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The Presidency has challenged Nigeria’s organised private sector to develop a comprehensive financing and implementation blueprint for the proposed state police system, declaring that businesses must take an active role in building the security institutions needed to protect investments, create jobs and strengthen economic resilience.

The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, issued the challenge during a plenary session on ‘Security, Stability and Economic Resilience’ at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit.

He called on the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), chambers of commerce and business associations to develop practical proposals for financing, institutional management and accountable partnerships to support the decentralisation of policing.

The proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police has met the required two-thirds threshold, with 25 state Houses of Assembly having reportedly approved it.

Gbajabiamila said the private sector had a direct stake in the success of the reform because insecurity was already imposing enormous costs on businesses through disrupted supply chains, abandoned investments, postponed factory expansions and lost economic opportunities.

He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to establishing state police presented an opportunity for businesses to contribute directly to developing security institutions capable of supporting sustainable economic growth.

‘I therefore ask the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to carry this engagement beyond our meeting. Bring forward a considered private sector contribution on financing and implementing state police, with practical proposals for accountable partnerships.

‘Take that work into the legislative process and into your engagement with state governments. For our part, we remain answerable for turning reform into protection that people can rely on,’ he said.

Gbajabiamila urged business leaders to engage governors and legislators on the proposed reform, highlighting the relationship between effective local policing, employment generation and investment decisions.

He explained that the private sector’s experience in managing institutions, controlling expenditure and assessing risks could strengthen the design and implementation of the new policing framework.

According to him, the organised private sector should also provide evidence of security failures preventing otherwise viable investments from proceeding, enabling policymakers to determine where additional security capacity was most urgently required.

‘Your participation should also improve the substance of the reform. As the legislative process proceeds, examine the proposals for financing and oversight.

‘Bring your experience of managing institutions and controlling expenditure to that discussion. Help us understand the security failures that prevent viable projects from proceeding,’ he stated.

However, the Chief of Staff cautioned that private sector involvement must be transparent and must not compromise the independence of police institutions.

He said businesses could contribute expertise in communications infrastructure, equipment maintenance and financial planning, but insisted that such partnerships must operate within clearly defined legal and accountability frameworks.

‘Where businesses provide resources, those contributions need published accounts and independent scrutiny.

‘Public funding must remain dependable, and a donation must never purchase influence over an investigation or preferential treatment. The object is to strengthen a public service on which every citizen can rely,’ he warned.

Gbajabiamila said the administration was determined to establish financially sustainable state police institutions, insisting that states seeking to operate their own police services must demonstrate the capacity to meet recurrent expenditure obligations.

He said providing vehicles, uniforms and other equipment at the commencement of operations would be insufficient without sustainable arrangements for personnel salaries, professional training and operational maintenance.

‘Financial readiness is equally important. A state taking on policing must be able to sustain the service after the initial purchase of vehicles and uniforms.

‘Regular pay and continued training are essential to professional conduct. An institution that cannot meet its obligations to its officers becomes vulnerable to private patrons and unlawful demands on the public,’ he cautioned.

He further assured Nigerians that the federal police would continue to operate in states that were not yet financially or institutionally prepared to establish their own police services.

Providing an update on the legislative process, he disclosed that the Presidential Working Group had submitted the draft National Policing Bill and 29 consequential amendment bills to the Federal Ministry of Justice on October 19 for legislative review.

According to him, following the review and the Working Group’s final consideration, the proposals would be presented to President Tinubu for approval before being transmitted to the National Assembly.

He explained that the proposed framework would enable willing and capable states to assume greater responsibility for protecting their residents while retaining a strong federal police institution to address interstate criminal activities and other specialised national security requirements.

Gbajabiamila said the reform was intended to correct the structural imbalance under which state governments were responsible for responding to the consequences of insecurity without possessing corresponding authority to organise policing.

‘Bringing policing closer to the communities it serves can improve local intelligence and shorten the time between a call for help and an effective response,’ he explained.

Addressing concerns about the possible deployment of state police against political opponents, the Chief of Staff assured Nigerians that the proposed legislation would contain enforceable safeguards, national professional standards and independent oversight mechanisms.

