By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA-ALL access roads linking the National Assembly complex was manned by heavily armed security operatives ahead of the ministerial screening by the Nigerian Senate this morning.

The Nigerian Police made up of mobile detachments and regular uniformed men were complemented by officers and men of the Department of State Services (DSS) all of whom were brought in 7 pick up vans to beef up security.

The screening apparently took off from the outer gates on all three axis leading to the complex, as there was heavy security presence – screening both motorists and their vehicles as well as pedestrians leading to serious vehicular and human traffic gridlock especially from the secretariat end of the Three Arms Zone.

The gridlock was further compounded on getting to the second and fourth entrance gates leading from the Supreme Court back gate, Villa gate as well as the SGF gates; linking the National Assembly Annex offices with men of the Sergeant-At-Arm on ground to prevent unauthorised entry by individuals.

The lobby of the white house which houses both chambers of the Legislature was not different either in terms of security presence with operatives backed by officer of the Sergeant-At-Arm on ground to ensure orderly movement and conduct.

Whether or not the heavy security presence was as a result of anticipated breach by would be protesters kicking against the nomination of some individuals for ministerial portfolios could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

The ministerial screening exercise is the first to be handled by the Senator Bukola Saraki-led 8th National Assembly following receipt of nomination lists from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Some of the yet to be screened ministers were seen last week in NASS to probably fine their submitted curriculum vitae.