National Assembly Backs Tinubu on Security, Economic Reforms

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured President Bola Tinubu of stronger legislative support in addressing Nigeria’s lingering security challenges and sustaining ongoing economic reforms aimed at stabilising the country.

Akpabio gave the assurance on Thursday after leading principal officers of the Senate on a traditional Eid-el-Kabir homage to the President at his Lagos residence.

Speaking after the meeting, the Senate President said the National Assembly was prepared to work closely with the executive to strengthen security architecture across the country, particularly in vulnerable communities still affected by attacks and criminal activities.

 According to him, while Nigeria has made significant progress in weakening organised insurgency, there is still an urgent need to confront emerging security threats targeting soft locations such as schools, churches, mosques and rural settlements.

“He cannot do it alone. The National Assembly will assist him to ensure that we improve in the area of security. But it has actually improved,” Akpabio said.

“There is no part of Nigeria today where the flag of insurgents, whether Boko Haram or any other group, is being hoisted. The era of organised bomb attacks across the country has largely been brought under control.”

The Senate President, however, acknowledged that insecurity remains a serious concern in several parts of the country and disclosed that lawmakers were currently exploring constitutional and legislative frameworks that would allow states to participate more effectively in policing and internal security management.

Akpabio said discussions were ongoing around the creation of a regulated state policing structure supervised under a national framework to prevent abuse and ensure professionalism.

“We are looking at ways of creating a positive and not a negative state police system something that can have a national state police commission to regulate conduct, promotion and training,” he stated.

He also called on citizens to support security agencies through intelligence sharing, vigilance and community cooperation, noting that security must be treated as a collective national responsibility.

On the economy, Akpabio commended Tinubu’s administration for what he described as bold but necessary reforms that have repositioned Nigeria’s economy after years of structural distortions.

“We came to appreciate Mr President for his reforms, which have done a lot to reposition Nigeria on the trajectory of growth,” he said.

According to him, the Tinubu administration inherited a deeply troubled economy characterised by multiple exchange rates, heavy subsidy payments and unsustainable fiscal practices.

“We met multiple exchange rates. He has stopped all that. We met a situation of fuel subsidies. He has stopped all that,” he added.

Akpabio further praised the administration for addressing persistent fuel scarcity and harmonising tax systems, which he said were already improving economic coordination and investor confidence.

 The Senate President also highlighted major infrastructure projects being executed by the federal government, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos-Badagry-Sokoto Road Corridor, describing them as transformative projects capable of unlocking economic opportunities and boosting agriculture.

“The Lagos-Badagry-Sokoto road has about 74 dams that will revolutionise the agricultural sector in the country,” he said.

He disclosed that the National Assembly was also considering increasing statutory allocation to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund from 0.5 per cent to one per cent of federation revenue allocation in order to improve police infrastructure, logistics and operational capacity nationwide.

Akpabio added that the Senate delegation used the visit to pray for the President, national peace and the safe release of Nigerians still held captive by kidnappers and criminal groups.

He reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to continue supporting policies and programmes that would advance Nigeria’s long-term stability and development.

“We will stand by him so long as everything he proposes is positive for the future growth of this country,” he said.