₦airaland Forum

The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Albalawi, says Saudi airlines will resume flight operations between Jeddah and Abuja in June 2026 or by January 2027.

Mr Albalawi disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in Abuja.

He said the visit was aimed at strengthening existing relations between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, as well as expanding cooperation in economic, political and security sectors.

“Also, we will continue to serve all Nigerian people who want to go for Umrah and Hajj,” he said.

He added that he would work with the ministry and the media to address misinformation about Saudi Arabia and project a more accurate image of the country.

“We share the same values and also have a historical relationship with Nigeria,” he added.

Responding, Mr Idris said the visit underscored the importance Saudi Arabia attaches to Nigeria’s Ministry of Information and National Orientation and reaffirmed the existing relationship between both countries.

He said the Nigerian government is willing to deepen collaboration with Saudi Arabia, particularly in the economic and security sectors.

According to the minister, the federal government has endorsed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) proposed by the Saudi government.

One of the agreements focuses on cooperation in news exchange between the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and the Saudi Press Agency.

Another MoU covers collaboration in radio and television broadcasting between the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority.

The third agreement involves cooperation in audiovisual media between Saudi Arabia’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media and Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Mr Idris highlighted that a follow-up meeting between him and his Saudi counterpart would soon be held to further strengthen the implementation of the agreements.

The Nigerians Government has again, countered claims of genocide against Christian in the country.

Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who was reacting to reports of religious persecution submitted to the US President Donald Trump by congressman, Riley Moore said there is no religious persecution in Nigeria.

The report filed by the US House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs, followed months of investigation conducted in Nigeria.

The report outlined findings on alleged persecution of Christians and broader extremist violence against those who believe in Christ Jesus.

In a statement, the Minister said, “It is important to state clearly that Nigeria does not have, and has never had, a state policy of religious persecution.

“The violence being confronted by our security agencies is not driven by government policy or religious bias, but by complex security threats, including terrorism, organised criminality, and longstanding communal tensions.

“Nigeria values its longstanding and strategic partnership with the United States. Our two countries share common interests in promoting security, economic development, and regional stability.

“We remain open to constructive dialogue and cooperation rooted in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and recognition of Nigeria’s constitutional framework and sovereignty.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima says the naira would have appreciated to ₦1,000 in “weeks” if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had not intervened in the foreign exchange (FX) market on Monday to ensure market stability.

He confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria had to intervene on Monday by mopping up excess dollars to stabilize the Naira.
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Shettima said this on Tuesday at the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit in Abuja.

“In fact, if not for the interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria yesterday, the 1,000 Naira to a dollar we are going to attain in weeks, not in months. But for the purpose of market stability, the CBN generously intervened yesterday.

“So, for some of my friends, especially one of our party leaders who take delight in stockpiling dollars, it is a wake-up call,” the vice president said.

“Our economy is picking up. Of the seven major investment decisions made last year in Africa, five were done in Nigeria. That goes to show the strength, viability, and the promise of the Nigerian economy. And as we advance into 2026, our focus shifts from stabilization to acceleration.”

Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro , has shared his views on why President Bola Tinubu lost Lagos in the 2023 presidential election.

Obanikoro who spoke during an interview with Vanguard on Monday, February 23, 2026.

He said several political factors worked against Tinubu during the election period. According to him, although party supporters made strong efforts during the campaign, some issues shaped how voters made their choices.

The former senator pointed to the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as one of the reasons behind the outcome.

He explained that it was the first time such a ticket was presented at the national level in Nigeria. He said many Nigerians were used to seeing a balance between Muslims and Christians on presidential tickets. When that pattern changed, it created concerns among some voters.

Obanikoro noted that Lagos has a large Christian population. He described the state as a major base for many Christian organisations in the country.

He said several churches and religious groups have their headquarters in Lagos or in nearby areas. Because of this, he said religion became an important topic during the election in the state.

He stated that some voters were worried that having candidates from the same religion at the top level could affect religious balance in leadership.

According to him, Nigerian politics has for many years followed an informal arrangement where both major religions are represented in key positions. When this long-standing pattern was altered, it led to different reactions from parts of the electorate.

"Asiwaju lost Lagos for so many reasons, not because some of us did not try our best. One, don’t forget that it was a Muslim/Muslim ticket. That was the first time that we had such in Nigeria.

Two, Lagos, whether you like it or not, is the capital of the Christian religious groups in Nigeria. All these religious associations or religious groups are all headquartered in Lagos or outskirts of Lagos, and they have a huge population.

The decision was taken because they felt threatened that a Muslim/Muslim ticket would reduce the Christians to second class citizens in Nigeria because that had never happened before.

What we were accustomed to before then was a faith-balanced ticket. If a Muslim heads, a Christian is second. Where a Christian is the head of the ticket, a Muslim would be the second. So that is what we were accustomed to, and it became the norm, like a tradition.

So anytime you want to create a shock in a system like that, you are going to have the kind of reaction that we saw at that time. So, like I said, there were many factors, including the one I just mentioned".

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has slammed broadcast journalist, Rufai Oseni, over alleged irregularities in the recent area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Oseni, in a post via 𝕏, raised concerns about discrepancies in the election results involving the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In response, Onanuga accused Oseni of spreading falsehoods and harbouring pathological hatred for the ruling party, driven by a desire to please the ‘mob’ following him.

He defended the integrity of the result sheet cited by Oseni, stating that it clearly indicated the total votes recorded at the polling unit and that the APC’s votes were consistent with the overall tally.

Onanuga further defended Bola Tinubu’s presidency, stressing that God gave him power.

He wrote, “Arise TV should be ashamed of you. Because you want to please the mob that follows you, you are always eager to publish any nonsense, even when clearly so.

