The Nigerian Senate has received the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and the nation’s Service Chiefs for a closed-Door meeting over issues of insecurity in the country.
The meeting is coming a week after the Red chamber invited the security chiefs but postponed it following the absence of the Defence Chief and the NSA.
In attendance at the meeting are 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.
ALSO READ: Nigerian governors agree on modalities to tackle insecurity, food stability crisis
Others are the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the State Services, Yusuf Bichi, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar.
Ministers in attendance are those of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Prior to the closed-door session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio apologised for commencing behind schedule.
“I want to thank the service chiefs who were earlier here in the Senate before we adjourned. The only addition is that we now felt that the ministers should also come because they are supervising most of the finances of these security agencies”.
“We can talk security but we need money also procure equipment and to do a lot of things. Your presence here will give us insights into how funding is being handled to ensure the security of lives and properties.
“The Senate decided to take this option for us to have a session because of the various petitions that we have received from our constituents. As part of our major oversight function, we decided to do this through the Committee of a Whole.”
