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The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved the request of Governor Seyi Makinde to proceed on Annual vacation with effect from August 10, 2026 with subsequent transmission of power to the Deputy Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal.

The approval followed the consideration of a formal correspondence from Governor Makinde during plenary, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which requires a governor to notify the legislature whenever he intends to be away from office.

The governor, as contained in the letter, will officially resume office on September 14, 2026.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi, who presided over the plenary in the absence of the Speaker, Rt Honorable Adebo Ogundoyin, on Thursday, read the governor’s letter before members.

The lawmakers unanimously granted the request while expressing confidence in the seamless continuity of governance in the state under the deputy governor.

In the letter, Governor Makinde informed the Assembly that he would be embarking on his annual leave and requested the House’s approval to enable the Deputy Governor to act on his behalf during his absence.

Following the approval, the House affirmed that Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal would oversee the day-to-day administration of the state, ensuring that government activities continue uninterrupted until Governor Makinde resumes duty.

Speaking after the approval, the Deputy Speaker wished the governor a peaceful and refreshing leave, noting that the legislature remained committed to sustaining cordial relations with the executive arm in the interest of the people of Oyo State.

The Deputy Speaker also expressed confidence in the Deputy Governor’s capacity to provide effective leadership during the period, as evidenced in the past, describing the state’s governance structure as stable and capable of ensuring continuity in policy implementation.

Lawmakers, in separate remarks, commended Governor Makinde for complying with constitutional provisions by formally notifying the House, describing the action as another demonstration of respect for the rule of law and democratic governance.

The Assembly subsequently directed that its resolution approving the governor’s annual leave be communicated to the executive arm for necessary action.

Three hundred and eleven members of the 10th House of Representatives voted in support of the bill seeking to establish State Police Services in Nigeria during Thursday’s plenary.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen disclosed this during the Committee of the Whole, convened to consider the report of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review chaired by Hon. Benjamin Kalu. He announced that the House would use electronic voting based on an earlier resolution passed by the chamber.

Trouble, however, started when the Minority Leader, Hon. Fred Agbedi, and the Minority Spokesman, Hon. Victor Ogene, simultaneously raised a point of order but were not recognised by Speaker Tajudeen. The Speaker had earlier ruled Hon. Benedict Itanabene out of order after he cited a constitutional point of order to explain why the State Police bill should be stepped down.

Despite their insistence, Speaker Tajudeen asked those opposed to the State Police bill to identify themselves and announced that about 15 members opposed the legislative framework.

According to him, a total of 211 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), 65 members from other political parties, and 35 additional members indicated support for the bill on the digital platform, bringing the total number of votes in favour of the State Police bill to 311.

While noting that the House required 240 votes, representing two-thirds of its 360 members, he explained that the bill contained 26 clauses and a long title.

Shortly after the brief rowdy session, a cross-section of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives staged a walkout a few minutes after the adoption of the report on the bill seeking to establish State Police.

The walkout followed the refusal of the presiding officer to recognise lawmakers who had shouted ‘Point of Order’ to express their opposition to the report of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review.

In his remarks, Minority Leader Hon. Fred Agbedi argued that the opposition parties were not opposed to the proposed State Police but to what he described as the Speaker’s high-handedness in ruling him out of order, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and the Standing Rules of the 10th House of Representatives.

He said:

‘He needed to hear my point of order and then rule based on whether my point of order complied with our rules, with the constitution or not. But he just ruled me out of order because I insisted that I have a point of order and I wanted to raise my point of order. And if, as Minority Leader, as officers of the minority and as members of the minority, we are not allowed to express ourselves based on the rules of the House, then something is wrong.

‘And the requirement is that if we had walked out of the House, then where are our votes? Can you count our votes? Can you count anybody’s votes? Can you decide a constitutional amendment with a voice vote? No, it is not possible. How about those who said nay? Did you record them? No. So we are running a nation without the rule of law.

‘Nigeria should be alert about this. All we asked for, and the only thing we requested, was that due process should be followed. We were all going to cast our votes in support of the creation of State Police and amend the bill where necessary. Laws, proposals, executive bills and private members’ bills are all subject to amendment before members in the chamber, and in this case, we were denied that opportunity.

