In a week that tested the mettle of legislative leadership and national resolve, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Ph.D., OON, the Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Navy, once again stood at the intersection of national security and reform-driven lawmaking.
From the floor of the House of Representatives came a moment of resounding approval — one that bore the stamp of urgency, empathy, and strategic foresight. Gagdi’s Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the persistent insecurity and humanitarian challenges in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State secured unanimous support, signaling a decisive step toward restoring peace and rebuilding trust in one of the most affected regions of the Middle Belt.
Securing the Homeland
The motion, anchored on the troubling rise of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and recurrent flood disasters in Garga and adjoining communities, captured the growing despair of rural dwellers.
Gagdi’s prayers, adopted in full by the House, proposed a multi-agency security architecture for Kanam:
The establishment of a Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Garga to enable faster military deployment and response;
A Divisional Police Headquarters in Gum, and a Civil Defence Divisional Office in Gwamlar, to improve local policing and inter-agency synergy;
The deployment of a DSS Special Operations Team to pursue intelligence-led counteractions against criminal networks; and
Immediate intervention by NEMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to aid victims of both insecurity and natural disasters.
The House further observed a minute of silence for Mallam Hudu Alhassan Musa, the slain Village Head of Shuwaka, whose death in captivity served as a grim reminder of the human cost of insecurity in rural Plateau.
Legislating Against Corruption
Barely days after securing this vital motion, Gagdi took on another front — the fight against corruption. On Thursday, he led the debate on the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (HB. 2447), a bold legislative effort aimed at tightening Nigeria’s asset recovery system.
The Bill, one of four major anti-corruption reforms sponsored by Gagdi, seeks to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2022, addressing loopholes that have long hampered effective asset forfeiture and management. Among its innovations are:
The expansion of non-conviction-based forfeiture mechanisms, ensuring illicit wealth can be recovered even when criminal convictions are delayed or obstructed;
The introduction of whistleblower and witness protection frameworks to safeguard those who expose corruption; and
The recognition of digital and virtual assets through a proposed National Confiscation and Recovery Registry, aligning Nigeria’s system with international standards.
A Reputation for Results
Observers note that Gagdi’s dual focus on security and accountability reflects a broader vision — one that blends compassion for the ordinary citizen with the strategic depth of a reformist. In a legislative era often dominated by partisanship, his approach stands out for its balance of empathy and execution.
“Security and justice are the twin pillars of peace,” Gagdi remarked during plenary, reinforcing his belief that good governance must begin with protecting lives and recovering stolen public wealth.
With these latest moves, the Plateau-born lawmaker continues to cement his place as a dynamic voice in the 10th National Assembly, blending grassroots sensitivity with national relevance — and reminding Nigerians that effective leadership is not about noise, but about results.
WALBE OGAK
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