“The result sheet you singled out for your mischief spelt out the APC votes. It showed the total votes recorded at the polling unit. And the votes recorded for APC was not at variance with the total score.

I expect you to have outgrown your pathological hatred for our party, since May 2023, when Almighty God gave power to President Tinubu.”

President Bola Tinubu has described wife of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajiya Aisha Buhari as an “Amazon” and a courageous, principled woman in a birthday message marking her 55th birthday.

In a statement issued by the Statehouse on Monday, Tinubu said Hajiya Buhari was unafraid to stand alone on matters that reflect her values and ideals.

The statement read, “I join the family and friends of Hajiya Aisha Buhari to congratulate her on her 55th birthday. 55 is a significant milestone, and I celebrate with the former First Lady on this occasion.

“Hajiya Buhari is an Amazon, a courageous and principled woman. She is not afraid to stand alone on matters bordering on her values and ideals. She is as ever certain as the North Star; a woman for all seasons."

The President commended the former First Lady for her humanitarian work through the Aisha Buhari Foundation.

He noted that she has championed the rights of women and children while providing support to numerous families.

“Through her foundation, the Aisha Buhari Foundation, she has upheld the rights of women and children and provided succour to many families.

“She is a voice for the unheard and the forgotten, championing causes that preserve family values and human dignity,” the statement added.

Tinubu further expressed gratitude for her contributions to the nation and praised her resilience and discipline, wishing her continued good health and happiness.

“I thank Hajiya Buhari for her contributions to our nation. And I commend her resilience and discipline.

“I wish her a happy 55th birthday, and I pray that God Almighty continue to keep her and her family in good health,” he said.

Hajiya Buhari has remained active in philanthropy and advocacy for vulnerable groups since leaving the presidential villa.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims that voters were migrated to new polling units during Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement signed by its Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, the Commission stated categorically that no voter was moved from their original polling unit.

INEC explained that what it implemented ahead of Saturday’s election was the creation of split polling units in locations with more than 1,250 registered voters in order to reduce congestion on election day.

According to the Commission, the split units were situated only a few meters away from the original polling units within the same premises.

The Commission recalled that it displayed the Register of Voters at designated centres and split polling units four days before the election to enable voters confirm their details and polling unit locations.

It also disclosed that text messages and emails were sent to affected voters between February 18 and February 21 as reminders indicating the locations of their split polling units.

INEC acknowledged that some voters experienced challenges locating their designated polling units on election day. According to its Election Operations Dashboard, 45 per cent of polling units had opened as of 8:30am, while all units were confirmed open by 10:00am.

While expressing concern over voter apathy, the Commission noted an improvement in turnout compared to the 2022 Area Council elections. It said over 239,210 voters participated in the 2026 poll, representing about 15 per cent of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT, compared to 148,685 voters or 9.4 per cent recorded in 2022.

The Commission further explained that the delay in announcing results for Kuje Area Council, which were declared at 3:30pm on Sunday, was due to the difficult terrain of Kabi ward that slowed final collation.

INEC appreciated residents of the FCT for their peaceful conduct and cooperation throughout the electoral process.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised some journalists and opposition figures for allegedly presenting their personal opinions as the views of Nigerians.

In a post on X on Thursday, Keyamo described the practice as “amusing,” questioning how such individuals could claim to speak for “the Nigerian people.”

In a post shared on X this morning, Keyamo took a swipe at the dissenting voices.

He wrote ‘’It is amusing to see how some journalists and core opposition characters, posing as ‘activists’, continually express their own deep-seated biases as the wishes of ‘the Nigerian people’. How and where did they aggregate the views of ‘the Nigerian people’?

Perhaps, by ‘the Nigerian people’, they are referring to those usual suspects who gather at the entrance of the National Assembly and pose for cameras; or the 15 Senators who voted against the majority of 94 Senators; or the less that 25 Rep members who walked out on the majority of over 300 Rep members; or those vocal few who hop from one TV station to the next everyday; or those who gather under the comment section on social media and vent their spleen - just how did they aggregate the views of ‘the Nigerian people’?

Nigerians should be alert as we enter an election season. Some journalists and almost every so-called ‘neutral’ commentator or activist you see or hear in the media are all working for one interest or the other; they just don’t have the guts to come out with their full chest to openly support the political party or candidate for which or whom they are working.''

The Federal government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has released the first trench of the Copyright Levy under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022, in the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Naira, Twenty Kobo (N1,205,956,580.20) for musical works and sound recordings.

MCSN, in a statement, thanked President Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, and the DG of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, Dr. John Ohi Asein in ensuring that the said money was released to MCSN.

The collecting body said the roles played by the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation are highly noted and greatly valued.

The statement further noted that the payment falls on all fours with the renewed hope agenda of the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to make the creative industry a very viable sector in the Nigerian economy.

The copyright levy has been one of the legal provisions of Copyright Laws in Nigeria since 1988, but never been implemented until President Bola Tinubu came into power.

“This is not politics but economic reality. The copyright levy has been part of Nigeria’s copyright laws since 1988, but had never been implemented until now.”

MCSN assured that the eventual disbursement of the fund will certainly reach the grassroots and every Nigerian creator, no matter where they are located, in order to begin to actually lift the poor musicians out of deep poverty.

MCSN said the funds would be disbursed to reach musicians and rights holders at the grassroots, adding that the intervention was aimed at lifting struggling creators out of poverty and extending copyright benefits beyond major urban centres.

The society also responded to criticisms from industry groups, saying that some interests had, for decades, undermined efforts to build an effective copyright system in Nigeria.

