The House of Representatives is currently in session with the service chiefs and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. The distinguished attendees comprise Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. The security sectoral debate commenced around 11:26 am, following last Thursday’s criticism of the security heads for sending representatives who were rejected.
In a pre-executive session, the service chiefs and IGP took turns detailing the ongoing efforts to address the nation’s security challenges. Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla specifically urged the National Assembly to intervene in enhancing surveillance for backwaters, creeks, and other areas behind the coastline. He emphasized that continuous monitoring of these regions would effectively curb oil theft, pipeline vandalization, and illegal refining on a 24/7 basis.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun highlighted several challenges faced by the police force, including inadequate logistics provision, a shortage of patrol vehicles for police divisions, insufficient training, and poor welfare for personnel.
The House of Representatives had expressed displeasure last week over the absence of the service chiefs and Egbetokun during an interactive session scheduled for plenary. Instead, the security heads had sent representatives. The House had earlier planned sectoral debates with the security chiefs and other sectors of the country in the preceding week.
The session is still as at time of filing this report.
