The Nigerian Senate has issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate approval of 100,000 new military personnel to combat the escalating security crisis across the nation.
Senate's Security Emergency Session
During a heated plenary session on Tuesday, lawmakers unanimously called for massive military recruitment to confront insurgency, banditry, and the alarming wave of school abductions threatening the country's educational system.
The emergency debate was triggered by the devastating attack on Government Girls' Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where armed assailants killed a vice principal and abducted 25 students, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
Oshiomhole's Strong Security Demands
Senator Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North spearheaded the call for immediate action, emphasizing that Nigeria's security challenges require both strategic expansion of armed forces and accountability for existing security programs.
"I urge the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 military personnel so we can have enough men and women in our troops," Oshiomhole declared during the passionate debate.
The senator also raised serious concerns about the management of security funds, particularly questioning the effectiveness of the Safe School Programme despite repeated attacks on educational institutions.
"People have turned our security into a business. We should not monetise the death of our people by those living. What happened to the money earmarked for the Safe School Programme?" he demanded.
Safe School Programme Under Scrutiny
Lawmakers expressed deep frustration over the continued vulnerability of schools despite Nigeria's adoption of the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015. The program, designed to protect educational spaces during conflicts, has failed to prevent numerous attacks on learning institutions.
Senator Oshiomhole pressed for immediate investigation, stating, "Again, I urge the FG and the relevant Senate committees to probe the funds appropriated for the Safe School Programme."
He further emphasized the need for technological advancement in security operations, calling on military agencies to "deploy the use of technology and tracking devices to be able to track these criminals."
Bipartisan Support for Security Measures
Senate President Godswill Akpabio strongly endorsed both the recruitment initiative and the proposed investigation into the Safe School Programme spending.
"We urge the Federal Government and the Senate committee to probe the spending. Unfortunately, these criminals are going after soft targets," Akpabio noted during the session.
The Senate President cautioned against politicizing security issues while offering condolences to victims of the Maga school attack, emphasizing that "crime is crime" regardless of which administration it occurs under.
Nigeria's Current Military Capacity
The debate also examined Nigeria's existing defense capabilities. According to Global Firepower's 2022 ranking, Nigeria maintains the 35th position globally and ranks as the third most powerful military in Africa.
Current military statistics show Nigeria has approximately 135,000 active personnel with total military strength at 215,000. The country's hardware inventory includes 140 aircraft, 376 tanks, 2,019 armored vehicles, 349 towed artillery units, and 47 rocket projectors.
Despite these figures, senators argued that the operational reality on ground demonstrates significant gaps between capacity and effectiveness, justifying the need for substantial recruitment and enhanced school protection measures.
Immediate Response to Kebbi Tragedy
Following the Maga school assault that occurred in the early hours of Monday, security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force and military units have launched comprehensive search-and-rescue operations to locate and free the abducted students.
The attack resulted in the death of a vice principal and left a school guard injured, further highlighting the vulnerability of educational institutions in conflict-prone regions.
UNICEF has repeatedly called for full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, stressing the critical need for safe and inclusive learning environments across Nigeria.
The Senate's unanimous resolution represents one of the most significant legislative responses to Nigeria's security challenges, combining immediate personnel expansion with long-term accountability measures for security spending.