“We are not unaware of the grumblings of certain interests fronting some Nigerian entities to continue with the unprofitable actions of more than 30 years, to hold down the progress of the Nigerian music industry. They have been operating under various guises, confusing the copyright system, thus preventing it from delivering the desired results to our creatives, particularly in the music industry.

“The latest of such antics is the one being peddled by Record Labels Proprietors Initiative (RELPI), which is falsely campaigning that they represent sound recording owners, without properly defining their status and interests.

“For a start, sound recordings are a shared interest between record producers and performers (performing musicians) whose performances were recorded. The rights in sound recordings are normally shared between the producers and performers, in certain territories at the ratio of 50% a-piece.

“In Nigeria, most performers (performing musicians) whose performances were recorded in albums are direct members and assignors of MCSN, vis-à-vis many independent record producers and label owners. These are the real owners of sound recordings in Nigeria”.

MCSN also noted that the Performing Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), which is the only legally recognised union/association of performing musicians and employers of musicians (including recording producers and labels), has a subsisting agreement with MCSN, with which MCSN represents the copyright interests of all performers and producers in Nigeria.

Every country determines how intellectual property, particularly copyright, is protected within its territories in line with relevant international, bilateral, and multilateral conventions and treaties. Nigeria is not an exception, as it has in place its law, the Copyright Act 2022, under which copyright in seven or eight categories of works/rights are protected within the Nigerian economy and market.

“RELPI, based on their public statement and publication, consists of only 9 entities, namely: Mavin Record, Chocolate City, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), Premier Records, Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME), Warner Music Group (WMG), Digital Music Commerce & Exchange (DMCE), and Hypertek Digital.

“These entities are mostly foreign-interest dominated who mostly operate within the collective management system in their various home countries. The collective management systems in their various home countries, particularly UMG, WMG, and SME, are operating very well with these entities as members, either as publishers or producers.

“Coming to Nigeria, they are presenting the picture that nothing good works in Nigeria, without taking any step to support what the government is building through the MCSN, AVRS, and REPRONIG; the three collective management organisations (CMOs) operating in Nigeria. Lifting the veil a bit more, certain members of RELPI are agents or lawyers acting as agents of certain of these foreign entities, and as agents, they are merely fighting to protect and sustain their expected commission.

In all, the activities and campaigns of RELPI are for the foreign entities to take over the Nigerian creative market using the back door, through the cover of copyright ownership. This most certainly is against the fundamental national interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is also against the policy of the African Union, which is working towards making and establishing strong CMOs in its member countries,” the statement revealed.

MCSN noted further that virtually all the entities in RELPI are members of CMOs, namely ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, SACEM, and SAMRO, all in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, and South Africa, to mention a few.

In line with international norms and best practices, MCSN will administer the rights of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, SACEM, SAMRO, etc. in Nigeria and remit the appropriate royalties to them after deducting the appropriate taxes for the Nigerian government.

This is one key area that the people in RELPI are apparently not considering. No Nigerian, not even RELPI, can go to the USA, UK, Kenya, or South Africa to dictate to the government of those countries on how they should run their copyright system. Nigeria will not give room to this.

The Nigerian government, in line with its obligation under the Berne Convention and WIPO Copyright Treaty, enacted the Copyright Act 2022 under which MCSN was licensed and approved to collectively manage the rights in musical works and sound recordings, aside from other separate organisations for other classes of works/rights. Doing otherwise will most certainly leave the system in another round of chaos.

The statement added that every discerning Nigerian author, composer, publisher, performer, and producer of music is aligned with MCSN for the collective administration of their copyright.

The collective management system is the only viable avenue through which the Nigerian Government can effectively administer and enforce copyright, including the copyright levy scheme.

RELPI, on the other hand, has opted out of the collective management system. Can RELPI, in all good conscience, now want to benefit from the same system it has opted out of?.

“We want to state that with the benefit of hindsight of more than 30 years, the current Copyright Act 2022 and its implementation by the Nigerian Copyright Commission and Federal Ministry of Justice, have brought sanity and progress to the copyright system, particularly in the collective management of copyright.

“This has effectively reduced, if not outrightly eliminated, the confusion that has bedevilled the music industry for more than three decades, particularly concerning getting users of music and its related products to respect the right granted to musical works and sound recordings by law, by paying due royalties.

“Since this is an issue deep in legal implications, we will limit our public reaction for now and concentrate on the work at hand”, the statement concluded.


PMAN commends FG

In a statement signed by PMAN President, Pretty Okafor, “PMAN specially commends MCSN—especially Mr. Mayowa Ayilaran (CEO MCSN) for their public communication and for the diligence it has demonstrated in advancing the collective administration of rights within the Nigerian music sector.

“We also formally appreciate and commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the policy direction and administrative resolve that has made this first release possible.

PMAN acknowledges the roles of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr. John O. Asein, Director-General Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and all relevant public institutions whose efforts contributed to the emergence of this milestone.

“In PMAN’s view, the practical implementation of the levy scheme represents a meaningful step towards building a stronger creative economy consistent with the national agenda for economic growth and improved welfare for citizens working in the entertainment sector.”

Continuing, he stated, “that the Copyright Levy is not a new invention of industry actors, nor is it a discretionary “gift” that can be administered without law. It is a statutory scheme expressly provided for under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022, which contemplates a levy on materials used or capable of being used to infringe copyright.

“The significance of this provision is straightforward: it reflects a deliberate legislative policy that recognises the realities of copying and reproduction in modern markets and creates a mechanism—through lawful collection and disbursement—to compensate right owners whose works are exploited.

The levy framework also establishes that the relevant regulatory institutions of state, particularly the NCC, have statutory functions in relation to the administration of copyright and the disbursement ecosystem contemplated by the law.