‘We were not allowed to go through the bill clause by clause. We were not given the opportunity to cast our votes as provided for by both the Constitution in Section 9(2) and Order 5(a), and that is why we are here. Nigerians should be vigilant. We will stand on the side of Nigerians.

‘We stand on the side of the rule of law. We stand on the right side of what will make Nigeria a great nation and what will not impinge on the integrity, progress and development of this nation that we all swore to serve as members of the House of Representatives.’

Speaking earlier, the spokesman of the Minority Caucus, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, alleged that the names mentioned by the Speaker were unknown to them.

He maintained that the Speaker’s action amounted to an affront to the provisions of the Constitution.

However, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. George Ozodinobi, who remained in the chamber, seconded the motions, including the State Police bill.

At the end of the day’s legislative activities, Speaker Tajudeen announced that the House had adjourned plenary until Tuesday, September 16, 2026.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker, the Minority Caucus expressed support for the principle of State Police but argued that the proposed bill should be recommitted for further legislative scrutiny to address constitutional ambiguities, drafting inconsistencies, jurisdictional uncertainties, governance gaps, and unresolved institutional questions.

‘However, while we fully support the objective of establishing State Police, we caution against the adoption of any legislative instrument in its present form where legal ambiguities, structural inconsistencies, governance gaps and unresolved constitutional questions remain.

‘Enacting a constitutional framework with such deficiencies risks weakening, rather than strengthening, Nigeria’s security architecture and may create avoidable constitutional disputes, institutional conflicts and operational uncertainties for years to come.

‘Our concern is therefore not against State Police; it is against adopting an incomplete constitutional framework. History will not judge the National Assembly merely by whether this Bill is passed. It will judge whether the institution created is effective, accountable, constitutionally sound, respectful of fundamental rights and capable of strengthening rather than fragmenting our national unity.

‘Our concerns: Following a detailed legal and constitutional review, we have identified several critical issues that require further consideration before the legislative process is concluded, including, but not limited to, the following: The constitutional review process should be completed properly.

‘The speed at which the Bill has progressed has led to several drafting inconsistencies, constitutional ambiguities, jurisdictional uncertainties, undefined institutional powers, conflicting provisions and other significant issues that require careful legislative attention.

‘Constitutional amendments differ fundamentally from ordinary legislation.

‘They establish permanent institutional arrangements that may shape governance for generations. Such reforms must therefore be subjected to the highest standard of legislative scrutiny. Nigeria cannot afford to constitutionalise uncertainty.’

While noting that recent legislative experiences, namely the Tax Reform Bills and aspects of the Electoral Reform Act, reflected the consequences of advancing far-reaching national reforms without sufficient consultation, technical review and legislative refinement, the caucus argued that the fallout ‘illustrate[s] how unresolved drafting issues, policy ambiguities and divergent stakeholder interpretations can generate prolonged implementation uncertainty.’

‘These experiences should serve as important lessons, not because the reforms themselves lacked merit, but because constitutional and institutional reforms of national significance require meticulous drafting and rigorous scrutiny before they become law. The objective must therefore not simply be to complete the legislative process within a particular timeline.

‘Rather, it must be to enact a constitutional framework that is clear, coherent, enforceable and capable of enduring for generations. Amending the Constitution is not an exercise to be undertaken lightly. Once constitutional institutions are created, correcting foundational defects becomes significantly more difficult than addressing them during the legislative process.

‘Taking the necessary time to perfect this Bill today will help avoid costly constitutional litigation, institutional conflicts and operational uncertainty tomorrow.

‘State Police must not become an unfunded constitutional mandate. One of the most serious concerns arising from the proposed reform is the financial burden that the establishment and efficient operation of State Police will place on state governments.

‘The establishment of State Police will transfer a significant part of the policing responsibility presently undertaken and financed by the Federal Government to state governments. Fiscal responsibility must follow constitutional responsibility. It would be inequitable and institutionally unsustainable to transfer substantial security obligations to states while retaining a revenue allocation structure designed for a predominantly centralised policing system.

‘Specifically, we propose the reallocation of 15 per cent of the Federation Account revenue presently accruing to the Federal Government to state governments. This adjustment would reflect the substantial policing, public safety, personnel, infrastructure and operational responsibilities being transferred to the states under the proposed constitutional framework.

