By joshua 
Chief of Army Staff Sets to Commission Forward Operating Military Base in Kogi Built By Sen. Karimi.
Arial view of FOB
… FOB has 94 bed, fitted with 3 bedroom apartment, commandant office, CCTV, Gun trucks.
Commander complex
All is now set for the commissioning of the Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base, Egbe, built and donated by Sen. Sunday Karimi and his family by the Chief of Army Staff, LT. Gen TA Lagbaja.
Kitchen
The Chief of Army Staff will tomorrow at 10:00am alongside the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, Commission the FOB.
Hostel
The Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base, Egbe, Kogi State is a private initiative of Sen. Sunday Karimi and his family on behalf of Egbe Communities. Senator Karimi is Representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
Commander office
According to Sen. Karimi while carrying out the last minute inspection ahead the commissioning, said the project was personally funded to enhance the security of lives and properties for the community and communities bordering Kogi State, namely Ekiti, Kwara and Osun States.
Officers Mess
Sen. Karimi described the security of lives and properties of the citizens as enshrined in the Constitution as the basic responsibility of any government, but can better be achieved with the collective collaboration of the citizens.
“In the last few years, security of lives and properties in the country has been a challenge. It is not directly the fault of the present administration”.
“The problem of insecurity became noticeable since the second term of President Olusegun Obasanjo and it has been on the increase”.
“Under the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration we thought he would do the magic, but all to no avail. Kidnapping was all over the place, banditry, cattle rustling, Boko Haram and other forms of insecurity became the order of the day all over the Federation”.
“Our area here was not excluded by reasons of heavy forest bounding Kwara and Kogi which has been an habitation for criminal activities”.
“People will be kidnapped in parts of Kogi, Okene, Kabba, Ekiti, Osun and Kwara States and they will be taken to the forest around here where ransoms are paid before their release”.
“In fact one of the prominent sons of this Local Government, Hon. Solomon Adedayo was killed few metres away from where we are standing. A former serving Local Government Chairman was kidnapped and released after ransom was paid. So it has been a problem all over this place”.
“Recently, even the kidnap of some CUSTECH students, where two students were killed. They were taken to a nearby forest known as Babanla, just close to Patigi and the route the took was somewhere around this Area”.
“Having noticed all of this, it occurred to me that we have to join hands with Government in reinforcing the Security in this area. Yes the army has a platoon of about 20 men here. We decided to provide a base for the Military here so that it can help to reinforce security in the neighbouring community bordering Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Osun States. With the Base, working with the Government, we will have an improved security of lives and properties”.
“This project is not a Constituency Project as spelt out in the budget. It is my personal initiative and fully funded by me personally and my family for the good of our people and neighbouring communities. It is not a Government funded or Constituency project as can be found in the budget”.
“In this Forward Operating Base, we have an office complex for the Commander that is testyfully furnished. We have a residential 3 bedroom apartment for the Commander. We have Senior officers and Junior officers mess. We have a hostel that can accommodate 94 Military officers. A Cell, Kitchen facilities and a tower. This place is also fitted with CCTV cameras and we installed a
starlink WI-FI that is connected to the base to aid communication. I have also provided two Hilux vehicles and I’m working with the Military to turn them into a gun truck”.
While pointing out that security is local, Sen. Karimi said the local Vigilantees from the area would be supported to work hand in hand with the Military in easing the job of the Military with information to enable them fight against insecurity”.
Sen. Karimi praised the efforts of the present administration in the State in protecting the lives of the citizens, but said his modest contribution would help reinforce security of lives and properties.