Senate to hold two-day national security summit

The senate has resolved to hold a two-day national security summit to discuss solutions to the rising insecurity in the country.

The decision followed a motion sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo south, at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

Leading the debate, Ibrahim said the “high level” of global insecurity is driven by events in Russia and Ukraine and compounded by tensions between the global north and global south.

He said these issues have worsened food insecurity and affected the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Ibrahim added that the ongoing tariff war in America and the growing emphasis on balance of power in global affairs have also contributed to a new world order.

“This new order reflects in immigration policies, visa cancellations by new regimes, and countries raising funds by selling citizenship — all of which fuel economic conflict and undermine globalisation pursued over the last sixty years,” he said.

He also said Nigeria must clarify its strategic engagement in international affairs, noting that the senate has a role in advising the executive to maximise national interest.

“The next world war may not even require the fanfare of militarism. The incredible growing economic war is gaining ground with destructive innovation in security globally.”

On the situation in Nigeria, Ibrahim said insecurity has become “pervasive”, affecting both urban and rural areas where banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes persist.

He said President Bola Tinubu is committed to securing Nigeria and stressed the need to strengthen military strategy with better intelligence support.

“Most military strategies and languages are no longer exclusive to the military,” he said.

“There is a need for alternative language in military engagement as well as enhanced funding to advance the professional practices and respected tradition of the future military.”

He called for an “empirical fact-finding national security summit” to help develop far-reaching solutions.

Mohammed Dandutse, senator representing Katsina south, seconded the motion and said the lack of intelligence sharing among security agencies was a major setback.

“Nigeria is blessed, we have no other country except Nigeria. We have to face these criminals squarely. No country succeeds except with peace and security,” he said.

“The security agencies are given funding, so there is a need for the judicious spending of these resources.”

But Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south, and Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, argued that a security summit may not be the solution.

Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north-west, and Abba Moro, the senate minority leader, backed the motion.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote and a majority of senators voted in favour of the summit.

Akpabio, however, said the summit should last for two days instead of the three days proposed by Ibrahim.

The senate subsequently resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to organise the two-day national security summit in Abuja.

The event will include delegates from all levels of government, as well as traditional institutions.

The red chamber also urged the federal government to review and rejig the country’s security policies based on outcomes from the summit.