‘The reallocation should not be treated as a discretionary intervention, temporary grant or politically controlled subvention. It should form part of a transparent, constitutionally and statutorily recognised restructuring of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism.’

While stressing that the debate on State Police is not a partisan issue, the caucus maintained that ‘the success or failure of State Police will affect every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, region or social status.

‘Our intervention must not be misconstrued as opposition to this historic reform. It is an exercise of constitutional responsibility and a call for legislative diligence, institutional clarity and fiscal realism. We believe that the adoption stage presents the final opportunity for the House of Representatives to eliminate legal ambiguities, resolve institutional inconsistencies, strengthen accountability safeguards, establish sustainable funding arrangements and produce a constitutional framework capable of withstanding legal scrutiny and operational realities.’

Iwerekun Community Senior High School in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, has emerged as the winner of the 10th edition of the Tolaram Science Challenge (TSC), marking its third consecutive victory.

The school triumphed over Magbon-Alade Senior Grammar School in a keenly contested grand finale of the competition.

The Tolaram Science Challenge, sponsored by the Lagos Free Zone, is an annual science competition for schools in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos. It has become a flagship event that showcases bright young minds from secondary schools, allowing them to present innovative ideas and practical solutions to real-world challenges through STEM education.

This year’s competition featured 16 participating secondary schools, each represented by six students. The students were tested in five core subject areas: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Following a closely contested competition, Ibeju Senior High School, Lekki, and Community Senior High School, Lekki, took third and fourth places, respectively.

The three outstanding students: Nyong Jebson, Adekunle Ephraim and Ashikodi Chukwu, secured first, second, and third positions, respectively, and each received a cash prize for their exceptional performances.

During the grand finale, the director of Zone Development, representing Chief Executive Officer Adesuwa Ladoja of Lagos Free Zone, Binay Saraf, described the decade-long competition as a significant milestone saying, ‘it started as a modest initiative and has grown into one of the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programmes of the Lagos Free Zone.’

‘Over the past decade, we have seen this event grow in scale, participation, and impact. Each year, more schools, students, and teachers have joined us on this journey of discovery and learning,’ he added .

Today, the Tolaram Science Challenge has become a platform that encourages curiosity, innovation, critical thinking, and healthy competition. More importantly, it symbolizes our commitment to investing in the future of our communities,’ Ladoja stated.

She emphasised that the company’s investment in the competition reflects its belief that today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. ‘At Lagos Free Zone and Tolaram, we believe that developing communities goes beyond building infrastructure or creating jobs. It also means creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and discover their potential,’ she added.

Ladoja encouraged students to view competitions not merely as opportunities to win trophies but as chances to develop confidence, solve problems, work as a team, and learn about their capabilities. ‘Whether you receive a prize today or not, the knowledge you gain, the friendships you build, and the experiences you take away will remain with you for life,’ she noted.

Director and Chief Sustainability Officer of Lagos Free Zone, Vishal Shah, reaffirmed the Zone’s commitment to improving the quality of education in the Ibeju-Lekki area through this initiative. He highlighted that over the past decade, the initiative has fostered healthy competition among students and improved their performance in various qualifying examinations.

In the same vein, the visioner of the Tolaram Science Challenge, Olakunle Fadumiye, expressed that the intent behind the competition is to ensure participants return to their schools as ambassadors of excellence and possibility, regardless of their outcomes.

‘When we started in 2016, many students had little motivation to pursue science subjects. Some preferred fishing and informal work over education because they saw limited opportunities. University seemed unattainable to many. Yet we believed that if we could inspire even a few students to dream bigger, we could begin changing the future of an entire community,’ Fadumiye explained.

He commended the leadership team of Tolaram and the Lagos Free Zone for establishing a foundation that symbolizes economic transformation and national development. He urged LFZ to continue providing TSC alumni with preference for industrial training opportunities, internships, and NYSC placements within the Zone, noting that these experiences would equip them with essential practical experience, professional exposure, and workplace skills for future success.

In her remarks, the deputy director of the Schools Support Unit, Education District 3, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mrs Olubunmi Ajibola-Morebise, praised the management of Lagos Free Zone and Tolaram for maintaining the vision that has sustained the competition to this day.

