A bill awaiting passage and presidential assent in the House of Representatives may compel President Goodluck Jonathan to set security standards on all public buildings, recreational parks and other buildings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country.
A source at the presidency told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the bill will also address security challenges arising from Bok Haram activities. The source added that the bill is “in line with Federal Government’s plan to boost security at the ministries and other agencies of government before the end of this first quarter”. The first quarter of the year ends on March 31, 2012.
The piece of legislation is in line with the huge 2012 security budget proposal of N942billion by the Presidency.
The bill for an Act to enforce the security measure is sponsored by Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila(ACN/Lagos).
The bill is entitled: An Act to Provide Security Standard for All Public Buildings, Infrastructure’ Protection of Lives”.
The sponsor of the motion, noted that: “The Nigerian state, in the past few years, has witnessed with pains and sadness, the wanton destruction of lives and property in public places”.
According to him, “The wanton destruction of lives and property by some groups of persons, be they Nigerians or illegal migrants from other countries and their quest to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of the Nigerian state is highly condemnable, most reprehensible and unacceptable to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
He added that the bill is “In response to the recent attack on buildings and infrastructure thereby resulting to painful loss of lives and property and in furtherance of its legitimate and constitutional functions, the National Assembly has agreed to prescribe a standard for all public buildings and infrastructure in Nigeria on security issues to counter the mass destruction of lives and public buildings”.
The bill, if signed into law, shall impose the security measures in buildings like “Trained security personnel from accredited security organisations, fire exits, evacuation plants, bomb detectors, sniffer dogs, CCTVs and ambulances with paramedics”.