Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The establishment of the Oluyole Free Trade Zone in Oyo State represents a significant step toward industrialisation and economic diversification in Nigeria. During the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement between the Oyo State Government and Euro FMCG Universal Beverages Limited, Governor Seyi Makinde stated that the project would become a model of excellence, innovation, and shared prosperity. The initiative is designed to generate thousands of employment opportunities, promote value creation, and stimulate long-term economic transformation within the state. The governor emphasised his administration’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment through infrastructural development, improved ease of doing business, and policies that encourage private sector participation. The first phase of the project, known as the CGM-Oluyole Free Trade Zone, covers 500 hectares and is expected to attract domestic and foreign investments, expand industrial capacity, and enhance export-led growth. Representatives of Euro FMCG Universal Beverages Limited expressed confidence in the state’s investment climate and pledged immediate commencement of operations. The project, located along the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road corridor, is expected to increase state revenue, facilitate exports, and strengthen Oyo State’s position as a leading industrial and investment destination in Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with its National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, despite a Federal High Court ruling restraining the exercise. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed reports of the convention's postponement as false and politically motivated, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to destabilise the opposition and create conditions for a one-party state. However, a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the convention, citing a judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja and emphasizing adherence to the rule of law pending the outcome of an appeal. The controversy has been intensified by conflicting court decisions, as an Oyo State High Court granted an ex parte order permitting the convention to proceed. The crisis has further exposed divisions within the PDP's leadership, including disputes over the legitimacy of meetings and concerns over security at the party's national secretariat. The convention, expected to elect new national officers and reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, has become a critical test of the PDP's unity, internal democracy, and capacity to manage legal and political challenges.