Reps Summon IGP, NSA, Minister Over Insecurity

Vice President Namadi Sambo (right), with Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, at the meeting on Kaduna Power Plant, Ge Rock Substation Fuel Storage, Railway-all Stakeholders, at the presidential villa in Abuja, recently. Photo: NAN

The House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki to brief it on the security situation in the country.
The House also summoned the Minister of Defence, retired Lt-Gen Aliyu Gusau.
It urged security agencies to fish out the suspected Fulani herdsmen that attacked some communities in Zamfara and Nasarawa states.
According to the house, there is the need to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book to serve as deterrent to others.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Rep. Ibrahim Gusau (PDP-Zamfara), which was unanimously adopted without debate.
According to Gusau the gunmen, in hundreds, operated freely for about four hours shooting children, traders and community leaders.
He noted that similar incidents had happened in Benue and Nasarawa where several people were killed by Fulani herdsmen.
Gusau said that the residents of many of the affected villages were living in persistent fear of being attacked while many had fled their homes.
He said that the Fulani herdsmen had become organised and daring that no small unit of security personnel could repel their attack.
“These groups of attackers are becoming more coordinated and if not checked, they can turn into yet another organised terror group.’’
About 230 people were killed in two villages in Zamfara on April 3 and 5.
Meanwhile, the House has mandated its Committees on Works and Army to investigate the circumstances behind the delay in constructing military barracks in Doma, Nasarawa State.
The resolution emanated from a motion moved by Rep. Mohammed Onawo (PDP- Nasarawa) which was adopted.
According to Onawo, N100 million has been appropriated in the 2014 Budget for the construction of Doma military barracks.
He expressed surprise why the contract for the project had not been awarded.
The legislator noted that the essence of the project was to boost security in the area and other neighbouring towns of Guma, Gwer West and Agatu in Benue.
Onawo stated that the essence of the project may be defeated if urgent measure was not taken to hasten its execution.
“The appropriated funds may be wasted if action is not taken by the parliament to ensure the timely implementation of the project”, he said.
Meanwhile, a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority (NEMSA), yesterday passed through its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The proposed bill seeks to carry out the functions of enforcement of technical standards and regulations, as well as technical inspection in the Nigerian electrical supply industry.
It also seeks to enforce technical standards in testing and certification of electrical installations, electricity meters, and instruments.
This is to ensure the efficient production and delivery of safe, reliable and sustainable power supply in the country.
The bill, if passed, would also guarantee safety of lives and property in the Nigerian electricity industry.
Leading debate on its general principle, Rep. Patrick Ikhariale (PDP-Edo), said that the bill, if passed, would tackle the issue of electricity supply in the country.
He said that the essence of the proposed legislation was to bring about an authority that would be “highly” involved in the technical role of the agency.
The lawmaker said that the bill would also strengthen standards in the area of professional services which no other agency could do.
Ikhariale said that the establishment of the agency would also provide employment opportunity for Nigerians.
“This bill, my colleagues, is very germane and has the interest of the people at heart,” he said.
He argued that the bill would also ensure that students of electrical engineering have a place in the Nigeria economy and contribute to national development.
Ikhariale urged the house to support the bill so that a body would be solely responsible for the enforcement of technical standards and regulation in the Nigerian electricity supply industry.
In their various contributions to the debate, Rep. Leo Ogor (PDP-Delta), Rep.Aminu Shagari (APC-Sokoto) and Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP-Abia) agreed that the bill is very important to Nigerians.
They said that the issue of safe electricity could not be over-emphasised.
The bill, thereafter, scaled the second reading and the Deputy Speaker, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, referred it to the Committee on Power for more legislative input.
Similarly, the house passed for second reading, a bill for an Act to regulate the Profession of Forestry in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ifeoluwa Arowodoge (APC-Ekiti), seeks to regulate the activities of foresters in the country.
The bill was then referred to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture for more legislative action.