By Our Correspondent

In an effort to end kidnapping in the country, President Bola Tinubu on Thursday revealed that plans have been concluded to include international collaboration in the safe rescue of kidnapped victims in Oriire local government area of Oyo State are brought home without harm or avoidable loss of life.

While appealing for calm and patience, the President assured the people that no stone would left unturn to ensure that the kidnapped children and teachers are rescued safely .

Also, Tinubu said the signs of progress in the country are becoming increasingly evident as the reforms undertaken by his administration are laying the foundation for a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient economy.

Tinubu dropped this hint in his address at the commissioning of the newly transformed Premier Hotel in Ibadan undertaken by the Odu’a Investment Company Limited.

President Tinubu who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Senator George Akume, said while the country has confronted difficult structural challenges that constrained growth and investment for many years, the present administration under his leadership is building a more stable platform for sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

He said, “The signs of progress are becoming increasingly evident. Investor confidence is improving, strategic investments are growing, and key sectors of the economy are showing renewed momentum. Our foreign reserves have also attained the highest level in the last two decades.

“The newly transformed Premier Hotel is itself a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s future. It represents optimism, enterprise, and belief in the opportunities ahead.”

The President urged investors across the country and beyond to continue to invest in the country, stating that Nigeria offers tremendous opportunities while his administration remains committed to creating the conditions necessary for businesses to succeed.

“My charge to all stakeholders today is simple: let us preserve our heritage, embrace innovation, invest boldly in our future, create opportunities for our young people, and build institutions that will endure for generations.

“Once again, I congratulate the Board, Management, shareholders, and staff of Odu’a Investment Company Limited,as well as the governments and people of the six South-West states, on this remarkable achievement”, he said.

According to him, the Federal Government is seriously addressing the upswing in banditry, kidnapping and associated criminalities, across the country, urging all citizens to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with security agencies.

“There is undoubtedly a huge role for traditional and faith-based institutions to play in this regard and I urge them take the lead through the various channels provided by government.”

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who was the Chief host in his remarks, said the commissioning marked significant milestone in the journey of restoring one of the most iconic hospitality landmarks in Nigeria, stating that the event reflected the power of partnership, shared vision, and commitment to preserving our heritage while positioning our institutions for a more prosperous future.

Makinde, represented by his SSG, Prof. Musbau Babatunde noted that Premier Hotel is more than just a hotel, but symbol of collective history, a landmark that has occupied a special place in the social, economic, and cultural development of the state and the entire Southwest region.

“I particularly commend the visualizership of the Oduwa Group of Companies, jointly owned by the governments of Oyo, Okwui, Kitsundu, and Oswego State, for recognizing the importance of this project and for taking deliberate steps to reposition Premier Hotel as a modern hospitality destination.”

The Group Chairman, Odu’a Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, in his remarks, said the idea of Premier Hotel was conceived as the Western Region’s flagship hospitality asset, built alongside its sister properties such as Hamdala Hotel in Kaduna for the Northern Region, and Hotel Presidential in Enugu for the Eastern Region, stating that the choice of Mokola Hill as the location was both deliberate and symbolic, as the founding fathers selected the elevated terrain for several strategic reasons.

“First, to offer guests a naturally cool and refreshing climate, sheltered from the tropical heat of the valley below; second, to provide an unobstructed, breathtaking panoramic view of the ancient city of Ibadan, including landmarks such as Cocoa House, the Government Secretariat, and Bower’s Tower; and, third, to create a brilliant “lighthouse” effect with its bright white walls and glowing nighttime lights, the hotel became visible from miles around, a radiant beacon of Western Nigerian hospitality and grandeur.

“For decades, this great edifice stood as the gold standard of luxury and service in West Africa. It was the preferred residence for heads of state, royal families, foreign diplomats, captains of industry, and discerning travelers from every corner of the globe. It hosted historic meetings, celebrated milestones, and created cherished memories for countless families. It was, without question, the pride of Ibadan and the heartbeat of South-Western hospitality.”

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

The Labour Party has applauded the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for passing the State Police Bill transmitted by President Bola Tinubu, calling it a critical move to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security.

In a statement Thursday, National Publicity Secretary Ken Eluma Asogwa said the Bill addresses years of public demand for a policing structure that is more effective and responsive to the country’s escalating security threats.

