TOP TORI NEWS

The Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA) has announced a ban on several activities along the Ibadan Circular Road corridor as part of efforts to safeguard the ongoing infrastructure project and ensure public safety. The Authority stated that vehicular movement, cattle rearing, soil excavation, and illegal parking are strictly prohibited within the Circular Road corridor pending the official commissioning of the project by the Oyo State Government. OYNTCDA also disclosed that it has intensified enforcement operations against the illegal use of the road and its corridor, leading to the arrest of some violators. According to the Authority, the enforcement exercise became necessary following reports and complaints that some individuals had been making use of the road despite the fact that it has not yet been officially opened to the public. Speaking in Ibadan on Thursday, the Executive Adviser and Director-General of OYNTCDA, Mrs. Mofoluke...

The House of Representatives has passed the state police bill, effectively making way for the decentralisation of the Nigerian policing architecture. The resolution followed the voting by 289 lawmakers in favour of state police during today’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas. It will be recalled that the House committed today’s plenary to voting on the State Police Bill following the spike in killings, kidnappings, and banditry in the past few months. The session was not without its fair share of drama, as shortly after the lawmakers settled down for the business of the day, Kaduna lawmaker, Bashir Zubairu, moved a point of order, explaining that the document on the proposed state police put together by the House Committee on Constitution Review got to the lawmakers only this afternoon. Zubairu, a member of the African Democratic Congress, was ruled out of order, allowing the process to proceed.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration aimed at ensuring a more credible and transparent electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections . The understanding was reached on Tuesday when the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Obo Etfanga, paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The REC, who was recently deployed to Edo State, said he sought to engage with critical stakeholders including law enforcement agencies ahead of the 2027 general election, and to explore areas of further collaboration. He noted that the EFCC has consistently played a significant role in curtailing vote buying during elections. In a related development, the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, also paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission. The Chairman of the Institute's Edo State Branch,...

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise has explained why Nigeria’s House of Representatives should reject the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax (non-alcoholic drinks) bill’s passage.  CPPE Chief Executive Officer Dr Muda Yusuf, in a statement at the weekend, said the bill, if passed by the Green Chamber, would worsen the cost of production across the value chain.  According to him, an additional tax on manufacturers, by extension on Nigerians despite harsh economic realities, is insensitive and ill-timed.  The economic think tank said the legislature by the National Assembly counters the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s stance on easing doing business in the country.  “The bill is ill-timed, insensitive to prevailing economic realities, and inconsistent with the federal government’s commitment to reducing the tax burden on businesses.  “Any additional tax burden on the industry would inevitably increase production costs, raise consumer prices, we...

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, has aptly identified a key challenge security agents face in combating bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists: citizens often witness suspicious activities but fail to report them. The commissioner led journalists to a residential property in Araromi Quarters, Ayegun North, Oluyole Local Government Area, where kidnappers had held Busayo John-Paul—the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu—and her twin sons before the police rescued them.  According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the kidnappers had repeatedly used the location as a hideout, bringing abducted victims there while neighbouring residents chose to ignore the activities. “They have been bringing the abductees here. They bring them here, and people see them. Some even greet them and say 'welcome.' When people see such things and don’t speak up, what do you expect us to do? If suspicious activities like this had been re...

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Professor Tunji Olaopa, has assured shortlisted candidates in the ongoing recruitment exercise that a Computer-Based Test (CBT) will be conducted soon. In a statement issued at the weekend, online claims that the CBT had been cancelled as false and misleading, stressing that arrangements for the exercise are in place, pending the provision of necessary resources. The Chairman urged shortlisted candidates to remain calm and await official communication from the Commission regarding the CBT and recruitment process. Signed: Ibraheem Zakariyya, anipr, Head, Press & Public Relations. For: Commission