‘The concern that police powers could be used against political opponents or vulnerable communities is serious. Our answer is to place enforceable limits on those powers and provide remedies when they are abused.

‘A citizen’s entitlement to protection cannot depend on whom he supports or where she comes from,’ he declared.

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a bill to the Senate seeking to facilitate the transfer of Nigerians convicted of offences in foreign countries to serve their prison sentences in Nigeria under agreements between the countries involved.

The proposed legislation, transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday, seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Act, 2004, to provide a framework for transferring convicted offenders between Nigeria and other countries under mutually agreed terms.

In a covering letter read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu said the bill would empower the Federal Government to enter into agreements with other countries for the transfer of convicted offenders to Nigeria to serve their sentences.

The proposed law would also allow Nigeria to honour similar requests from other countries, subject to the terms of the relevant agreements.

Tinubu said in the letter, ‘The Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Amendment Bill 2026 seeks to amend the Transfer of Convicted Offenders Enactment and Enforcement Act, Act Cap 216, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004, to give effect to the provisions of any scheme or agreement for the transfer of convicted offenders between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the government of any other country.’

He explained that the bill would empower the President, through an order published in the Federal Gazette, to extend the application of the law to any country with which Nigeria had entered into such an agreement.

According to him, the proposed amendment would also facilitate the implementation of transfer agreements with countries outside the Commonwealth.

Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further action, after which it is expected to be scheduled for debate and consideration.

Several prominent Nigerians have served or are serving prison sentences abroad following criminal convictions.

One of the most notable cases is that of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was convicted in March 2023 at the Old Bailey in the United Kingdom for conspiring to arrange the travel of a young Nigerian man to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney, in an offence prosecuted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

On 5 May 2023, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison. His wife, Beatrice, received a four-year-and-six-month sentence, while their associate, Dr Obinna Obeta, was sentenced to 10 years.

Former Delta State Governor James Ibori was also sentenced to 13 years in prison in the UK in 2012 after pleading guilty to money laundering offences. He was released in 2016 and subsequently returned to Nigeria.

It remains unclear whether the proposed legislation is intended to facilitate the transfer of high-profile inmates such as Ekweremadu to Nigeria.

Ultimately, the implementation of the proposed law would depend on the terms of agreements reached between Nigeria and the countries concerned, as well as the applicable legal requirements.

The President of the Global Legislators Organisation for Better Environment (GLOBE) Legislators International, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has said Nigeria has recorded significant progress in energy transition and climate sustainability under President Bola Tinubu.

Onuigbo also commended the governors of Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina and Borno states for their efforts to promote energy transition and carbon market initiatives, urging other state governments to emulate them.

He said coordinated action by federal and state governments would strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading voice in environmental sustainability.

Onuigbo, who sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, made the remarks after receiving the Fellowship of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (FSESN) in recognition of his contributions to climate action and advocacy.

He was honoured alongside other eminent Nigerians at the 43rd National Solar Energy Forum and Conference (NASEF 2026), held at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.

The event took place against the backdrop of efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity access challenges through renewable energy sources, including solar power, as well as alternative energy solutions such as compressed natural gas and electric vehicles.

In his acceptance speech, Onuigbo said the fellowship represented not only recognition of his past contributions but also a call to greater responsibility in advancing climate action and clean energy development.

‘I consider this fellowship not only a recognition of past contributions but also a call to greater responsibility. Let me also affirm my commitment to deepening my engagement with society and supporting initiatives that would expand solar energy adoption, strengthen climate governance and unlock the environmental, economic and social benefits of the clean energy transition,’ he said.

The former two-term member of the National Assembly reaffirmed his commitment to translating climate legislation into practical action, accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition and advancing the pathway to net-zero emissions.

He described solar power as central to the transition, citing its potential to extend electricity access to underserved and unserved communities, stimulate green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.

‘The shift to clean energy should not be viewed only as an environmental necessity, but also as an economic opportunity and a responsibility to future generations,’ he said.

