A former member of the House of Representatives, Professor Haruna Yerima, has condemned the National Security Summit proposed by the National Assembly, calling it a misuse of public resources and time.
Yerima’s remarks come just two days after the federal government, through Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru, pledged its full support for the summit—despite Badaru himself previously dismissing the idea as unnecessary.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Yerima, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the planned two-day summit as nothing more than a “tea party,” unlikely to yield any tangible solutions to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
He recalled that a similar summit held in 2021 by the 9th National Assembly under then Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila produced no meaningful outcomes. “Most of the recommendations from that summit have since been ignored, with no white paper issued or legislative action taken,” he said.
Yerima argued that what Nigeria needs is not more speeches from politicians and academics, but strong political will, enhanced intelligence networks, inter-agency cooperation, and a well-equipped, motivated military.
He emphasized that the National Assembly should focus on its core constitutional duties: funding and overseeing security agencies, and holding officials accountable for continued failures despite billions spent on defence in the past decade.
“Nigerians are tired of endless rhetoric. They want action. Another summit won’t stop the latest Boko Haram attacks in places like Marte, Rann, Gajiram, and Dikwa. Only a new strategy and firm commitment from the armed forces can do that,” he stated.
Yerima urged lawmakers to use their oversight powers to push for real change in the country’s security architecture, including better training, morale, and intelligence capabilities for the armed forces.
Meanwhile, the Senate held an interactive session on Wednesday with stakeholders from the ICT, telecommunications, and security sectors to shape the agenda for the upcoming summit. The session, led by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity and chaired by Senator Afolabi Shuaib, was opened by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Senator Shuaib noted the dual nature of technology—driving progress while also enabling crimes like kidnapping and cyber fraud. “If we don’t act now, we’ll be chasing shadows at the summit,” he warned.
Senator Bamidele added that integrating digital safety is key to unlocking the full benefits of the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Senator Ned Nwoko questioned the absence of major social media companies like Facebook and Instagram at the session, asking whether requiring them to establish offices in Nigeria could improve data access and crime tracking.
The session aimed to identify gaps, gather expert insights, and refine the goals of the national security summit.