Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has been awarded the title of 'The Most Security Conscious Senator in Nigeria' at the Democracy Newsline Newspaper Award (DNNA) 2024. The award recognizes his strategic legislative advocacy and direct, on-the-ground investments in public safety.
Award Ceremony Details
The event took place on October 9, 2024, at the National Merit House in Abuja, marking the 14th anniversary of Democracy Newsline Newspaper. Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau and Senator Oji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) also won awards in different categories. Winners were selected based on opinion polls conducted by a team of experts.
Security Achievements
Senator Karimi's security-related accomplishments include facilitating and privately financing the construction of a fully furnished military Forward Operations Base (FOB) on the Kogi-Kwara border to combat kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery. He also provided two brand new Hilux vans to support base operations.
Further deployments of military personnel were made to communities such as Jege, Odo-Ere, Isanlu, and Olle-Bunu, complementing the existing 96-bed FOB in Egbe, Yagba West LGA. Senator Karimi arranged localized accommodations for soldiers in these areas.
Additional Interventions
The lawmaker visited communities of kidnapped victims and made financial contributions toward their release. He provided accommodations for communities where military personnel were posted and supplied body armors to security operatives on the field in parts of Kogi West.
Notably, he privately financed the repair of the Pakuta Bridge in Kiri-Bunu Kingdom, which had been in disrepair for over 15 years, at a cost of N23 million. The bridge now facilitates free traffic flow in the Bunu axis, a hotspot for kidnapping in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area.
Legislative Advocacy
As Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Senator Karimi has been a vocal advocate for decentralizing national security and empowering state police. Over the past three years in the 10th Senate, he has demonstrated commitment to the security and well-being of his constituents through strategic legislative actions and interventions aimed at strengthening security operations across Kogi West and its border communities, while also supporting efforts to tackle insecurity in neighboring states.