‘Solar energy is central to this transition. Its potential to expand energy access to underserved and unserved communities, drive green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions makes it indispensable to a sustainable future.’

Onuigbo commended Tinubu for assenting to the Electricity Act 2023, which provides for greater participation by state governments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution within the framework of the law.

He said the legislation had enabled 16 states to establish their own electricity regulatory authorities.

The GLOBE president also praised the Tinubu administration for the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme, which he described as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious distributed renewable energy initiatives.

‘Indeed, President Tinubu deserves kudos because, through this initiative, 17.5 million Nigerians will gain access to electricity by deploying thousands of mini-grids across the country,’ he said.

The programme is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency with World Bank support.

On developments in Nasarawa State, Onuigbo commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating an enabling environment for the establishment of lithium processing plants, describing the initiative as a step towards positioning the state as a destination for energy transition investments.

He said such initiatives could help translate Nigeria’s climate commitments and critical minerals potential into tangible benefits through improved access to clean energy and sustainable development.

In his remarks, the President of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, praised Onuigbo for his contributions to climate action in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

Highlighting Onuigbo’s role in the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021, Akpoyibo said the legislation established a legal and institutional framework for climate governance in Nigeria.

He said the law provided safeguards for climate action across various sectors of the economy while supporting the country’s commitment to climate resilience, low-carbon development and net-zero emissions.

Akpoyibo added that the Act recognised the importance of clean and renewable energy in achieving those objectives, underscoring the need for increased investment in and adoption of solar power to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.

The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, has said 34 foreign nationals were arrested in October over suspected clandestine activities.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, Nwadiogbu also disclosed that 29 kidnap victims were rescued across the state during the month.

According to the police commissioner, the rescue operations were made possible through collaboration with other security agencies.

He said, ‘On October 9, 2026, operatives of the command arrested 16 Cameroonian nationals in Otukpo Local Government Area.

‘Preliminary information indicated that the individuals could not produce the required travel documents at the time of their arrest.

‘They are suspected of engaging in clandestine activities and heinous crimes. They were taken into custody for investigation and verification of their immigration status, with the appropriate authorities to be engaged as necessary.

‘Similarly, on October 22, 2026, operatives intercepted 18 Nigerien nationals at Orokam while they were reportedly travelling to Ikom in Cross River State.

‘They were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation after concerns were raised about their circumstances of entry into the country and their inability to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their journey.’

The police commissioner said the command was taking steps to establish the relevant facts and involve the appropriate authorities, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, for profiling and any further action required under the law.

Nwadiogbu also said the command had arrested suspected cultists in separate operations in Naka, Makurdi and Aliade, in Gwer West and Gwer East local government areas, respectively.

He listed items recovered during operations in October to include seven locally fabricated firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and cartridges, charms, mobile phones and ATM cards.

The Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has revealed that for a long time, the absence of an enduring economic philosophy, consistent policymaking, and disciplined implementation of reforms has hindered progress in Nigeria.

While presenting Nigeria’s Economic Policy Framework at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, the Minister noted that ‘our challenge has never been a shortage of ambition or good ideas.

‘It has been the absence of an enduring economic philosophy, consistent policymaking and disciplined implementation. Too often, the progress achieved through one reform is undermined by another policy, while our economic direction is reinvented with changing administrations’.

He explained that ‘over the past four decades, Nigeria has produced numerous economic blueprints, development plans and reform programmes. Yet, if development plans alone created prosperity, Nigeria would already be among the wealthiest nations in the world’.

The Minister questioned that ‘how often have regulators announced major policies without sufficient evidence or rigorous impact assessment? How often have critical rules changed, and said to be effective immediately ‘, without giving businesses time to adjust?

‘How often have policies been driven more by personal preferences and anecdotal impressions than by credible data? And how often have regulations been designed for the convenience of the regulator rather than the competitiveness of the economy, with little meaningful consultation with those expected to comply?’ he questioned.