What matters most to PMAN is that the system is implemented with clarity, transparency, and strict accountability so that the intended beneficiaries—especially grassroots performers—can see measurable, verifiable outcomes.”

PMAN further notes, as a matter of important institutional history, “that PMAN has not merely observed these reforms from the sidelines. On 1 July 2020, PMAN—under the leadership of President Pretty Okafor—entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.

That MOU was designed to strengthen cooperation around licensing compliance, enforcement support, and the practical protection of performing musicians’ rights.”

The body also noted that this agreement has helped to further cement and safeguard the rights and welfare interests of performing musicians within the evolving collective management landscape in Nigeria.

“The purpose of such collaboration is not symbolism; it is to ensure that the protection of performers’ rights moves beyond theory into real-world outcomes—namely, improved compliance by users of music, enhanced royalty culture, and better economic conditions for the people who create and perform the music Nigerians enjoy every day,” he added.

He also pointed out that “this is the moment for Nigeria to make a broader and more deliberate commitment to the entertainment sector, as the music industry is not merely a cultural expression; but a serious economic asset—one that sustains thousands of livelihoods, exports Nigerian identity globally, attracts tourism and investment, and creates opportunities for young Nigerians.

When intellectual property systems are properly built and consistently enforced, the sector becomes more investable, more professional, and better structured to deliver jobs, taxes, and national prestige.”

In view of the above, PMAN therefore calls on the government, regulators, private sector stakeholders, and the general public to continue to support the Nigerian music industry, not only through commendable policy actions, but also through practical commitments that strengthen institutions, improve compliance by commercial users of music, and expand the welfare impact of copyright-driven revenues across all states of the federation.

“He further stated that “PMAN remains firmly committed to transparency and accountability in the administration of creators’ earnings and in all processes that touch the welfare of performers.

The credibility of any collection and disbursement system will always rest on public confidence, open governance, and verifiable accounting.

PMAN will therefore continue to play its responsible role in supporting lawful initiatives that protect performers, encourage compliance, and promote the stability of the entertainment ecosystem, while urging all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue, respect due process, and avoid actions that undermine the long-term growth of Nigerian creativity.”

Finally, PMAN commends MCSN on the announcement and thanks President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria for demonstrating the political will to advance the creative economy through the implementation of lawful frameworks, even as it looks forward to a sustained progress that reaches the grassroots and meaningfully improves the welfare of Nigerian performing musicians nationwide.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has firmly rejected suggestions in some quarters that there is no distinction between the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the Yoruba nation campaigner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

In a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday, Dare maintained that there is “no basis for comparison” between the two figures, stressing that their actions, methods and consequences are fundamentally different.

Dare argued that Kanu, who was recently convicted on terrorism charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja and is serving a life sentence, engaged in insurrection and armed confrontation against the Nigerian state.

He said this resulted in the deaths of more than 700 innocent people and triggered economic paralysis across the South-East.

By contrast, Dare contended that Igboho’s activism was centred on defending communities in the South-West against criminal activities attributed to rogue herders, alongside peaceful agitation for a Yoruba nation.

According to the statement: “Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB movement involved elements widely associated with insurrection and direct confrontation against the Nigerian state.”

“This included enforcement of ‘sit-at-home’ orders (often through threats and violence), resulting in numerous deaths (reports cite over 700 fatalities linked to enforcement clashes and defiance killings).”

“Other inimical activities include attacks on security forces, destruction of public infrastructure, and the formation of armed groups like ESN.

“Kanu’s rhetoric and actions escalated to calls that many viewed as inciting violence against the state and even against his own people in the South East who defied orders.”

The statement continued: “In contrast, Sunday Igboho’s activism centered on defending Yoruba communities, primarily against alleged killings, kidnappings, and farm destructions by suspected herders. He focused on self-defense, warding off criminal elements from Yoruba land.”

“Igboho also deployed peaceful agitation for Yoruba self-determination/Oduduwa Nation without establishing a militia to fight the Nigerian military, without ordering attacks on police/soldiers, and without imposing paralysing enforcement measures like sit-at-home orders that harmed civilians or the economy in his region.”

“The line is clear: one crossed into armed rebellion and violent enforcement that affected (and sometimes harmed) his own ethnic group, while the other remained largely defensive and localised against perceived external threats, without the same level of state-targeted insurgency.”

“Public discourse should stop equating the two; the contexts, methods, and consequences are fundamentally different,” he said

Reno Omokri, a former special assistant on new media to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan , has asserted that "even Peter Obi's bank is a testament to how well President Bola Tinubu is running the Nigerian economy.

In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) page on Tuesday, February 17, titled 'How President Tinubu Made Peter Obi a Very Wealthy Man', Omokri said Obi, a former governor of Anambra State , "owes much of his wealth" to President Tinubu.

Omokri: Tinubu enriched Peter Obi

Omokri wrote on X : From breaking news to viral moments. Follow Legit.ng on Instagram.

"Yesterday (Monday, February 16), in a podcast, Peter Obi was boasting about his wealth. Yes, Mr Obi is rich. But what he did not tell Nigerians during that broadcast is that he owes much of his wealth to President Bola Tinubu. And I will prove it to you.

In 2022, before President Tinubu was elected, Peter Obi's bank earned ₦337.1 billion for the whole year. But in just the first six months of 2025, that same bank earned ₦748.7 billion. Not the whole year. Just the first six months of 2025.

They are expected to earn ₦1.5 trillion by the time their full-year 2025 earnings are released. This is even as the total market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange stood at ₦27.915 trillion on December 30, 2022. Today, it is ₦122 trillion.

Almost five times what it was before President Tinubu was elected."

He continued:

"Additionally, in just two years, President Tinubu added $67 billion to Nigeria's GDP, moving us from a ₦269.29 trillion economy on May 29, 2023, when he became President, to ₦372.8 trillion today.

