The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has voiced strong optimism that Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges, especially banditry and terrorism, will be overcome in 2026 and beyond, stressing that renewed collaboration with international partners and national unity are critical to achieving lasting peace.
In a Christmas message issued on Friday in the nation’s capital, and conveyed by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio urged Nigerians to embrace peace, unity, and collective responsibility in the fight against insecurity. The statement, titled “Akpabio Upbeat Banditry Will Be Defeated In New Year,” reflected his confidence in a turning point for the country’s security environment.
Speaking during a family prayer and fasting service at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Unity in Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio linked his optimism to what he described as strengthened global support, including recent counter-terrorism efforts.
“I want to wish all Nigerians a very prosperous and peaceful new year. I want to assure all Nigerians that the new year will usher in renewed peace in our country,” he said.
“I enjoin Nigerians, irrespective of political leanings, to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the fight against banditry and insurgency. With the renewed collaboration with international partners, the insurgency will be defeated.”
Akpabio drew on the spiritual significance of the season, evoking the Christian message of redemption in articulating his hopes for national calm: “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to be born as a man to redeem mankind. By the reason of the birth of Jesus Christ, Nigerians will be redeemed from banditry and insurgency in the new year and beyond.”
Beyond national security, the Senate President underscored the importance of unity at every level of society, from families to communities and across ethnic and religious divides, as foundational to Nigeria’s progress and stability.
In her remarks at the event, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, urged relatives to uphold supportive and selfless family values, stressing the importance of love and mutual respect.
She encouraged “family members to support one another selflessly, setting aside personal biases and living together in love.”
Similarly, Chief Ekan Akpabio, head of the Greater Akpabio Family, called on relatives — especially those in political offices — to remain connected to their roots and prioritise the welfare of their relatives. He praised Senator Akpabio as a “great Ambassador” for the family, Essien Udim LGA, and Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio’s remarks come amid heightened global focus on Nigeria’s efforts to counter insurgency and banditry—persistent threats that have led to mass displacement, widespread violence, and profound social and economic disruption across states in the North and other regions.
Recent developments include reported United States airstrikes against suspected extremist elements in Nigeria, carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities as part of intensified counter-terrorism efforts. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has confirmed that Nigerian intelligence was instrumental in coordinating this operation.
While direct foreign military action on Nigerian soil is rare and often draws scrutiny, Akpabio welcomed these collaborative efforts as reinforcing the nation’s security posture and bolstering confidence that enduring peace is achievable.
As Nigerians prepare to enter 2026, Akpabio’s message blends hope with a call for unity and collective action, urging citizens to transcend differences and support ongoing efforts to stabilise the country. Whether through strengthened family ties, inter-governmental cooperation, or global partnerships, his vision underlines a belief that the tide of insecurity can be turned in the year ahead.
