Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, has informed the Nigerian Army of his intention to hand over the newly completed Military Forward Operating Base (FOB) in his constituency.
The project, which broke ground in January 2024, is located at the intersection of the Kwara/Kogi/Ekiti states boundary, in Egbe, Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State. Eruku, an Okun-speaking community in Kwara State, is within walking distance from Egbe.
In a letter he personally signed and dated September 14, 2024, Karimi has scheduled the official commissioning of the project for Monday, October 14, 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,” is 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.
The letter reads, “Sir, I hereby wish to inform you that I have completed the construction of a Military Base on the outskirts of Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, at the border between Kwara and Kogi States.
”This base aims to enhance security in Kogi and Kwara States. The idea for this military base was conceived by me in January this year to assist the Nigerian Military and Security Agencies in ensuring a swift response to combating terrorists, kidnappers, and criminals, whose activities in recent times around the border of Kogi and Kwara—where there is a vast expanse of forests rapidly becoming a fortress for criminals—have become a national concern.
”It is hoped that the presence of a standard military base will serve as a deterrent to these criminals and restore peace and security in the communities of Kogi and Kwara States.”
Karimi further stated that his decision to construct, furnish, and hand over the base to the Nigerian Army stems from his commitment to assisting the federal government in its fight against insecurity, protecting the lives of citizens, and deterring criminals from rural communities.
The newly completed military base features two hostels with 85 bed spaces for soldiers, fully furnished with beds, bedding, and all necessary fittings for comfortable habitation. There is also a concrete armory and a moderately furnished office wing for the Commander of the Military Base.
The official residence for the Commander is a 3-bedroom apartment, fully furnished with all necessary fittings. The FOB also includes Officers’ Mess (a) and (b) for officers and soldiers.
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The armory building is a well-constructed watchtower with surveillance cameras for intelligence and security gathering.
The facility is situated on an adequately fenced land of approximately 10,000 square meters, equipped with American Security Fence Wires and two iron gates.
There are 25KVA solar generating inverters for regular off-grid power supply and a 22KVA standby generator as an alternative power source to ensure constant power supply.
Senator Karimi reiterated his commitment to connecting the base to grid power supply (PHCN/IBEDC) immediately. Other features include separate toilets, kitchen facilities, refrigerators, cookers, and a detention cell.
“Having completed the project, it is my desire to hand it over to the Nigerian Army for the deployment of troops and for its intended use immediately. I request that the handover of the project be scheduled for October 12, 2024, which will coincide with the celebration of Egbe Township Day.
”We request your presence at the commissioning and handover of the Military Base as part of the events marking the celebration. I appreciate your commitment to defending the Nigerian State from external aggression and suppressing all forms of armed insurrection,” he said.
In an interview, Dr. Tunde Olusunle, a former presidential aide, renowned media practitioner, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (FANA), and Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja, expressed the collective delight of the Okun community regarding 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 Senator Sunday Karimi. Karimi spent the 2023 yuletide with his constituents, visiting communities and local government areas across the seven local government areas in his district.
He was inundated with complaints and cries about how bandits, kidnappers, and similar criminal elements had made life unbearable for his people.
This situation has severely impacted the agrarian economy of Kogi West, almost creating an existential and food security crisis. State and local government employees, including teachers and agriculturists, have had to bank outside their domains, facing risks and inconveniences.
“Deadly robbers have repeatedly attacked banks, including the First Bank and Access Bank, with Yagba federal constituency being the most affected.
A dismayed Karimi prioritised the development of a model FOB from early this year to mitigate the constant violations of peace and security in his community by miscreants. Rather than waiting for bureaucratic processes, he chose to design and finance the initiative from his personal resources. This is a most exemplary and laudable precedent.”