He Oyedele said the consequences are significant. ‘Businesses cannot plan with confidence. Investors hesitate. Capital becomes more expensive. Opportunities are lost, and jobs that could have been created never materialise.

‘Policy uncertainty is an invisible tax on enterprise. And unlike most taxes, it generates no revenue for government-it only destroys value and discourages investment.

‘This is the fundamental challenge the proposed Nigeria Economic Policy Framework seeks to address.

‘Today, on behalf of the Federal Government, I present for public consultation the Nigeria Economic Policy Framework’.

The Minister reaffirmed that the document is not a development plan.’ It is not a catalogue of capital projects. And it is not the manifesto of an administration.

‘It is a national economic doctrine. It establishes how Nigeria makes economic decisions, the non-negotiable principles that guide them, and how we measure real progress’.

He stated further that governments will come and go, but Nigeria’s economic horizon must outlive every electoral calendar.

‘Our vision is simple but profound: a productive, competitive, diversified, and inclusive economy that delivers quality jobs, expands real household incomes, and creates shared prosperity.

‘Success cannot be declared in aggregate numbers alone. It must be proven on the ground,’ the Minister noted.

The Framework organises priorities around Seven Interconnected Systems: Stability, Productivity, Enterprise, Capital, People, Markets, and Institutions.

‘An economy is only as resilient as its weakest link. We cannot engineer competitive industries without enabling infrastructure and efficient logistics; nor can we sustain growth without radical investments in education, health, and human capital.

‘So, at the heart of this Framework are three non-negotiable disciplines: Enterprise as the Engine of Growth: Private enterprise generates production and employment; the state exists to provide public goods, maintain rule of law, correct genuine market failures, and protect the vulnerable.

‘Open but Fair Markets: We champion industrial policy, but not perpetual protection for inefficiency. A tariff must serve as a runway for local industry to take off, never a permanent shelter from competition.

‘Whole-of-Government Coherence: Businesses do not interact with isolated ministries, departments, or agencies; they experience the cumulative cost of government. Every institution must align to optimise the whole national economy, not expand bureaucratic mandates,’ he stated.

Oyedele said under the Framework, ‘no major economic intervention-whether a tax adjustment, a tariff shift, a regulatory restriction, or an incentive-should occur without answering fundamental questions on the record.

‘Nigeria has the talent. We have the enterprise. What we must now build together is policy certainty. Let NES#32 mark the day we begin to trade ad hoc experimentation for an enduring national accord,’ the Minister stated.

Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they are beginning to yield results, and declared his readiness to serve Nigeria in any capacity under the current administration.

Adesina spoke on Tuesday after paying a courtesy visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, where he briefed the President on the achievements of his 10-year tenure at the bank and its support for Nigeria.

The former AfDB president, who completed his two five-year terms in August 2025, said the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of foreign exchange windows, were beginning to produce results despite the difficulties they had caused Nigerians.

He said: ‘I use the opportunity to also commend him on the reforms that he has been doing, both in terms of the macroeconomic reforms with the fuel subsidy and also the harmonisation of the exchange rate windows.

‘These are very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruit, quite some fruit.

‘If you look at it, you have a lot more Foreign Exchange available today. You have a lot of portfolio investors that are coming into the country. You have inflation trending downwards.

‘Prices are still a bit high, but inflation is trending downwards. If you take a look also in terms of the issue of how the world looks at Nigeria, it’s very very different. And I look at some of the rating agencies, how they give Nigeria a stable, some of them stable and also positive outlook. Now that’s just the beginning of the work.

‘I think the most critical thing is the president realised this, and everybody knows that, you know, being a dentist is a very difficult job. But you have to also now move from the issue of the reforms and stabilisation, straight into structural transformation and also growth and prosperity, which is what the president is focusing on.

‘And I told the president, I’m back at home, here to help and ready to help. It’s my country. I love my country, and I’m ready to help.’

Adesina also offered to support the Tinubu administration in any capacity, stressing that his willingness to serve was driven by his commitment to Nigeria rather than the pursuit of a political appointment.

He said, ‘Well, you know, I’m fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity. I’ve always had that. You know, my heart is always at home. And in any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything.