Do not forget that President Tinubu inherited a huge debt burden of $113 billion, and has reduced it to $97 billion, which may be why The Economist Magazine reported last month that Nigeria's "golden years" are likely to return due to President Tinubu's reforms, and the IMF listed Nigeria as the sixth-largest contributor to the rise in global GDP in 2025, a fact celebrated by Elon Musk, the world's richest man."

The former presidential aide concluded:

"So, you can see that even Peter Obi's bank is a testament to how well President Bola Tinubu is running the Nigerian economy. That's why he is smiling and showing his full 32 in this photo.

Asiwaju has done him well! Both Nigeria and Obi could not have made such monies if Obi was President. So, next time he posts on social media, de-marketing Nigeria and badmouthing the President, remind him that his personal wealth has increased by a factor of five due to what the International Monetary Fund described as the economic efficiency of the Tinubu administration."

Former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Monday night, February 12, detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja following hours of interrogation linked to an alleged N432 billion corruption investigation.

El-Rufai, a senior figure in the African Democratic Congress, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi around 10am after honouring an invitation from the anti-graft agency.

He was questioned over allegations contained in a 2024 report by the Kaduna state House of Assembly, which accused his administration of financial misconduct between 2015 and 2023.

A senior EFCC official confirmed that the investigation had been ongoing for months.

“The commission has been investigating him for about a year now. As a commission, we don’t just rush to invite suspects. Persons accused are always the last; that is after we might have done our investigation to an advanced stage,” the source said.

The official added, “We are investigating him on the allegations against him by the Kaduna State Assembly.”

Asked whether El-Rufai would be released on Monday night, the source replied,

“He is still in our custody and wouldn’t be released today (Monday).”

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the former governor honoured the invitation but declined to comment on the substance of the interrogation or next steps.


Assembly report alleges large-scale financial irregularities

The EFCC probe stems from findings by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which reviewed loans, contracts and financial transactions under El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure.

Presenting the report in 2024, the committee chairman, Henry Zacharia, alleged that several loans obtained by the state were either misapplied or diverted. The Speaker of the House, Yusuf Dahiru Leman, subsequently claimed that about N423 billion was siphoned during the period, leaving the state with a heavy debt burden.

The lawmakers recommended criminal investigation and prosecution of the former governor and some of his aides over alleged abuse of office, contract violations, diversion of funds, money laundering and reckless borrowing. Petitions were forwarded to both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Beyond the headline figure, the report also referenced disputed payments and contracts exceeding N155 million, the alleged diversion of N1.37 billion meant for a light rail project and suspected laundering of N64.8 million by senior officials.

El-Rufai has repeatedly rejected the allegations, insisting they are politically motivated and maintaining that all loans were lawfully approved and deployed for infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.

FG files cybercrime charges

While EFCC questioning was ongoing, the Federal Government filed criminal charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

Prosecutors alleged that El-Rufai admitted during a television interview on February 13, 2026, that he and others unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone calls.

In one of the counts, the charge stated that El-Rufai “did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.”

No date had been fixed for his arraignment as of press time.

Television comments trigger security backlash

The charges followed El-Rufai’s appearance on ARISE TV, where he claimed he became aware of plans to arrest him through leaked conversations from the NSA’s phone.

“Ribadu made the call, because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they are the only ones who listen to calls. But we also have our ways. He made the call, he gave the order that they should arrest me.

“That technically is illegal. I know, but the government does it all the time. They listen to our calls all the time without a court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order,” he said.

The remarks provoked strong reactions from security and political circles. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, accused El-Rufai of attempting to inflame tensions and distract from corruption allegations in Kaduna State, describing the comments as an effort to “create political tension in the country”.


DSS reopens Dadiyata disappearance investigation

In a parallel development, the Department of State Services (DSS) reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a government critic and lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma.

Security sources said El-Rufai and his sons were being probed in connection with the case. One source disclosed that the former governor’s passport had been seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to prevent foreign travel.

“The DSS has reopened the case of the 2019 disappearance in Kaduna of a renowned government critic, Abubakar Idris, better known as Dadiyata,” the source said.

Another official said investigators were reviewing social media posts made by El-Rufai’s sons following Dadiyata’s disappearance, adding that they would be invited for questioning.

El-Rufai has consistently denied any involvement, stating that he neither knew Dadiyata personally nor had a motive to target him.

The Anambra State Government has again sealed shops belonging to traders in markets around Onitsha and its environs for failing to open on Monday.

DAILY POST gathered that most of the sealed shops were at the Building Materials Market, Ogidi, where traders did not open for business on Monday.

The state government, however, commended many traders who came to the market that day, especially those at the Electrical Parts Dealers Market, Obosi.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Markets, Evarist Uba, undertook a routine monitoring exercise to assess the level of compliance with the state government’s directive for markets to open on Mondays.

During the tour, Uba reported that a substantial number of shops at the Electrical Parts Dealers Market, Obosi, were open for business on Monday, marking a notable departure from the prolonged weekly lockdowns that have stifled economic activities across the state.

He said, “The Obosi Electrical Parts Market is a key hub for electrical components in the Southeast, and I’m happy to see a significant level of activity.

“The government is intentionally building a state that embraces productivity.

The government of Anambra State, under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, is highly impressed by the courage and patriotism displayed by the electrical parts dealers in Obosi, as 80 percent of the market is open.

“Their decision to open their shops is a clear testament to their faith in the government’s efforts to restore peace and their commitment to the economic prosperity of the state.”


At the Building Materials Market, Ogidi, some shops that were under lock and key were sealed by the state government. The Special Adviser commended those who complied and warned that the sealed shops would remain closed for two weeks.

