President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called on Nigerians not to despair over the country’s security challenges, insisting that Nigeria will ultimately overcome its current wave of insecurity and violence.
Gatekeepers News reports that Akpabio made the appeal on Sunday during an inter-denominational church service held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 Democracy Day celebrations themed “God of Hope, Actualise Our Dreams.”
The Senate President urged citizens to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the country has endured political instability, economic hardship, epidemics, and other national crises yet still maintained 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.
“We have survived political upheavals, economic turbulence. We will survive insurgencies,” he said, adding that Nigeria has also survived pandemics such as Ebola and COVID-19 as well as periods of authoritarian rule.
He, however, acknowledged that insecurity remains a major national concern, pointing to ongoing attacks on communities, displacement of farmers, and fear among travellers across several parts of the country.
“But gratitude must never blind us to reality. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that this year’s Democracy Day be observed in a low-key manner because of the current situation in the country,” he stated.
Akpabio expressed deep concern over kidnapping incidents nationwide, especially cases involving children, describing them as wounds on the conscience of the nation.
“The kidnapping of innocent citizens, especially children, wounds the conscience of our nation,” he said.
He also shared a personal reflection, linking his empathy for abducted children to his childhood experience during the Nigerian Civil War, saying the suffering of victims today is even more distressing.
“My heart breaks for every child in captivity and every parent who lies awake through the long hours of the night,” he said. “What I experienced as a child cannot be compared with the ordeal these innocent children have endured.”
Despite the challenges, Akpabio insisted there is hope for a better future, assuring Nigerians that criminal elements will not prevail.
“The evil you see today, you shall soon see them no more,” he declared.
The Senate President also called for continued prayers for the nation, saying spiritual intervention has played a role in sustaining Nigeria through difficult periods. He further urged citizens to pray for the exposure of those behind insecurity, whether within or outside government.
Akpabio reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration remains committed to restoring peace, defeating terrorism and criminal networks, and ensuring the safe return of all abducted citizens.
“On the part of the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this administration remains steadfast in its determination to secure the freedom of those in captivity,” he said.