‘I’m not looking for a job. I’m not looking for anything. It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation, and a responsibility to do so, and I will.’

During the meeting, Adesina also briefed Tinubu on the AfDB’s financing for Nigeria during his tenure.

He said the bank provided about $7 billion to the country between 2015 and 2025, representing approximately 63 per cent of its total financing to Nigeria since it began operations in the country in 1971.

Adesina completed his tenure as AfDB president in August 2025 and was succeeded by Mr Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania the following month.

Before leading the bank, he served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The people of Igede-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to confer a national honour on their 93-year-old monarch, Oba James Aladesuru, who has spent more than 66 years on the throne.

The Chairman of the Ojude Àkè Festival Planning Committee, Dr Oludotun Adetuberu, made the appeal during a press conference in Igede-Ekiti to unveil activities for the week-long celebration, which will end with a grand finale on Saturday.

Adetuberu described the monarch as Africa’s longest-reigning traditional ruler and said his years of service deserved national recognition.

According to him, ‘ Let me also state that we are recommending to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that our Revered Monarch be given a national honour in recognition of his status as the longest-serving reigning king in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. The recommendation is already in the pipeline and we are working towards its realisation.’

He also announced plans to raise N250m during the festival to expand and renovate the monarch’s palace, renovate the community hall, develop the Elemi River into a tourist attraction and improve security in the community.

He said the palace expansion was necessary to provide adequate space for social and community functions, particularly as government policy no longer allowed such events to be held on secondary school premises.

The committee chairman said developing the Elemi River would help preserve an important part of Igede’s cultural heritage while positioning the community as a tourism destination.

He added that part of the funds would be used to improve security and rehabilitate other community facilities.

Adetuberu said the festival would also feature the conferment of honorary chieftaincy titles on deserving indigenes. Royal fathers from different parts of the country had also been invited to participate in the celebration.

He said the programme began on Monday with prayers for the community, while Tuesday’s activities included traditional indoor games among the town’s four quarters and football matches.

A quiz competition for secondary school students and the final match of the inter-quarter football tournament were scheduled for Wednesday, while Thursday’s programme would feature a free medical outreach at Aye Primary Health Centre and a beauty pageant.

Friday’s activities would include a Jumat service and an award night to honour individuals who had contributed to the community’s development.

The festival will climax on Saturday with the grand finale and fundraising ceremony. Other attractions include a garri challenge and a raffle draw.

The Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, Oba James Aladesuru, described Àkè as the founding father of the community, whose history and legacy remained central to the people’s cultural identity.

According to the town’s oral tradition, Àkè was a hunter and herbalist who migrated from Ile-Ife with his wife, Erindo, and servant, Awota, before settling at Oke-Esu, regarded as the earliest settlement associated with Igede-Ekiti.

The monarch urged sons and daughters of Igede-Ekiti, both at home and in the diaspora, to participate in the maiden Ojude Àkè Festival to celebrate their ancestral heritage, promote unity and preserve the community’s history for future generations.

The Chairman of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area and chief host of the festival, Mr Gbenga Oluwatuyi, described the Onigede as a tourism asset, saying his reign could attract visitors to Igede-Ekiti.

Oluwatuyi said the community should use the monarch’s long reign and its other cultural attractions to promote tourism. He added that the Elemi River could also be developed into a tourist destination through collaboration between the community and government.

He recalled that officials of the Ekiti State Ministry of Tourism had previously visited the river following discussions about its proposed development, expressing hope that the project would eventually be realised.

The President-General of the Igede Progressive Forum, Dr Austin Ibikunle, said the maiden Ojude Àkè Festival provided an opportunity to celebrate the community’s history, honour its traditional institution and bring indigenes together to pursue shared development goals.

Ibikunle stressed the importance of preserving Igede-Ekiti’s cultural heritage and developing its tourism potential, noting that sustained cooperation among community leaders, indigenes in the diaspora and government would be essential to achieving the town’s development aspirations.

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Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has directed the release of Mapo Hall premises in Ibadan to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its presidential campaign rally.

