2026: A YEAR OF RENEWED EXPECTATIONS – SENATOR SUNDAY STEVE KARIMI
My Dear People of Kogi West Senatorial Zone, I send you greetings for the new year 2026. As a district in Kogi State, the previous year threw up peculiar challenges for us. Most worrying was the security unsettledness which upset the historical calm and serenity for which our district is reputed. Vagrants infiltrated our communities, abducted some of our loved ones and in instances, took some away before their time. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
As your elected representative in the upper chambers of the federal legislature, permit me to assure you that this new year holds positive promise for our people on many fronts. Of common concern to us all is the condition of the Abaji-Lokoja; the Kabba-Isanlu-Egbe and the Kabba-Iyara-Omuo Ekiti roads which are at the core of day-to-day movement and socioeconomic activities for our people. We are unrelenting in our engagements with the federal government and I can assure you that there will be noticeable improvements in the new year. Please take this to the bank.
The disturbing security situation is equally receiving necessary attention. We have all seen an abatement in insecurity across the country in recent days. The *Forest Guards,* an amalgam of trained local hunters and vigilantes put in place by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, are being deployed to various states to support ongoing security management efforts. Terrorist activities are calming in the aftermath of Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States of America, (USA), to hit the strongholds of evil in parts of the country.
The Nigerian military has also revved up synchronised air and land clearances of cells and camps of bandits across the country. Kogi State and Kogi West will not be left out of this gradual security sweep. Gradually and assuredly, we shall be able to sleep with our eyes closed in times to come.
Mr President has shown faith in Kogi West in the area of appointments and recognitions for our people since the inception of his administration. The appointments of Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), and Prof Gbenga Solomon Ibileye as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja, (FUL), in recent weeks, is evidence of President Tinubu’s continuing confidence in the quality of human capital available to Nigeria from Kogi West.
Political activities will be on the ascendancy in the new year with the formal release of the 2027 electoral calendar by INEC. It behoves us in our district, to rally support for President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, whose *Renewed Hope Agenda* continues to impact the country in positive ways. We stand to benefit more with the continuity of a leader who has done as much for us as President within his initial two and half years in office. He will indeed do more.
I conclude by admonishing our people to keep hope alive and glowing. Better days beckon.
I thank you for your attention and wish you a most eventful and prosperous 2026.
Senator Sunday Steve Karimi
Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone
Chairman, Senate Committee on Services
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 1ST 2026)

