The Senate on Thursday asked President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Nigerian Forest Security Service (Establishment) Bill, 2025, which was recently passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting presidential approval to tackle insecurity.
The Senate adopted a resolution following the presentation of two motions sponsored by Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, and Sen. Sunday Karimi. The motions strongly condemned the abduction of His Royal Highness, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Obalohun of Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, as well as recent deadly attacks on communities in Benue State allegedly carried out by suspected herdsmen.
In the first motion, the Senate expressed deep concern over the kidnapping of the Kogi monarch by armed assailants who reportedly stormed his palace around midnight on Thursday, May 15, firing shots before abducting him and fleeing to an unknown location.
Lawmakers called for urgent security interventions in the affected areas and suggested that the legislation could be amended to incorporate the President’s proposed Forest Guard initiative, which targets growing insecurity, especially in rural and forested regions.
The Senate further called on the Federal Government to instruct security agencies to deploy all necessary resources to ensure the swift rescue of the abducted monarch.
Senator Moro also briefed the chamber on coordinated attacks allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Akpete and Ojantele communities in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. The attacks, which took place on May 1 and May 7, resulted in the deaths of over a dozen residents.
In a separate development, the Senate passed a bill for second reading that seeks to mandate all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritize local automobile manufacturers and indigenous companies in their procurement processes.
The bill, presented by Sen. Patrick Ndubueze, received broad support during plenary.
Backing the legislation, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin emphasized its economic significance, stating, “There has been a growing call for the government to support locally made products. This is not just a patriotic move—it’s an economically wise decision. Encouraging indigenous businesses will boost our economy, generate employment, and reduce reliance on imports.”
The bill aims to strengthen Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector, promote job creation, and curb capital flight by ensuring government agencies actively support Nigerian-made goods, especially in the automobile industry.