An earlier online report had said that the APC was denied access to the venue by Ibadan Local Governments Properties Company Limited because the facility had already been booked by another applicant for the same date.

The rejection letter, according to the report, said ‘the proposed date is not available based on the fact that it has been booked by another applicant earlier.’

Following the report, Governor Makinde directed the management of Ibadan Local Governments Properties Company Limited to make the grounds available to the APC and provide a suitable alternative venue for those who had earlier paid for the place.

The Governor, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equal access to public facilities for all political parties, said no party should be discriminated against if it meets the established requirements for their use.

Makinde, according to a statement by his special adviser on media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, maintained that public facilities belong to the people and should be managed transparently and fairly, irrespective of the political affiliation of those seeking to use them.

He said, ‘No political party should be denied access to public facilities in Oyo State provided the established requirements for their use are duly satisfied.’

He noted that his administration was committed to providing a level playing field for political stakeholders, stressing that democracy thrives when parties have equal opportunities to engage with the electorate within the framework of the law.

‘Public assets belong to the people of Oyo State and must be administered in a manner that is transparent, equitable, and devoid of partisan considerations,’ the governor said.

Makinde explained that access to government-owned facilities was subject to established procedures and regulations designed to ensure their proper use, maintenance and the preservation of public order.

He added that any political party or organisation that fulfilled the stipulated conditions should not face discrimination or unjust restrictions in accessing such facilities.

The governor also urged political actors to conduct their activities peacefully and responsibly, while calling on relevant authorities to handle requests for the use of public facilities professionally and without bias.

The Karim Adeyemi Foundation (KAF), in partnership with the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oyo State Branch, has restocked first aid boxes in 50 public primary schools across six local government areas in Oyo State as part of efforts to improve safety and emergency preparedness in schools.

The intervention was carried out under Phase II of the Foundation’s Safe Schools Initiative, which also featured refresher training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for teachers and pupils.

The programme was held on Tuesday at I.D.C. Primary School, Gbagi, Ibadan, with participating schools drawn from Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas.

The Safe Schools Initiative is aimed at strengthening the capacity of schools to respond to medical emergencies while promoting a safer environment for teaching and learning across Oyo State.

Speaking at the event, the President of KAF, Mogaji Abiodun Adeyemi, represented by the Foundation’s Director of Sports and Youth Empowerment, Mr Zakary Lawal, said the second phase demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to sustaining its interventions in public schools.

Adeyemi recalled that the Foundation launched the initiative over a year ago in partnership with SUBEB and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, providing FastCare first aid kits to 50 primary schools alongside practical training for teachers and pupils.

He said the Foundation had resolved from the beginning that the intervention would not be a one-off donation, stressing that the effectiveness of first aid boxes depended on the availability of medical supplies and the ability of school personnel to respond appropriately to emergencies.

According to him, the second phase involves restocking and upgrading the first aid boxes with standardised medical supplies suitable for primary school safety, providing refresher training in first aid and CPR, and assessing the initiative’s impact through an anonymous feedback process.

He said the feedback and usage data would help the Foundation evaluate the programme, identify areas for improvement and establish a reliable basis for its planned expansion in 2027.

He therefore called on socially responsible organisations and individuals to support the initiative financially and through strategic partnerships to ensure that pupils across the state benefit from safer learning environments.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr Nuremi Adeniran, represented by the Education Secretary of Oluyole Local Government, Comrade Ganiyu Waheed, commended the Foundation for its sustained commitment to the safety and well-being of pupils in public primary schools.

Adeniran expressed appreciation for KAF’s initial donation of first aid boxes and the practical training provided to participating schools during the first phase of the programme.

He said the replenishment of the boxes and the refresher training in first aid and CPR demonstrated the Foundation’s continued dedication to protecting pupils and strengthening emergency preparedness in schools.

The SUBEB chairman also acknowledged the contribution of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oyo State Branch, describing its technical expertise and support as important to building a culture of safety in schools.

He stressed that quality basic education extended beyond teaching and learning to include a safe and supportive environment where pupils could learn, and teachers could work confidently.

