They look to us for action. Hunger cannot be defeated with words; hunger requires policy direction and diligent execution to defeat it.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday lamented the worsening hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship across the country, warning that more than 33 million Nigerians now face acute food shortages.
He urged lawmakers to take urgent legislative action to tackle the crisis, pursue constitutional reforms to strengthen governance, and guide citizens to elect competent leaders ahead of future elections.
“Our people do not look to us for lamentations, that is not why they voted us,” Akpabio said as the Senate resumed plenary after its annual recess.
“They look to us for action. Hunger cannot be defeated with words; hunger requires policy direction and diligent execution to defeat it.”
Akpabio congratulated Nigerians on the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary, reminding citizens that the task of nation-building “is a marathon, not a sprint,” and that each generation must keep the “flame of hope” alive despite the country’s challenges.
He commiserated with victims of recent tragedies, including the boat accident on River Niger, the attack on a mosque in Katsina, and the killing of 12 forest guards in Kwara State, describing them as “martyrs of service who remind us that insecurity knows no boundaries.”
The Senate President also urged stronger coordination between federal and state governments to mitigate the impact of floods ravaging several states, particularly Bayelsa, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
On the economy, Akpabio noted that Nigeria’s oil output had risen to about 1.8 million barrels per day, with improved fiscal stability at the state level, but cautioned against waste.
“We must ensure this blessing does not become another fleeting windfall but a foundation for fiscal discipline, infrastructural renewal, and job creation,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to constitutional amendments, describing them as essential to “making governance more efficient and democracy more inclusive.”
Akpabio also appealed to citizens to make wise electoral choices as the nation moves closer to another election cycle.
“Leadership is not a carnival, and governance is not a stage for theatrics,” he warned. “If our politics must be mended, it must begin with the courage to choose the right men and women of integrity, tested virtue, and proven competence.”
Concluding, Akpabio said the Senate would continue to uphold accountability and the independence of the legislature, describing it as “the lifeblood of democracy.”
“We resume today with fresh vigor and steadfast resolve,” he said. “May God prosper our labor daily, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”