Senator representing Kogi West Sunday Karimi invest over N1.5bn in pivotal projects
Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West District, has invested over ₦1.5 billion in pivotal projects and philanthropic initiatives during his first two years in the Senate.
His interventions cut across security, education, healthcare, and road infrastructure, impacting all seven local government areas under his oversight: Kotonkarfe, Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, Yagba East, and Yagba West.
Speaking to journalists during the ongoing parliamentary recess, Karimi revealed that his recent allocation of ₦300 million to a statewide students’ bursary scheme has brought his total spending on the programme to ₦400 million in just two academic sessions.
The scheme’s debut in 2024 benefited 100 students from Kogi West, each receiving ₦100,000 in support. This year, he extended the initiative to cover Kogi Central and Kogi East as well, citing the “statewide thirst for education” among Kogi youths and his commitment to complementing the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu.
Karimi is also spearheading a ₦200 million upgrade of facilities at his alma mater, Titcombe College, Egbe, in collaboration with the school’s alumni association. Planned works include a complete perimeter fence, new boreholes with water reticulation systems, a diesel-powered generator, and comprehensive building renovations.
Additionally, he has constructed and fully equipped a 258-seat Computer-Based Test (CBT) hall for the school, featuring laptops, a 30kW solar power system with inverter, a 25kVA generator, air conditioning, CCTV surveillance, and bathrooms.
He hopes the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will approve the facility for use in the next examination cycle.
On the security front, Karimi last year singlehandedly funded a ₦750 million Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the Nigerian military to bolster security in areas bordering Kogi, Kwara, and Niger states.
He is also financing a police post in Ejuku, Yagba East, noting that the population boom has outstripped the capacity of the sole police station in Isanlu.
Healthcare remains a priority, with ₦150 million already set aside for a community hospital in Kakanda, Lokoja. Karimi has also allocated ₦23 million for the construction of the Pakuta Bridge in Kiri, Kabba-Bunu LGA, ₦11.5 million to rehabilitate cold rooms for women traders in Lokoja, and ₦10 million each for the renovation of the central mosques in Kotonkarfe and Abugi. Last year, he committed ₦100 million to women’s empowerment and cooperative societies.
The senator emphasised that through active collaboration with federal ministries, departments, and agencies, he has worked to ensure his constituents receive their due in zonal interventions, including water supply, transformers, and street lighting.
He also continues to donate to and support community groups pursuing various development initiatives.