One of the representatives of the school, Adeogun Samson from Islamic Mission School III, lauded KAF for the donations, just as he assured of using the exercise gained at the training.

Former Senate Leader and Oyo State Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, has called on aggrieved members and stakeholders of the party in Oyo State to put aside their differences, close ranks and work collectively towards securing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Senator Folarin made the appeal during a meeting with members of the Oyo State APC Executive Committee at the party’s State Secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he emphasised the urgent need for reconciliation, mutual respect, party discipline and collective commitment ahead of the forthcoming electoral contests.

The former Senate Leader urged party leaders and members to rise above personal grievances, internal disagreements and competing interests, stressing that the APC’s collective strength and electoral prospects must take precedence over individual considerations.

He maintained that genuine reconciliation, inclusiveness and sustained engagement among party stakeholders remained critical to building a formidable political platform capable of delivering electoral victories across Oyo State.

‘I am fully committed to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the success of all APC candidates in Oyo State in the 2027 general elections,’ Senator Folarin declared.

Senator Folarin, who also serves as the Oyo State Ambassador for Renewed Hope, described President Tinubu as a leader deserving of respect and loyalty, urging party members to uphold the principles of discipline, mutual understanding and respect for constituted leadership.

He stressed that the party could only achieve its electoral objectives through unity of purpose, coordinated political activities and the willingness of stakeholders to place collective interests above personal differences.

According to him, the approaching general elections present an opportunity for APC members to demonstrate political maturity, rebuild confidence, strengthen existing structures and consolidate the party’s support base across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.

In a related development, Senator Folarin joined the Oyo State APC leadership to formally receive former councillors who served between 2021 and 2024 under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) into the APC.

The reception marked another step in the party’s ongoing efforts to broaden its membership, accommodate political stakeholders and consolidate its grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.

Senator Folarin welcomed the new entrants and encouraged them to work harmoniously with existing party members, stressing that the APC remained committed to building an inclusive political organisation in which every member could contribute meaningfully to its collective success.

He further urged party faithful to sustain the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation, noting that electoral success would require the active participation of leaders, stakeholders, grassroots mobilisers and ordinary members across the state.

In his remarks, the Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Alake, commended Senator Folarin for embracing reconciliation and demonstrating his commitment to peace and unity within the party.

‘We appreciate Senator Teslim Folarin for sheathing his sword and embracing peace. Your decision is important to strengthening unity within our party as we prepare for the forthcoming elections,’ the State Chairman stated.

Chief Alake described the development as a significant contribution towards strengthening internal cohesion and positioning the APC for the electoral contests ahead.

Shortly after the engagement with the State Executive Committee, Senator Folarin held a separate meeting with Local Government Ambassadors for Renewed Hope, during which he charged them to intensify grassroots mobilisation and door-to-door campaigns across their respective local government areas.

He emphasised the importance of sustained voter engagement, effective communication of the Tinubu administration’s policies and achievements, and closer interaction with communities at the ward and polling-unit levels.

The former Senate Leader urged the ambassadors to strengthen their mobilisation structures, engage directly with voters and work closely with party executives and other stakeholders to deepen public support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a move aimed at strengthening the coordination and operational structure of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Oyo State, Senator Folarin also announced key appointments.

Those appointed are: Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle – State Deputy Coordinator; Hon. Yinka Taiwo – Assistant State Coordinator; Engr. Idris Adeoye – Director of Budget, Finance and Resource Management; Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete – Secretary; and Hon. Gbenga Olayemi – Director, Inter-Party Affairs.

Senator Folarin charged the appointees to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, loyalty and a strong sense of commitment to the party’s electoral objectives.

He reiterated that the immediate priority of the APC in Oyo State must be to consolidate internal unity, strengthen grassroots structures, expand the party’s membership and mobilise widespread support for President Tinubu’s re-election and the success of all APC candidates in 2027.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the State Executive Committee, party leaders, stakeholders and members at all levels to build a united, disciplined and election-ready APC in Oyo State.