By Yinka Adaranijo
In what may go into record books as first of its kind in the North Central geo-political zone, a singularly initiated and funded by an individual in his private capacity, Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi has communicated authorities of the Nigerian Army his intention to handover the newly completed Military Forward Operating Base (FOB) in his Constituency. The project, which ground breaking held in January 2024, is located at the intersection of Kwara/Kogi/Ekiti states boundary town, in Egbe, Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State. Eruku, an Okun speaking community in Kwara State, is a walking distance from Egbe.
Karimi, in the letter he personally signed and dated 14th September, 2024, scheduled the official commissioning of the project for Monday, October 14th, 2024. The letter titled “Handing Over of Newly Constructed and Furnished Military Base for the Nigerian Army in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area, Kogi State”, and addressed to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, Oyo State, through the Brigade Commander,
12 Brigade (BDE), Nigerian Army, Lokoja, Kogi State.
It reads: “Sir, I hereby wish to inform you that I have completed the construction of a Military Base in the outskirts of Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State at the border between Kwara and Kogi State for the Nigerian Army to improve Security in Kogi and Kwara States. The idea of the military base was conceived by me in January this year to assist the Nigerian Military and Security Agencies to ensure quick response in combating terrorists, kidnappers and criminals whose activities in recent times around the Border of Kogi and Kwara (where there is a great expanse of forests and fast becoming a fortress for criminals) has become an issue of national concern. It is also hoped that the presence of a standard military base will serve as a deterrence to these criminals and restore peace and security in the communities in Kogi and Kwara States”.
The lawmaker further stated that the urge to construct, furnish and handover the edifice to the Nigerian Army is borne out of his commitment to assisting the federal government in its fight against insecurity, protecting the lives of the citizenry and warding off criminals from the rural communities. According to him, the newly completed military base has two hostels which have 85 bed spaces for soldiers. It is fully furnished with beds, beddings and all fittings for comfortable human habitation. There is a concrete armory and a moderately furnished office wing for the Commander of the Military Base.
The official residence of the Commander of the Military Base is a 3-bedroom apartment, fully furnished with cable television and allied fittings. The FOB also features Officers Mess (a) and (b) for officers and soldiers in the Military Base. The armoury building is a well-constructed Watch Tower with Surveillance camera for intelligence and security gathering. The facility occupies an adequately fenced land on approximately 10,000 Square Metres, fitted with American Security Fence Wires with two iron gates provided. There are 25KVA solar generating inverters provided for regular off-grid power supply and 22KVA standby generating set provided as alternative power source to ensure constant power supply. Senator Karimi is his letter reiterated his commitment to connecting the base to grid power supply (PHCN/IBEDC) immediately. Other features of the FOB are separate toilets and kitchen facilities, refrigerators, cookers and a cell for detention, among others.
“Having completed the project, it is my desire to hand over same to the Nigerian Army for the deployment of troops and for good use immediately. I hereby request that the hand over of the project to the Nigerian Army be scheduled/fixed for 12th October 2024 which shall coincide with the celebration of Egbe Township Day and we request your presence at the commissioning and handing over of the Military Base as part of events marking the celebration. Whilst appreciating you for your commitment to defending the Nigerian State from external aggression and suppressing armed insurrection of all kinds”, he said.
When he was interviewed former presidential aide, reknowned media practitioner, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (FANA) and Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja, Dr Tunde Olusunle, conveyed the collective delight of the Okun country to this development. Olusunle who chairs the Yagba Action Group (YAG), said it is heartening that “All is set for the inauguration of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), initiated and wholly built by the Senator representing Kogi West District, Sunday Karimi. Karimi spent the 2023 yuletide with his constituents visiting communities and local government areas across the seven local government areas in his catchment.
He was inundated with complaints and cries about how bandits, kidnappers and similar criminal elements, had made life unbearable for his people. The situation has badly impacted the agrarian economy of Kogi West, almost creating an existential and food security crisis. State and local government employees who work as teachers, agriculturists, among others vocations, have had to bank outside their domains, with attendant risks and inconveniences.
“Deadly robbers have repeatedly attacked banks and chased the First Bank, which had a brand in each of the seven Kogi West LGAs, and Access Bank, with Yagba federal constituency most affected. A dismayed Karimi prioritised a model FOB beginning from early this year, to mitigate the constant violation of the peace and security of his people by miscreants. Without awaiting the bureaucratese of raising the question of the helplessness of his people on the floor of the parliament, he chose to design and finance the initiative from his personal resources. This is most exemplary.”