ABUJA: Nigeria’s National Assembly on Wednesday renewed pressure on the Federal Government to publicly identify and prosecute individuals and networks financing terrorism, as lawmakers scramble for solutions to a worsening nationwide insecurity crisis.
During plenary, both chambers pushed for tougher measures, with the Senate proposing capital punishment for kidnappers, sponsors, informants, logistics providers and anyone aiding abductions.
The amendment to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, would classify kidnapping and hostage-taking as terrorism, granting security agencies greater powers to track and dismantle criminal networks.
The debate dominated proceedings as senators including Adams Oshiomhole, Orji Uzor Kalu and Minority Leader Abba Moro backed harsher penalties. After extended deliberations, the bill was forwarded to relevant committees for further work, with a two-week deadline.
Bamidele warned that kidnapping had become a coordinated, commercialised and militarised enterprise, ravaging communities, bankrupting families and undermining national stability. He argued that its brutality now bears “all the characteristics of terrorism.”
Oshiomhole dismissed deradicalisation programmes, insisting that terror convicts should face the death penalty. Kalu and Moro likewise supported severe punishments for perpetrators and informants.
Recent attacks including the November 18 assault on Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State have intensified concerns over expanding insurgent activity and rising school abductions across several states.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers also demanded public naming of terrorism financiers while debating a far-reaching security report. Presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the House pushed resolutions urging the creation of Special Terrorism Courts, stronger penalties for arms trafficking, and nationwide strengthening of cashless payment systems to block terror financing channels.
The House further recommended better school security, a review of the military super-camp strategy, recruitment into security agencies, improved welfare for personnel, establishment of a Fallen Heroes Support Fund, and the expedited creation of State Police through constitutional amendment.
Lawmakers also urged tighter oversight of digital spaces to curb harmful content, misinformation and AI-generated threats to national security.
Former Chief of Defence Staff and defence ministerial nominee, Gen. Christopher Musa, appeared before the Senate to address concerns over recent lapses, including the withdrawal of troops shortly before the abduction of 26 schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
Musa vowed to launch a full investigation, promising zero tolerance for incompetence within the armed forces and stressing the importance of technology, community engagement and inter-agency collaboration.
He highlighted gaps in military operations, poor school security and the need for updated laws against terrorism financing, including unregulated mining.
Tensions briefly flared when some senators pushed for Musa to be allowed to “take a bow,” prompting Senate President Godswill Akpabio to insist on rigorous questioning, citing heightened national and international scrutiny.
Musa pledged to prioritise national security if confirmed.
At an end-of-year media briefing, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, outlined the bloc’s 2025 interventions and 2026 priorities, highlighting €300m in funding for Northern Nigeria, €50m in humanitarian support against malnutrition, and major investments in security, infrastructure, digital economy and renewable energy.
He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to helping Nigeria tackle insecurity, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen defence, migration and trade cooperation.
The EU remains Nigeria’s biggest trading partner and first market for non-oil exports.
Despite ongoing conflict in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and deadly communal clashes, the EU pledged continued long-term support for peace-building, stability and development.
