The National Assembly has ordered that all vehicles entering its premises from next week Monday be stopped and searched to forestall possible terror attacks.

A memo by the National Assembly Security Committee noted that this, amongst others, was one of the measures put in place to forestall terrorist attacks in the assembly complex.

“One of such measures is the directive to Security Agencies and the Sergeant-at-Arms Department to ensure that, effective Monday, 31 October, 2022, all vehicles coming into the National Assembly premises are thoroughly searched.

“This entails that, the drivers of the vehicles shall by themselves open the booths of their cars and submit their vehicles to comprehensive checks,” the memo, signed by Tahir Sani, clerk of the Committee, reads in part. 

“Honourable Members and Distinguished Senators are by this notice advised to use the Presidential gate, unless they are willing to submit themselves to this stop and search policy,” the memo added.

The U.S. and UK embassies in Abuja had earlier in the week raised the alarm of possible terrorist attacks in the country’s capital. 

The security advisories stated that markets, churches, government buildings are among potential targets, while warning its citizens and evacuating its staff out of the country.

Similarly, the Australian and Canadian embassies have issued similar security advisories.

However, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has dismissed the advisories as “click bait,” claiming that the federal government was on top of the security situation.

President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, had also urged the citizens not to panic over security alerts.