A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged President Bola Tinubu not to be distracted by the tactics of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oyintiloye advised the President to focus on governance and tackle head-on security threats identified by security agencies.

The APC chieftain made the call while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, against the backdrop of a recent intelligence alert by the Department of State Service, DSS, over possible attacks on vulnerable locations, especially in the southern part of the country.

“The President must urgently support security agencies to intensify surveillance, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and take proactive measures to safeguard lives and property amid emerging security concerns.

“Security agencies should be reinforced through heightened vigilance, improved intelligence gathering and coordinated preventive action nationwide,” he said.

The former lawmaker also called on all relevant security agencies to work closely together, share intelligence and strengthen surveillance and rapid response mechanisms.

He urged increased security around schools, places of worship, NYSC facilities, parks, garages and other vulnerable locations, especially with schools in session.

The APC chieftain also called for an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation into the recent killings in Osun State.

He urged security agencies to identify all persons suspected to have participated in, sponsored or facilitated the violence and ensure that anyone against whom sufficient evidence was established was prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He appealed to all stakeholders, including transport workers, community leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders, to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist investigations and prevent further violence.

“Security should be strengthened through intelligence, adequate training, equipment and resources to enable security agencies to forestall, prevent, detect and respond effectively to attacks by armed groups.

“If necessary, service chiefs should review and adjust their operational strategies without hesitation, as time is of the essence,” he added.

He also called on state governors to complement the President’s efforts by providing adequate support and resources to security agencies within their jurisdictions.

While acknowledging the President’s constitutional role as Chief Security Officer of the nation, Oyintiloye emphasised that governors and local government chairmen are closer to the grassroots and must take proactive measures to strengthen local intelligence and maintain peace.

He stressed that no nation could achieve meaningful development in an atmosphere of insecurity, noting that economic growth, infrastructure development, investment, and social services thrive only in a peaceful environment.

“A nation with a strong and effective security system is better positioned for accelerated development, economic prosperity, and sustainable social services,” he said.

He urged citizens to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and useful information, and continue to pray for peace, unity, and progress in the country.

The festival, organised in collaboration with the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, NACOFTAN, will be held under the theme, “Coffee Sustainability and Empowerment: Focusing on Women and Youth Development,” with emphasis on skills development, community development and job creation.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Mrs. Blessing Nanman, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, saying the event would bring together coffee stakeholders, investors and international participants to explore opportunities in farming, processing, packaging, marketing and export.

“Farmers have gone to work. Some processors are already at the verge of breaking through. This is the time where we want to invite all investors, partners and international organisations to support us in the coffee industry,” Nanman said.

She said the maiden edition attracted participants from different countries, while the 2026 festival is expected to draw representatives from about 30 countries. According to her, the event would further define opportunities within the coffee value chain and encourage local consumption of coffee.

Nanman said Lingzhi Global was also expanding its coffee business through the establishment of coffee shops, noting that the outlets had become platforms where communities, families and people from different backgrounds could connect over coffee.

She said Cross River was selected to host the second edition because of its potential for coffee production and the state government’s efforts to expand cultivation through the distribution of millions of coffee seedlings.

Speaking on the forthcoming festival, Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, commended Lingzhi Global for its role in promoting coffee and tea development in the state and for working with stakeholders to strengthen the sector.

He said the company had contributed efforts to improve farmers’ access to seedlings, knowledge and markets, describing its partnership with the state as important to the development of the coffee value chain.

“We are pleased to be collaborating with Lingzhi Global, organisers of the International Coffee Festival, and NACOFTAN,” Ebokpo said.

The commissioner said the festival would give Cross River greater visibility as a coffee-producing destination while creating opportunities for women and young people to participate in the industry.

“This is also an opportunity for us to use the festival as a platform to create jobs for our people, particularly women and youths, while providing them with opportunities to learn more and develop their skills,” he said.

Ebokpo said the coffee industry extends beyond farming to processing, packaging and export, stressing that young people could create businesses and develop their own brands by participating in different stages of the value chain.

He said Cross River has about 23,000 square kilometres of arable land suitable for coffee development and has the agro-ecological advantage of producing both Arabica and Robusta varieties. He added that the state plans to distribute at least 30 million coffee seedlings over five years.

President of NACOFTAN, Dr. Hassan Usman, said the festival would provide an opportunity for Nigerian stakeholders to exchange knowledge and technology with international players in the coffee industry.

“The Coffee Festival is not only Nigerian in inclusion, but international. We have people coming from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya and all the countries. The globe will be around with us,” Usman said.

Usman also commended Lingzhi Global for taking stakeholders across the country and beyond to gain knowledge in coffee processing and marketing, saying the company had played a critical role in connecting Nigerian stakeholders with international opportunities.

He said stakeholders would use the gathering to strategise on strengthening the coffee value chain and changing the narrative around coffee production in Nigeria, while calling for greater participation from government agencies, investors and other stakeholders.

The 2026 Coffee Festival International Nigeria is expected to bring together farmers, processors, roasters, investors, experts and other stakeholders from Nigeria and abroad for three days of knowledge-sharing, networking and promotion of the coffee industry.