Recall that after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly on 13th June, the Senate had on Wednesday, 14th June adjourned untill July 4th, 2023.
Reconvening today, four motions were move by the lawmakers for deliberations.
Among, was the motion for the ‘Urgent Need to Halt the Extortion, Intimidation and Harassment of Motorist by the Police on Public Roads’
Moving the motion, Sen. Onyekachi Nwebonyi Peter (Ebonyi North), said one of the primary functions of Police personnel is to facilitate free passage and movement on highways.
Sen. Peter, however decried that the Nigeria Police have neglected that primary duty to taken undue advantage by resorting to extortion, intimidation and harassment of motorist and other roads users.
He told the red chamber that the continuous intimidation, harassment and torture that the ordinary Nigerian experienced in the hands of security agents calls for urgent action.
After extensive deliberation by legislators, it was however resolved that the Inspector General of Police should set up a panel to investigate the harassment of members of the public by police officers, and report to the Senate through the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation within a time line of 14 days.
Thereafter, Sen. Mpigi Barinada River (South-East), moved a motion for the ‘Need for Construction of the Onne/Eleme Communities Axis of the East-West Road’.
Sen. Barinada maintained that the 7km Federal Government Trunk ‘A’ Road, which connects South-south, South-east and the Western parts of the country remains moribund.
He urged the Senate to set up an Adhoc Committee to look into the reason for the prolong delay and abandonment of the project.
Also followed was the motion for ‘Urgent Need to Curb Incessant Cases of Buildings, Bridges and other structural failures occasioned by the lack and poor production quality…’
Rising to move the motion, Sen. Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere (Kogi Central), said he was worried by reports that there are thousands of buildings across the country waiting to collapse due to the usage of inferior materials in construction.
The Kogi State Senator who also noted that rising cost of building materials has contributed tremendously to Incessant building collapse, further called on regulatory bodies to sensitise the sector to get rid of sub-standard materials in the market.
The 4th order of the day motion was ‘Call on the Federal Government to Address the General Insecurity and Incessant Attack on Plateau State’.
While moving the motion, Sen. Plang Diket Satso (Plateau Central), told the hollow chamber that over 300 people have been brutally murdered by terrorist in the past month in Plateau State.
He further stated that the attack on some communities in the state have continued unabated from April 2023 till date as many villages and communities have witnessed the ugly incident where people are killed in large numbers, and houses set ablaze and destroyed.
Seconding the motion, Sen. Titus Zam (Benue North West), lamented the high spate of killing, maiming and destruction of lives in Benue State by herds men.
Sen. Zam said Benue State which is known for being the food basket of the nation have almost become an empty basket because of insecurity.
Lending his voice to the security challenges in Nigeria, the newly appointed Senate Chief Whip, Sen Ali Ndume, urged the lawmakers to give adequate attention to insecurity, noting that if the issue of insecurity is what the 10th Senate is able to achieve, it is worth it.
Sen. Ndume noted that insecurity is a national issue that must not be handled with wet globe.
Other Senators who lend their voices to the dare devil insecurity are, Sen. Aminu Tambuwal, Minority leader, Sen. Simon Davou Mwadkwon, just to mention a few.
All the Senators who spoke on this motion were emotional as they recount its threat to the society, giving account of how the people of their Senatorial District have been killed, maimed and kidnapped as a result of insecurity.
At the end, the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio said the motion requires further deliberation in a special session with the Service Chiefs expected to be in attendance.