Leaders of the markets who spoke during the tour expressed their support for the government’s stance.

The Chairman of the Electrical Parts Dealers Association, Obosi, Chike Onunkwo, and Chief Jude Nwankwo, President of the International Building Materials Market, Ogidi, praised the enhanced security provided by the state.

They pointed out that the government has shown commitment and, as such, traders must play their part in rebuilding the state economy.

The monitoring committee comprised the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, AVM Ben Chiobi (rtd); and the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime.

The team also visited other major markets in Nnewi and Onitsha, among others, to monitor compliance with the government’s directive.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has disowned reports that certain disputed crude oil and gas wells have been recommended for ceding to specific oil-producing states, insisting that no such decision has been taken.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the commission, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, said the attention of RMAFC had been drawn to a “purported report allegedly issued by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Verification of Coordinates of Disputed Crude Oil and Gas Wells between States,” which was circulating in sections of the national media.

The commission said the report claimed that recommendations had already been made to cede certain oil wells to particular states. But it described the report as “misleading, premature, and does not represent the position or conclusions of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

“At this stage, there is no finalised recommendation or decision regarding the ceding or reallocation of any oil wells, as due institutional processes are still ongoing,” the statement read.

The commission explained that it operates a clearly defined and transparent procedure in handling assignments of national significance, stressing that the process on the disputed oil wells had not been concluded. It disclosed that it only received a draft report from the inter-agency committee on Friday, February 13, 2026.

“Consistent with established protocol, the draft document has been transmitted to relevant technical and statutory stakeholders, namely the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the National Boundary Commission, and the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, for detailed review, observations, and technical input,” the commission stated.

According to the statement, after the observations and recommendations of the agencies are received, the matter will be subjected to further scrutiny by the commission’s internal tripartite committees, comprising the Committee on Crude Oil, Gas and Investment and the Legal Matters Committee.

“These committees will undertake comprehensive technical and legal reviews before presenting their findings to the Plenary Session of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission for deliberation and final recommendations,” it added.

The commission further explained that upon completion of the institutional processes, its final report would be formally transmitted to the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation for necessary consideration and further action in line with applicable laws and constitutional provisions.

“In view of the above clearly established procedures, the Commission considers the report currently circulating in the media as speculative, inaccurate, and capable of misleading the public,” the statement read.

It therefore urged members of the public, stakeholders, and media organisations to disregard the purported report and await official communication from the commission upon completion of the statutory review process.

The RMAFC reiterated its commitment to transparency, due process, and the objective discharge of its constitutional mandate in the national interest.

The PUNCH earlier in January 2026 reported that RMAFC urged oil-producing states to fully cooperate in the ongoing exercise to resolve disputes over oil and gas wells by plotting verified coordinates. Chairman of the commission,

Mohammed Shehu, made the call in Abuja at the flag-off of the plotting of coordinates of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells, covering affected oil-producing states from January 26 to 30, 2026. Shehu said active participation by the states was critical to ensuring the exercise’s outcome was accepted by all parties.

“It is in respect of this development that I urge the representatives of the affected oil-producing states to actively participate while plotting the verified coordinates, so that the outcome would be acceptable to all,” he said.

He assured the states that the commission would remain impartial throughout the process.

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate moderated slightly to 15.10% in January 2026, down from 15.15% recorded in December 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The marginal decline of 0.05 percentage points suggests a continued slowdown in price pressures at the start of the year, following several months of easing inflation.

On a year-on-year basis, inflation dropped significantly compared to the same period last year. The January 2026 rate of 15.10% is 12.51 percentage points lower than the 27.61% recorded in January 2025.


What the data is saying

The report also showed a contraction in prices compared to the previous month. Inflation stood at –2.88% month on month in January 2026, compared to 0.54% in December 2025, representing a drop of 3.42 percentage points.
According to the NBS, this indicates that the general price level declined in January, meaning the average cost of goods and services fell relative to December.

Despite the recent easing, the broader inflation trend remains elevated. The percentage change in the average Consumer Price Index for the twelve months ending January 2026 was 21.97%, compared to the previous twelve-month period.

This represents a 4.37 percentage point increase from the 17.59% recorded in January 2025, showing that underlying price pressures over the past year remain significant.

Food inflation plunges

Food inflation, the largest component of household spending, fell sharply in January, providing the biggest relief to consumers.
On a year-on-year basis, food inflation stood at 8.89%, a steep drop of 20.73 percentage points from 29.63% recorded in January 2025.

Month on month, food prices declined further to –6.02%, compared to –0.36% in December 2025, representing a decrease of 5.66 percentage points.

The NBS attributed the decline to falling average prices of staple items, including water yam, eggs, green peas, groundnut oil, soya beans, palm oil, maize grains, guinea corn, beans, beef, melon (egusi), cassava tubers, and cowpeas.

The twelve-month average food inflation rate for the period ending January 2026 was 20.29%, significantly lower than the 38.47% recorded in January 2025, indicating sustained easing in food price pressures over the past year.

Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce and energy prices, stood at 17.72% year on year in January 2026, down by 7.55 percentage points from 25.27% recorded in January 2025.

On a month-on-month basis, core inflation declined to –1.69%, compared to 0.58% in December 2025, showing slower price increases in non-food items.

The twelve-month average core inflation rate was 22.84%, representing a 4.40 percentage point decline from 27.24% recorded in January 2025.

The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.

The disclosure by the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the planning, raises the stakes for the diplomacy underway between the United States and Iran.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will hold negotiations with Iran on Tuesday in Geneva, with representatives from Oman acting as mediators. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned on Saturday that while Trump's preference was to reach a deal with Tehran, "that’s very hard to do."

