The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, on Friday strengthened his grassroots engagement with traders by presenting a ₦50 million business grant to members of the Agbeni Amunigun Traders Association in Ibadan.

The empowerment package is expected to benefit traders across the market, which cuts across Ibadan North-West and Ibadan South-West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also donated ₦5 million towards the completion of the association’s secretariat. He further pledged to install solar-powered streetlights within the market to improve security and make the business environment more conducive.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with the association’s leaders, executives and representatives of its 15 zones, the lawmaker described traders as key drivers of the local economy, saying they deserved continuous support to grow their businesses and improve their standard of living.

He also appealed to the traders to sustain their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing confidence that the economic reforms introduced by the administration would deliver lasting benefits for the country.

“The decisions taken by President Tinubu were difficult, but they were necessary. Today, fuel queues are gone, states and local governments receive higher allocations, and more resources are available for infrastructure, education, healthcare and other development projects, including the regular payment of salaries,” he said.

Oseni highlighted ongoing road rehabilitation projects, interventions in the health sector, agricultural support initiatives and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as some of the programmes making a difference under the current administration.

He noted that the student loan scheme had opened up access to higher education for many young Nigerians, while other economic reforms were laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

Looking ahead, Oseni promised that if elected to represent Oyo South in the Senate in 2027, he would facilitate an interest-free revolving loan scheme for traders. He said the programme would be jointly managed by the market leadership and a reputable microfinance bank to ensure genuine traders had access to affordable credit.

“I will continue to support policies and programmes that help small and medium-scale businesses thrive because traders remain the engine of our economy. My goal is to create opportunities that will help your businesses expand and improve the welfare of your families,” he said, assuring the association that the requests presented to him would receive prompt attention.

Earlier, the Babaloja of the market, Alhaji Abdul-Latifu Abdulganiyu; the Baale, Alhaji Muniru Oladayo; the General Chairman of the market, Alhaji Nureni Lawal; the Iyaloja’s representative, Alhaja Basirat Owolanwa; and the youth representative, Alhaji Adeyinka Basiru, praised Oseni for his consistent support for traders and other community-based empowerment programmes.

The market leaders unanimously endorsed his senatorial ambition and pledged to mobilise support for his 2027 bid, saying his record of empowerment, constituency projects and community development had earned him the confidence of the people.

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee probing the alleged operations of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council has declared the appointment letter presented by the council’s self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, as fake.

The committee also said investigations revealed that the law purportedly establishing the council was forged, raising fresh concerns over how the organisation allegedly operated and processed official government correspondence.

Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the continuation of the investigative hearing at the National Assembly in Abuja.

According to him, the findings were corroborated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who appeared before the committee for the second time in compliance with its summons.

Gagdi said the Head of Service confirmed that the appointment letter submitted by Adeyemi was not issued by the appropriate authorities, while the Act he relied upon to justify the existence of the council was equally found to be inauthentic.

“It was established that the so-called letter of appointment was fake, confirmed by different agencies, and the Act presented to the Head of Service was equally fake, forged by the DG. It was established,” Gagdi said.

Wednesday’s hearing was also attended by Deputy Commissioner of Police Olufemi Akinola and Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, who represented the Inspector-General of Police. However, Adeyemi, whose appearance had been expected, was absent.

The committee had on Monday directed the Inspector-General of Police to produce Adeyemi within 48 hours after describing the establishment and operation of the purported council as a serious violation of due process.

Lawmakers said his appearance before the panel had become necessary to explain how the disputed council allegedly secured official recognition, processed government correspondence and carried out its activities, adding that the investigation would continue until all issues surrounding its operations were resolved.