move into a closed door session to discuss with the service Chiefs over the security matters raised.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio in a short address before going into the closed session said that the Senators needed to have a private interface with the service Chiefs first before addressing the press due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Shortly after that men of the press and non Lawmakers were asked to vacate the Senate Chambers.
Amongst those present to answer queries are:
Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru; Hon Min of State for Defence Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle; Minister of Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Finance and Coordinating of the Economy;National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff , Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar; Director General of the State Security Service, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi ; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun and Director General National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Abubakar.
The meeting was billed for last week but was shifted to this week because of the absence of some security heads.