The Senate resolved to urge the Federal Government to make citizenship registration compulsory for all Nigerians in order to identify “who is who at whatever time.”
The Senate, on Tuesday 13 January, 2024, after a 9-hour interface with Service Chiefs, heads of Security agencies and some Ministers, passed a vote of confidence in them for stepping up the game of checkmating crime and criminality in the country.
The Senate also resolved to urge the Federal Government to make citizenship registration compulsory for all Nigerians.
OrderPaper recalls that the Senate, two weeks ago, resolved to invite the service chiefs last week for an interactive session following a collective motion by the 109 Senators, presented by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) two weeks ago during plenary as the Senate observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives so far.
However, in order to invite other officials to be present at the next interactive session, the Senate last week, postponed the meeting till today, Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
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Those in attendance were the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar and the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, Director General of the State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
The Ministers who were present were the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Shortly after the long hour interface, the vote of confidence passed in the security chiefs was read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio who noted that the Senate took the decision after listening to submissions made by the various security chiefs on latest onslaughts against criminal elements in the country.
“After listening to the security chiefs , the Senate is convinced that serious measures are already being carried out against criminals in the country by the various security agencies.
“Such actions are indeed yielding results with the arrest of many of the criminal non state actors within the last few days which would surely bring about a secured and safe country for us all.
“Senate is particularly impressed with arrest of about 90% of those who perpetrated heinous crimes across the country in recent times.
“We however urged the various security agencies to do more by enduring synergy in their operations for total security of lives and property in the country.
“On our part as legislators, we shall collaborate more with the executive arm of government towards putting the menace behind us,” he said.
Briefing journalists after the end of the interface, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu said one of the other key resolutions taken by the Senate is to urge the Federal Government to make citizenship registration in Nigeria, compulsory towards knowing and identifying who is who at whatever time.
He said, ”Today, we listened to them, we related with them, they allayed our fears and answered our questions satisfactorily.
“We asked questions from Interior Minister on how to apprehend criminals through standardisation of identities of Nigerians
“We got assurances of border patrols that they must be manned seriously.
“The Finance Minister assured that funds will be released expeditiously to Service Chiefs. We got that pledge.
“We even suggested inviting the Minister of Justice so that we can get speedy trials of criminals. With what we heard today,we got assurances that Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief.”
Senator Adaramodu justified the vote of confidence passed in Service Chiefs as he maintained that the Red Chamber is impressed with their determination and proactive measures in recent times.
He said, “Yes, we passed a vote of confidence, we are impressed with what they have been doing so far. Look at that of Bwari, suspects have been apprehended and look at what they are doing in Ekiti and Plateau states. The problem is that the attacks happen sporadically.”
