Over half of Nigeria’s national earnings in recent years have been drained by the fight against terrorism and insurgency, Senator Sunday Karimi has revealed, calling for a united national focus on security over divisive rhetoric.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services condemned fellow lawmaker Senator Ali Ndume for criticising federal appointments, arguing that such comments distract from the country’s most pressing crisis—national insecurity.
According to him, “Over 50% of Nigeria’s earnings in the last few years are being spent on fighting insurgency,” Karimi stated, urging leaders, particularly those from conflict-ridden regions to prioritise solutions to insecurity over political sentiments.
Karimi pointed to the enormous human and financial toll of the insurgency, particularly in the North-East, where countless soldiers and civilians have lost their lives.
He recalled the recent death of a Nigerian Army captain from his own district, who was killed while serving in Ndume’s senatorial zone.
“Insecurity has a local solution,” he stressed, challenging Ndume to return to his community and lead local efforts to combat Boko Haram, rather than “playing to the gallery” with public criticisms.
Highlighting his own efforts, Karimi noted that he had facilitated the construction of a military base in Yagba West, Kogi State, and supported logistics for local security operations.
He added a warning that Nigeria’s survival is at stake, and that leaders must rally together to face the real enemy which is insurgency and not each other.
Ndume’s original remarks were made during an appearance on Arise TV, where he accused the Tinubu administration of failing to reflect the nation’s diversity in its appointments.
