By EricJames Ochigbo
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has underscored the need to strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence and security institutions to effectively address evolving security challenges across the country.
Tajudeen said this on Thursday in Abuja at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence on three bills aimed at strengthening intelligence operations.
The bills seek to establish a Department of State Services (DSS) Trust Fund, a Strategic Intelligence Management Institute and a DSS Research and Development Institute.
According to the speaker, security remains the foundation upon which economic growth, social services delivery and democratic governance depend, making sustained investment in intelligence capabilities imperative.
He said the proposed legislation addressed critical gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture and responded to emerging threats requiring innovation, professional development, research and institutional resilience.
“They recognise that the threats facing Nigeria today require more than conventional responses; they demand sustained investment in intelligence capacity, innovation, research, professional development and institutional resilience.
“Across the country, challenges like terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cyber threats, transnational crimes and other emerging security concerns continue to test our national institutions.
“In order to effectively confront these threats, we must improve our ability to gather, analyse and deploy intelligence in a timely and coordinated manner,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno), assured stakeholders that their contributions would receive due consideration during legislative deliberations.
According to Satomi, national security requires collective responsibility and cannot be left solely to government institutions, stressing the importance of citizen participation and stakeholder collaboration.
He said the committee’s final report would reflect the consensus and credible recommendations emerging from the public hearing and broader stakeholder engagement process.
Satomi added that the committee remained committed to a lawmaking process that was open, transparent and responsive to the security needs of Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Abiemwense Moru
