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Road Carnage: Oyo Govt. Trains 5000 Public, Private Drivers
• To enforce training for all drivers every 2 years
Oyo State government has commenced training for over five thousand public and private drivers in the state to reduce to the barest minimum road carnages that have caused loss of lives on the roads.
The government, has also been reported to have put all machineries in motion to enforce the training of all road users every two years on traffic regulations and possible guides against accidents.
This was disclosed by the State’s Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola at the commissioning of the State’s Drivers’ Institute and flag-off of training of 5000 drivers in Ibadan on Monday.
Mrs Agboola who was represented by the Director, Vehicle Inspection Services, Mr James Opalola underscored the importance of training and retraining of drivers in order to curb the incessant cases of avoidable vehicular accidents on major roads.
The exercise which was conducted by Oyo State Drivers’ Institute and Institute of Road Transport Workers would see to training and retraining of both private and commercial drivers in the State on road safety, vehicle literacy and other details regarding the highways.
In her address, Agboola said “with the training in place, Oyo State will take the lead in the 2019 National Road Safety Strategy, thereby restoring the State back to its Pace Setter status because similar programmes are being organized in other neighboring States.
“This exercise will go along way to curb the incessant road carnages that have caused untold hardship to many families over the loss of their loved ones to avoidable vehicular accidents and prepare road users to be ready for challenges that might lay ahead on the road and take adequate precautions.
“The State will also start soon a compulsory training for all road users, whether public or private which will take place every two years and will attract a tone fee,” he added.
In addition, the State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, who was represented by Mrs. Abimbola Afolabi, commended the giant stride taken by the State Government to establish the Drivers’ Institute which will therefore go a long way to reduce road Carnage as being experienced currently.
In his remarks, the General Manager, Oyo State Drivers’Institute, Engineer Victor Ogunranti, reiterated the essence of establishing the Institute by the State Government which is to train and retrain drivers in the State for better performance on the road so as to reduce the number of accidents on the highways.
Ogunranti reiterated that the programme which was a Public-Private Partnership form along with the Institute of Road Transport Workers, would engage different Stakeholders in the transport sector to continually train drivers, confirming that the training would be in two forms, namely the specialized one and the mandatory one which everybody must attend every two years and would attract a token fee.
He said the training would capture details of every participant and at the end of the training, certificates and ID Cards will be issued to participants.
Mr Rashidi Olokode, the Director, Institute of Road Transport Workers, described the partnership with the Oyo State Drivers’ Institute as a Scheme that will fill two vacuums in the transport sector which is the vacuum of knowledge and that of social benefits. According to him, participants will be impacted with knowledge and also benefit in the Micro-bus empowerment Scheme where they’ll be given seven(7) sitter buses on higher purchase after meeting the necessary requirements and they are expected to pay back the money after two years.
The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.
The notice was presented yesterday during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action follows Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dala said the allegations stem from Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government (2023–2024) and his current role as deputy governor. He accused the deputy governor of diverting funds meant for the 44 local government councils.
According to the majority leader, Abdussalam allegedly received N1.5 million monthly from each council between June 2023 and January 2024, totaling N462 million. Between February and July 2024, he allegedly collected N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abuse of office, claiming he facilitated payments of N10 million from each council to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totaling N440 million, in violation of state procurement laws.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and undermines public trust,” Dala told lawmakers, adding that the allegations amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 38 lawmakers, meeting the constitutional threshold to proceed. The Speaker has acknowledged receipt, and the House is expected to serve the allegations on the deputy governor.
If approved, a panel may be constituted by the state Chief Judge to investigate the claims.
As of filing, Abdussalam had yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday inaugurated a seven-member committee on the establishment of state police, giving it four weeks to submit its report.
The inauguration was held during his maiden conference with senior police officers at the Peacekeeping Conference Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Charging members of the panel to discharge their duties with professionalism and objectivity, Disu described the assignment as “both significant and timely,” noting that it would shape the framework through which state policing may operate in Nigeria.
“In carrying out this assignment, your deliberations must be guided by professionalism, objectivity, and a clear appreciation of the unique complexities of policing a diverse nation such as our own,” the IGP said.
He stated that if properly designed and effectively implemented, state policing holds significant potential benefits for the country.
“By bringing law enforcement closer to communities, state police institutions can deepen local knowledge of security dynamics and enable quicker and more targeted responses to emerging threats,” he added.
The committee is expected to review existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assess community security needs and emerging risks, and propose an operational framework for the establishment and coordination of state police structures.
It will also address issues relating to recruitment, training, standards and resource allocation, as well as develop accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and public trust.
The panel is chaired by Olu Ogunsakin, with Bode Ojajuni as secretary. Other members are Emmanuel Ojukwu, Okebechi Agora, Suleyman Gulma, Ikechukwu Okafor and Tolulope Ipinmisho.
Disu said the committee had about four weeks to conclude its assignment and submit a comprehensive report.
The move marks one of the first major steps taken by the new police chief since his appointment and confirmation a few days ago.
The development comes amid rising security concerns across the country, with several stakeholders advocating state policing as part of measures to tackle insecurity.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier asked the National Assembly to commence the process of amending relevant laws to pave the way for the creation of state police.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday swore in Olatunji Disu as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Disu took the oath of office at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The President also administered the oath of office to six commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and two commissioners of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
The ceremonies were witnessed by ministers, senior government officials and family members of the appointees.
The council meeting began shortly after the swearing-in.
In attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs EsthMrs.Walson-Jack.
Disu was appointed acting IGP on February 25, 2026, by President Tinubu, following the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
His appointment was subsequently endorsed by the Nigeria Police Council (NPC).
The former Assistant Inspector-General of Police assumed office last Wednesday.
He previously served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, after his promotion to the rank last year.
A former head of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Disu has pledged to deliver accountable, modern and professional policing.
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