She emphasized that there is no doubt the competition has positively impacted students in Ibeju-Lekki by fostering a better reading culture and promoting healthy competition among teachers.

In total, 32 students were awarded scholarships for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Millions of naira worth of goods, mostly electronics and electrical appliances, were destroyed early on Thursday when fire ravaged the popular Justrite Superstore in the Akowonjo area of Lagos State.

The fire, which reportedly occurred at about 8 a.m., caused panic along the Egbeda-Akowonjo Road.

The fire was first noticed on the second floor of the building, prompting workers and residents in the area to attempt to put it out.

However, the fire reportedly intensified before the arrival of firefighters, who were deployed to the scene.

Firefighters from the Agege and Abesan stations were quickly mobilised to the scene, where they prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the building and adjoining structures.

The Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident but said the fire had been extinguished before it could spread to other parts of the supermarket and adjoining buildings.

Adeseye said, ‘The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has extinguished a fire outbreak at Justrite Superstore, located at No. 116, Akowonjo Road, Jimoh Bus Stop, Egbeda-Akowonjo, Lagos.’

She added that ‘the incident involved the second floor of the commercial building, housing the electronics section of the store’.

According to her, ‘Upon arrival, firefighters swiftly deployed firefighting equipment and commenced coordinated operations to contain the fire, prevent its spread to adjoining sections of the building, and safeguard lives, property and the environment.’

She said the fire had been extinguished, adding that recovery operations were ongoing to bring the mop-up exercise to an end.

The cause of the fire was suspected to be an alternative power source, possibly a solar inverter system. No casualties were recorded.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has declared the state’s readiness for the establishment of state police, saying the initiative would strengthen internal security and complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Governor Yusuf made the declaration during the inauguration of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Trafficking at the Government House in Kano.

In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, the governor said the proposed state police should be viewed as a partner to the Nigeria Police Force rather than a competing institution.

He explained that both policing structures share the responsibility of maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and promoting peaceful coexistence across the country.

Speaking on the ongoing consideration of the State Police Bill, Yusuf said closer collaboration between the two policing systems would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to security threats, and boost public confidence in law enforcement.

‘The state and Nigeria Police Force should be seen as partners working together to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to security threats, and enhance public confidence in law enforcement,’ the governor said.

Yusuf expressed confidence that Kano has the institutional capacity, skilled personnel, and political will required to establish and sustain an effective state police system once the necessary constitutional and legal frameworks are put in place.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting all legitimate efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that improved security is essential for citizens to freely pursue their economic, educational, and social activities.

The governor added that Kano remains committed to initiatives that enhance public safety and contribute to a more secure environment for residents and businesses.

The Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Ankpa Traditional Council in Kogi State have agreed to work together to combat illegal coal mining and promote lawful mining activities in Ankpa Local Government Area.

The resolution was reached during a courtesy visit by the Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Onoja Attah, to the palace of the Ejeh of Ankpa and Chairman of the Ankpa Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu Ahmed.

Speaking during the visit, Onoja conveyed the goodwill of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, urging the people of Ankpa to embrace legitimate mining by partnering only with duly licensed mining companies.

He advised host communities to take advantage of the Federal Government’s regulatory framework by reporting any licensed mining company that fails to comply with its Community Development Agreement (CDA), assuring them that such complaints would receive prompt attention from the appropriate authorities.

According to him, the vast coal deposits and other mineral resources in Ankpa should serve as a source of economic prosperity rather than fuel environmental degradation, insecurity and the needless loss of lives.

‘The mineral resources with which Ankpa has been blessed should not become a curse to the people. Following our engagement with the traditional council, anyone who continues to engage in illegal mining will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the law,’ he said.

Onoja expressed concern over the increasing fatalities associated with unregulated mining activities, stressing that the Mining Marshals would no longer tolerate unsafe mining practices that endanger the lives of young people in the area.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Mining Marshals to sanitising the nation’s mining sector through sustained enforcement of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act while strengthening collaboration with traditional institutions and host communities.

Responding, the Ejeh of Ankpa commended the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the NSCDC Commandant General for their prompt intervention in addressing the concerns of the people over illegal mining activities in the area.