Meanwhile, Trump has amassed military forces in the region, raising fears of new military action.

U.S. officials said on Friday the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of waging attacks and defending against them.

Trump, speaking on Friday after a military event at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, openly floated the possibility of changing the government in Iran, saying it "seems like that would be the best thing that could happen." He declined to share who he wanted to take over Iran, but said, "there are people."

"For 47 years, they've been talking and talking and talking," Trump said.

Trump has long voiced skepticism about sending ground troops into Iran, saying last year, "the last thing you want to do is ground forces," and the kinds of U.S. firepower arrayed in the Middle East so far suggest options for strikes primarily by air and naval forces.

In Venezuela, Trump demonstrated a willingness to rely also on special operations forces to seize that country's president, Nicolas Maduro, in a raid last month.

Asked for comment on the preparations for a potentially sustained U.S. military operation, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said:

"President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran."

"He listens to a variety of perspectives on any given issue, but makes the final decision based on what is best for our country and national security," Kelly said.

The Pentagon declined to comment.

The United States sent two aircraft carriers to the region last year, when it carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

However, June's "Midnight Hammer" operation was essentially a one-off U.S. attack, with stealth bombers flying from the United States to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran staged a very limited retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar.

The planning under way this time is more complex, the officials said.

In a sustained campaign, the U.S. military could hit Iranian state and security facilities, not just nuclear infrastructure, one of the officials said. The official declined to provide specific details.

Experts say the risks to U.S. forces would be far greater in such an operation against Iran, which boasts a formidable arsenal of missiles. Retaliatory Iranian strikes also increase the risk of a regional conflict.

The same official said the United States fully expected Iran to retaliate, leading to back-and-forth strikes and reprisals over time.

The White House and Pentagon did not respond to questions about the risks of retaliation or regional conflict.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and crushing of internal dissent. On Thursday, he warned the alternative to a diplomatic solution would "be very traumatic, very traumatic."

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned that in case of strikes on Iranian territory, it could retaliate against any U.S. military base.

The U.S. maintains bases throughout the Middle East, including in Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Trump for talks in Washington on Wednesday, saying that if an agreement with Iran were reached, "it must include the elements that are vital to Israel."

Iran has said it is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions, but has ruled out linking the issue to missiles.

On Saturday, Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi said U.S. military intervention in Iran could save lives and urged Washington not to spend too long negotiating with Tehran's clerical rulers on a nuclear deal.

The exiled son of Iran's toppled shah told Reuters in an interview there were signs that the Iranian government was on the brink of collapse and that an attack could weaken it or accelerate its fall.

"We are hoping that this attack will expedite the process and the people can be finally back in the streets and take it all the way to the ultimate regime's downfall," said Pahlavi, who is based in the United States and has lived outside Iran since before his father was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Senior Nigerian military officials have denied reports that United States aircraft recently dropped weapons and equipment in Borno and Kaduna states to support the Armed Forces in combating terrorism and insecurity.

The claims, which circulated widely on social media last week, cited a report by The New York Times suggesting that three US military planes landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, with at least one offloading ammunition and other military equipment in Maiduguri, Borno State.

“These initial flights are the vanguard of what will be a stream of C-17 transport flights into three main locations across Nigeria,” a US Department of Defense official was quoted as saying.

However, when contacted for comment, senior sources at Defence Headquarters and the Army said they were unaware of any such deliveries. A source at the Army headquarters confirmed that no US aircraft landed in Kaduna or elsewhere last week.

From the theatre commands, another source clarified that the social media reports of arms being dropped in Borno were “fake and baseless.”

An airport official at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the aircraft that landed last Friday was a Max Air flight carrying Nigerian troops, not US planes.

The military also highlighted that, under ongoing bilateral agreements, Nigeria has received pledges for support from countries including the US, UK, and France. This includes intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and other combat enablers, separate from existing partnerships that have been ongoing for months.

The clarification comes amid heightened collaboration between Nigeria and the US on security, following which American forces reportedly launched operations against ISIS camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025.

Military authorities reaffirmed that efforts to combat terrorism and insecurity remain ongoing under coordinated strategies with international partners.

However, they stressed that reports of US aircraft dropping arms and equipment in Borno and Kaduna last week are inaccurate and unfounded.

Beijing’s scrapping of tariffs for all but one African country will start May 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday, according to state media.

China already has a zero-tariff policy for imports from 33 African countries, but Beijing said last year it would extend the policy to all 53 of its diplomatic partners on the continent.

China is Africa’s largest trading partner and a key backer of major infrastructure projects in the region through its vast “Belt and Road” initiative.

From May 1, zero levies will apply to all African countries except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

China claims the democratic island as its own and does not rule out using force to take it.

Many African countries are increasingly looking to China and other trading partners since US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs worldwide last year.

Xi said the zero-tariff deal “will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for African development”, announcing the date as leaders across the continent gathered in Ethiopia for the annual African Union summit.

The presidency has called for a full investigation into remarks by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over an alleged wire-tapping of the National Security Adviser’s phone line.

El-Rufai had alleged that he and some others listen to the telephone conversations of Mr Ribadu after an individual tapped the NSA’s phone.

He defended the legality of the phone interception, acknowledging that it is technically illegal but claiming,

“The government does it all the time.
They listen to our calls without a court order. But someone tapped his phone and told us that he gave the order.

Reacting on Friday shortly after El-Rufai’s interview on Arise TV, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential Spokesperson, raised concerns about the implications of the claim for national security.

“El-Rufai has confessed to wire-tapping Nigeria’s NSA on TV. Does it mean that he and his collaborators have wire-tapping facilities?” Onanuga queried.

He added that the issue should not be ignored, stressing the need for accountability.

