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2026: A year of Renewed Hope, national stability — Akpabio
Godswill Obot Akpabio, Senate President is confident that the full manifestation of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahamed Tinubu is quite at hand and that Nigerians would begin to enjoy the full benefits.
Akpabio, who made the declaration in his New Year message, expressed confidence that 2026 would be a year citizens would enjoy the gains of renewed hope and steady national progress, anchored on institutional responsibility, legislative diligence, and collective resolve.
The Chairman of the National Assembly, who conveyed his sentiments through Eseme Eyiboh, his spokesman acknowledged the resilience of Nigerians and underscored the central role of the National Assembly—particularly the Senate—in sustaining democratic stability, promoting accountability, and advancing the nation’s development agenda.
Eyiboh Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement, quoted his boss as saying: “As we enter the year 2026, I extend my warm wishes to Nigerians for a peaceful and fulfilling year. I commend the resilience, patience, and civic maturity of our people, even in challenging times.”
Describing a symbiotic relationship where the Executive continued to implement its policies and the NASS remained firmly committed to its constitutional responsibility of lawmaking, representation, and oversight, he stated that it was all geared towards ensuring that governance outcomes reflect the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
His words: “The Senate and the entire National Assembly will continue to discharge their duties with diligence—providing legislative support where necessary, exercising oversight where required, and always acting in the best interest of national unity, economic stability, and social justice.”
Akpabio, also expressed cautious optimism that ongoing efforts to address insecurity, economic pressures, infrastructure gaps, and youth unemployment would yield more visible results in the new year, stressing that sustainable progress depends on strong institutions rather than personalities.
He said: “Our democracy is strengthened when institutions function properly and leaders remain accountable. The National Assembly will continue to work to strengthen these institutions and to ensure that public policy is people-centred and forward-looking.”
Looking ahead to increased political activity as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections, the Senate President cautioned Nigerians against divisive politics and false messianic narratives, adding: “As political activities intensify, Nigerians must remain discerning. History has shown that those who present themselves as sole rescuers often deepen division rather than heal it. Democracy thrives on ideas, responsibility, and respect for national unity—not inflammatory rhetoric or deception.”
Urging political actors to conduct themselves with restraint and a sense of national duty, he noted that the Senate would continue to uphold democratic norms, parliamentary discipline, and the rule of law.
Hear him: “The National Assembly remains committed to constructive engagement with the Executive, the Judiciary, and all stakeholders, to build a more united, just, and prosperous Nigeria—where leadership is defined by service and institutions outlive individuals.
“I urge Nigerians to continue to support democratic institutions and to work collectively for peace, equity, and national progress. On behalf of my family, my constituents, the Senate, and the entire National Assembly, I wish all Nigerians a peaceful celebration and a prosperous 2026.”
The echoes of the drums rolled out to celebrate the rescue of the 44 teachers and students, kidnapped from some schools in Oyo State, after 56 days in the bush, would surely be disrupted abruptly, with the divergent echoes of a fresh abduction, this time coming from Kogi State.
Reports indicate that the gunmen, struck on Tuesday at the Government Secondary School, Odo-Ekina, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state, abducting four students, the school principal and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad hoc staff member.
Authorities of the Kogi State Police Command, who immediately unleashed their operatives in hot pursuit of the abductors, said the attack occurred at about 5:25 p.m. while the students were writing their NECO examination.
Saliu Oyiza Afusat, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and spokesman of the command, said a combined team of police personnel and other security agencies has launched a search-and-rescue operation following the incident.
Informing that one of the students was actually rescued immediately, she said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and apprehend the attackers, adding that Naziru Bello Kankarofi, the state Commissioner of Police, alongside the Brigade Commander and the State Security Adviser to the Governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (Rtd), were already on the way to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.
Oil prices are expected to go down now with the announcement of Donald Trump, US President that he will no longer impose a 20 percent “safe passage” fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
The POTUS, hinged his reversal of the decision on the intervention from some Gulf countries, who pleaded with him not to toe the line due to the massive economic impact the decision would make on the region.
Indeed, oil prices had shot up immediately Trump announced the new levy on Monday while declaring the US ‘the guardians of the Hormuz strait,’ a measure which he said was to pay for the cost of guarding the volatile area in order keep supply of oil flowing.
Reports said that Gulf allies of the US worked frantically to get Trump on the phone in time to talk him out of the idea altogether, while a flurry of appeals came from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
In response, the POTUS, posting on his Truth Social platform, wrote: “Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States.”
Trump, who said the investments would be “MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future,” added that the deals would see factories, plants, and equipment pour into the US at “Historic levels.”
The Gulf nations have committed to invest trillions of dollars in the US, though it remains unclear how much of that they will actually spend over the next several years.
Meanwhile, the US continues to bomb Iran in what appears to be a resumption of active conflict between both countries, despite an ongoing roadmap to end the conflict.
Reports say operatives of the Osun State Police Command, and those of the Department of State Services (DSS) had tracking the trail of Adeniyi Adeyemi, controversial Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), for weeks, before he was eventually pulled out of his hole on Tuesday.
However, the duo, were said to have pulled back after failing to track him through his mobile phones, which he had reportedly switched off for about two days, making it difficult to locate him, leaving the stage for the members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (PI-RT) led by Moses Lohor, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
Lohor, said to have previously served as the Commander of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of Osun State, and reported to have been involved in high-profile security operations and controversies, after taken over fielded his men to pick up signals from their well-oiled signal networks.
Regarded by many Osun residents as one of the key security officers who contributed significantly to the peace and stability enjoyed in Ilesa and other parts of the state during his tenure, he was said to have relied on his contacts before his transfer out of the state, said to have raised concerns from the public about the security situation he would be leaving behind.
His exit from the state was said to be hinged on an incident in 2024, in which he allegedly shot one Iyanda Alowonle, then Chairman of Osun State Motor Transport System, in the stomach at the police station in the state prompting an order for his arrest by then Inspector General of Police (IGP).
His effort was said to have paid off when he successfully tracked down the controversial PFIPC, boss, who was seen on Tuesday evening, in a shot video on social media undergoing interrogation, and eventually handed him over to Ibrahim Gotan, Commissioner of Police in the state.
The PUNCH quoted one of the sources as saying: “The arrest (of Adeyemi) took place on Tuesday morning by the IRT squad, who immediately moved him to Abuja. After he was arrested, he was taken to Ibadan and from there to Abuja.”
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