“For years, Nigerians across all regions have clamoured for a more effective and responsive policing architecture capable of addressing the growing and increasingly complex security challenges confronting the nation.

“The passage of this Bill therefore represents a significant step towards strengthening internal security and bringing law enforcement closer to the people,” Asogwa stated.

The party acknowledged concerns over potential misuse of state police, referencing past issues with State Independent Electoral Commissions and allegations of undue influence by some governors.

But it insisted that Nigeria’s present security realities outweigh those risks and make the case for decentralised policing compelling.

Labour Party expressed confidence in the Bill’s constitutional safeguards, specifically Section 17, which it said provides clear mechanisms to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.

“These safeguards, if faithfully implemented, should serve as effective checks against arbitrary control or misuse of the system by any state executive,” Asogwa noted.

He added that while “no policing model is perfect,” the limitations of the current centralised arrangement demand new approaches to improve safety for citizens.

With the Bill now before State Houses of Assembly for concurrence ahead of presidential assent, the Labour Party urged governors and state lawmakers across the 36 states to prioritise national interest over partisanship.

“The Labour Party believes that with proper oversight, transparency and adherence to constitutional provisions, state policing can become a vital instrument for combating crime, enhancing community security and strengthening the federation,” the statement concluded.

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Wednesday at emergency plenary resumed consideration of the Bill on State Police.

Recall that the Red Chamber received President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Executive Bill on Tuesday, considered and passed it to first reading.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio thereafter referred the Bill to committee on constitutional amendment for further legislative consideration and asked to bring back the Bll on Wednesday for further consideration at the committee of the whole.

Consequently,in a move to accommodate decentralised police structure in the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution, the Senate has adopted clearly defined measures to constrain and prohibit state governors from using such powers for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal purposes.

The upper chamber also pointed out that when eventually amended, the new constitution will authorise the National Assembly to prescribe national minimum standards relating to recruitment, training, vetting, promotions, discipline, use of force, firearms, complaints procedures, accountability, data management, and professional conduct.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele reeled out these measures while leading debate on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday

Canvassing support for the bill, Bamidele first highlighted the objectives of the bill on the establishment of state police submitted to the National Assembly by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

He, also Vice Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, pointed out that the proposal mainly sought to balance local policing autonomy with national cohesion, accountability with operational effectiveness and federal oversight with state responsibility.

He said the bill is intended to retain the Nigeria Police Force for federal policing duties while providing for the establishment of state police services in states that choose to adopt them.

Bamidele further broke down the details of the proposed police decentralised structure, noting that the state police would be responsible only for enforcing state laws, maintaining public safety and public order, preventing and detecting crimes within their jurisdiction, protecting lives and property, and other local policing responsibility.

On the responsibilities of the federal police, Bamidele noted that the federal police would be in charge of protecting federal institutions, counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, interstate criminal activities, and other national security matters.”

The Senate leader, more specifically, clarified circumstances in which the federal police could intervene in security situations or conditions at the sub-national level

He explained that the interventionary powers of the federal police could only be activated when there “is outright breakdown of public order at a specific subnational entity; when a state police are incapable of functioning; when there is serious violation of fundamental rights; when there is an established record of electoral intimidation and when national security is under threat.”

Bamidele added that such intervention could only come after the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces authorised it in writing, saying it would be limited in scope and duration, subject to Senate oversight and open to judicial review.

He further explained that the bill generally sought “to balance local policing autonomy with national cohesion, accountability with operational effectiveness and federal oversight with state responsibility.

“The bill provides robust safeguards against abuse, preserves federal authority where necessary, protects constitutional rights and creates a modern policing framework capable of addressing contemporary security challenges.

Seconding the bill, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe said that he was among those who were against the establishment of state Police at the initial stage.

However, Abaribe pointed out that the prevailing security situation across the federation necessitated the establishment of state police in order to tackle security problems.

Also speaking in support of the bill, former Sokoto State Governor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing, Senator Waziri Tambuwal observed that he had remained consistent on the need for the establishment of state police .

The Chief Chip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno further solicited broader support for the alteration of the 1999 Constitution to accommodate the establishment of state police in order to help respond decisively to security challenges with the subnational territories.

Having passed through second reading, the Red Chamber subjected the Bill to Committee of the whole where it went through clause by clause consideration and finally scaled through third reading and was passed.