The monarch pledged the full support of the Ankpa Traditional Council towards the actualisation of what he described as ‘safe mining’, noting that a well-regulated mining sector would create employment opportunities for youths while protecting lives and the environment.

He declared zero tolerance for illegal and unregulated mining, assuring the Federal Government that the traditional institution would work closely with the Mining Marshals and other relevant authorities to ensure that mining activities in Ankpa are conducted in line with extant laws.

The meeting ended with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration aimed at eliminating illegal mining, protecting host communities and ensuring that the mineral wealth of Ankpa contributes meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Kogi State and Nigeria at large.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has signed Executive Orders declaring a Public Safety Emergency on substance abuse, introducing sweeping measures to curb the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs across the state.

The Executive Orders, signed, prohibit the sale of illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products without valid prescriptions as part of the state’s renewed crackdown on drug-related crimes.

Governor Yusuf also announced movement restrictions in identified drug abuse hotspots, banning movement in the affected areas between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. daily. He said the order takes immediate effect.

Under the new measures, security agencies at both federal and state levels have been empowered to stop, search, arrest and prosecute suspected drug traffickers and users.

The governor further directed that Certificates of Occupancy of properties used for illicit drug sales and trafficking would be revoked.

Shortly after signing the Executive Orders, Yusuf inaugurated a Multi-Agency Anti-Substance Abuse Task Force to enforce the Public Safety Emergency Order.

He said the declaration was backed by the provisions of Section 97A of the Kano State Penal Code Law and Cap 89 of 1991, which empower the state government to take decisive action against threats to public safety.

Describing drug abuse as one of the greatest threats to security and social stability in Kano, the governor lamented that increasing consumption of illicit substances among young people was fueling violent crimes, destroying families, weakening the economy and undermining peace.

According to him, the task force has been mandated to identify, map and dismantle hideouts of ‘Daba’ gangs, drug dens and other criminal enclaves across the state.

He added that the committee is authorised to arrest, detain and prosecute gang leaders, members, sponsors and financiers involved in illicit drug trafficking.

Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the task force with adequate funding, operational vehicles, office accommodation, logistics and security, while guaranteeing its operational independence.

He said the committee would coordinate the state’s response to drug abuse through intelligence gathering, enforcement, public awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programmes and collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the Chairman of the Task Force, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, expressed appreciation to the governor for the confidence reposed in the members.

He pledged that the committee would discharge its responsibilities with integrity, professionalism and impartiality.

Rimingado said the task force would work closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, educational institutions and community leaders to tackle drug abuse and promote lasting peace across Kano State.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly reduce drug-related crimes and contribute to a safer and more prosperous state.

The task force comprises representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the business community.

American rapper, Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, popularly known as Cardi B, has opened up about the challenges she has faced in her dating life, saying she often finds herself dealing with obsessive ex-girlfriends and baby mamas of the men she dates.

The rapper made the remarks during a livestream on X (formerly Twitter), where she reflected on a pattern she said has followed her since her early 20s.

Her comments come amid ongoing dating rumours linking her to Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, following a recent social media outburst by the footballer’s alleged babymama.

Speaking about her experiences, Cardi B said the situation is not new to her.

‘One thing about it, two things for sure, I’m telling y’all this since I was 20.’

She recalled an incident involving the former girlfriend of one of her ex-partners, claiming the woman repeatedly contacted her and even showed up at her workplace.

‘She was obsessed with me. She was calling my house phone… She even came to my job,’

Cardi B said she eventually pleaded with the woman to leave her alone to avoid a confrontation.

The rapper also alleged that another former partner’s babymama caused even more problems during a relationship that lasted three years.

‘When I dated that scammer that I dated for three years, he had an insane baby mom, the bitch was just insane,’

According to Cardi B, similar situations have continued throughout her dating life whenever a partner has an ex-girlfriend or a child with another woman.

‘As long as a nigga has a baby mom, or even an ex-girlfriend, this is going to happen, don’t know what it is about me, I ruffle their feathers really bad.’

Despite the experiences, Cardi B said she has no intention of staying single.

‘Bardi Gang, I’m not going to stay single forever. I’m sorry, I’m just not. I need to be entertained,’

She ended the conversation with a joke, saying: ‘Life is cool, but the pussy needs love, too.’