Gbajabiamila: We must band together to combat insecurity

Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has stated that Nigerians, particularly those in positions of leadership, must work together to protect the country from insecurity.

Nothing meaningful will work if the country’s security architecture isn’t right, according to the Speaker, no matter how much effort is put in.

Gbajabiamila spoke at the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence’s public hearing and interactive session on four security-related bills under consideration in the House yesterday in Abuja.

According to him, the government owes Nigerians the duty to protect them from all forms of insecurity.

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“This is because if we don’t get our security right, no matter what we do in other sectors, nothing will be right,” he said, adding that the House’s Committee on National Security is the most important committee. This is why I stated that this committee is extremely strategic and vital to our country’s well-being.

“The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the welfare and well-being of the Nigerian people. It is a responsibility that we are determined to meet by any means necessary.

“To fulfill our responsibilities in this regard, we must first and foremost protect our people from the dangers of insecurity. We have gathered here this morning to review four critical Bills referred to the committee for legislative action in order to fulfill this enormous responsibility.”

The following bills are being considered: a Bill to Establish the National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons; a Bill to Make Provision for the Integration of Private Close Circuit Television (CCTV) and for Related Matters, 2019; a Bill to Repeal the Explosives Act, and for Related Matters; and a Bill to designate the m

“However, in separate ways, all of them seek the same goal of making our country a safer place and ensuring that our people live without fear of molestation and victimization,” the Speaker said, adding that two of the bills were referred to the House by the Executive.

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“As a result, the House of Representatives has made these bills a priority. We’ll think about them carefully and quickly. And we’ll work with stakeholders and citizens to ensure that these bills achieve their goals in their final form.

“A Bill to give full effect to the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition, and Other Related Materials passed second reading in the House of Representatives just before we went on vacation.

“Among other things, the bill seeks to establish a National Commission Against Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation. With the introduction of this new Executive Bill, we now have two bills in the House pursuing similar goals.

“These bills should not be viewed in isolation from one another. The two responsible committees on National Security and Intelligence and Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements will work together to achieve the goals of these Bills to the extent that their goals are similar.”

The Speaker urged security sector stakeholders to bring “their perspectives to improve the bills and protect our country in the best way we can,” reminding them that nation-building is a team effort.

“When we work together in a collaborative effort to build a society that allows all of our people to live their best lives, we serve the best interests of our country,” he says.

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“It’s critical to emphasize that this is a public hearing in which everyone is a participant.

“Aside from that, security agencies are welcome to submit submissions, but anyone is welcome to submit a submission. I say this to emphasize the fact that security affects everyone, and we are all stakeholders.

“When it comes to security issues, even the man on the street selling groundnut is a stakeholder.”