Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, on Tuesday declared that the Tenth National Assembly has entered the “final stretch” of its legislative journey, urging senators to prioritise urgent, reform-driven laws as the United Nations warns that up to 35 million Nigerians could face hunger this year.
Akpabio made the call in his welcome address at the first plenary sitting of 2026, marking the Senate’s resumption after the Christmas and New Year recess, stressing that with less than one year and five months left in the current cycle, lawmakers must shift from routine lawmaking to decisive action.
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“The Tenth Senate has now entered the final stretch of its legislative journey.
“This is the final stretch of the marathon, and it is the stretch that separates participation from performance.
“This phase demands urgency without panic, reform without recklessness, and productivity without compromise of standards”, he said.
He warned that history would judge the Senate not by the number of bills passed, but by their impact on governance and citizens’ lives.
“History will not judge us by volume, but by value; not by noise, but by impact,” he said.
Akpabio urged lawmakers to focus on legislation that would “unlock growth, strengthen institutions, secure lives and property, and restore confidence in the Nigerian state,” while resisting what he described as “unfinished business and legislative clutter.”
The Senate President also drew attention to Nigeria’s worsening humanitarian outlook, citing a United Nations warning on food insecurity.
“We must respond with urgency to the warning by the United Nations that as many as 35 million Nigerians may face hunger this year,” he said, calling for a “doubling of effort through legislation, oversight, and collaboration to strengthen food security, protect the vulnerable, and ensure that no Nigerian is abandoned to despair.”
On security, Akpabio commended ongoing military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism, while expressing sympathy for families affected by insecurity across the country.
“Security is not an abstract concept, it is about lives, homes, and futures that must be protected,” he said, also urging Nigerians not to forget citizens still held in captivity by criminal groups.
As the political season approaches, Akpabio cautioned political actors against actions that could undermine national unity.
“Nigeria’s unity and stability must never become casualties of ambition,” he said, adding that democracy thrives when “competition is principled, discourse is responsible, and the national interest remains paramount.”
The Senate President also called for sustained support for the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Programme, expressing optimism that “through perseverance, cooperation, and shared sacrifice, the promise of a more secure, productive, and compassionate Nigeria can yet be fully realised.”
Earlier in the address, Akpabio announced the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District, describing him as “a committed public servant who brought diligence, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility” to the Senate. Lawmakers observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Looking ahead, Akpabio said the Senate would “hit the ground running,” particularly on the national budget, which he said requires “rigorous scrutiny, responsible passage, and faithful implementation.”
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“We are here for Nigerians. We are their ears to hear their cries. We are their eyes to see their realities. We are their legislative voice to give form to their hopes and protection to their rights,” he said.
“The clock is running, the nation is watching, and history is taking notes.
“Let it be said that when the Tenth Senate reached the final stretch, it did not slow down, it did not look away, and it did not leave the work unfinished.”