“This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law,” the presidential spokesperson stated.

President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday embark on a one-day official visit to Kebbi State to inaugurate some projects executed by the state Governor, Dr Nasir Idris.

“While in the state, the President will also headline the 61st edition of the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as the special guest of honour,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated in a statement on Friday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu Embarks on One-Day Official Visit To Kebbi State.

The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is one of Nigeria’s most historic and celebrated cultural events, bringing together communities from across the nation and beyond to celebrate tradition, unity and the end of the farming season.

The festival is one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural events.

It is staged by the riverside of the historic Matan Fada, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It was first held in 1934 as a peace initiative between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom and has grown into a major tourism and cultural showcase.

Saturday’s trip is Tinubu’s first visit to Kebbi State.

In a year marked by economic turbulence, public unease, and post-reform hardship, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has emerged as a steady voice of compassion anchored in structure. Through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) — her signature social investment platform — she has transformed the Office of the First Lady into a vehicle of purposeful service. Her interventions have reached widows, students, the elderly, and persons with disabilities across the country.

RHI is not charity; it is a national network of compassion engineered with discipline. From Abia to Ebonyi, Benue to Niger, and beyond, its impact has been delivered with precision and consistency. For instance, the Initiative has empowered 20,000 rural women; aided 3,000 students with its Education Support, while its Elderly Support Fund has assisted 5,000 seniors with stipends, training, scholarships, and medical care. Across Nigeria, the results are measured not only in statistics, but in stories.

Grounded in faith, guided by purpose, and strengthened by partnership, Senator Tinubu represents a rare synthesis of conviction and compassion. Married to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she balances the weight of national leadership with family, humility, and service, proving that power, when exercised with discipline and empathy, can quietly but profoundly change lives.

Senator Remi Tinubu and other nominees will be celebrated for their outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to national development at the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony taking place on 12 February 2026 at the International Conference Centre.

It would be recalled that LEADERSHIP, in November 2025, unveiled its 2025 awardees.

According to the LEADERSHIP Board of editors, despite the country being on the brink of another election year, there was no winner for the Politician of the Year award.

Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) are the Governors of the Year.

The governors earned the award for “diligently focusing on the implementation of programmes and policies that transformed lives in their respective states.”

Governor Uzodimma jointly won the award for his transformative leadership, which is anchored in transparency, inclusive education, digital empowerment, infrastructure renewal, and security reform.

Governor Abdullahi Sule also won the Governor of the Year award for his visionary leadership anchored on industrialisation, infrastructure renewal, and human capital development, which has transformed Nasarawa into Nigeria’s emerging investment hub.

Governor Abiodun Oyebanji clinched the Governor of the Year 2025 award for his people-centred leadership that has transformed Ekiti State through inclusive governance.

Governor Dauda Lawal won the award for his unwavering commitment to restoring security, as well as his massive investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, which have repositioned Zamfara on the path of peace, progress, and sustainable development.

Governor Uba Sani emerged Governor of the Year 2025 for his inclusive and reconciliatory leadership that unites people across divides in Kaduna, while Governor Sheriff Oborevwori clinched the award for his visionary ‘MORE Agenda’ that has redefined governance in Delta State through peace, inclusion, and pragmatic reform.

According to the newspaper, Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, clinched the Legislator of the Year award for his exceptional record in lawmaking, representation and oversight.

The LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of the Year award was won by the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, for championing a new era of tax reform anchored on efficiency, transparency and service. The award was for a public servant(s) whose service delivery record and responsiveness made significant outcomes in the sector.

Thomas Etuh won the Business Person of the Year award for his visionary leadership in transforming Nigeria’s fertiliser and agribusiness sector.

The Banker of the Year Award went to the Managing Director/CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tony Okpanachi, for pioneering inclusive finance through innovation and integrity, and for empowering over 700,000 MSMEs.

Meanwhile, Providus Bank clinched the Bank of the Year award for contributing to digital transformation and driving innovation in financial services.

The Founder of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), won the Social Impact Person of the Year award for transforming conflict into cooperation, creating jobs, defending peace, and advancing social, cultural, and economic renewal in the Niger Delta.


The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was named Government Agency of the Year for expanding Nigeria’s enforcement frontiers and recovering over N10 billion for consumers.

The LEADERSHIP Environmental Impact Agency of the Year award went to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for championing sustainable industrialisation, renewable energy and climate-friendly technologies that reduce carbon emissions and promote clean power solutions.

Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) won the Oil and Gas Local Content Champion of the Year 2025 for pioneering the development and operation of Nigeria’s first onshore crude export terminal.

Other winners include Fintech Company of the Year, won by OPay for revolutionising digital finance through inclusion;

Product of the Year, Nestle’s Pure Life; and Company of the Year, Trade Modernisation Project.

Mrs Mabel Ijeoma Duaka and Dr Seidu Adebayo Bello jointly won the Primary Healthcare Model of the Year award,

while the Outstanding Young Person Award went to David Adeyemi for nurturing innovation, empathy and excellence by developing an AI-powered app that transforms access to education for visually impaired learners.

Nafisa Abdullahi Aminu clinched the Young College Person of the Year 2025 for her outstanding achievement in elevating Nigeria’s presence on the international academic stage.

This year, the Artiste of the Year award was clinched by the duo of Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, better known as Skales and Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke.

The LEADERSHIP Sports Person of the Year award went to Justine Madugu for guiding the Super Falcons to their record-breaking 10th WAFCON title.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2026 African Union Summit.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.

He said the summit, themed “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” will focus on advancing Africa’s commitments to sustainable water management, improved sanitation and the broader development goals contained in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.

Nkwocha said Shetttima will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government and the 30th General Assembly.

“While in Addis Ababa, the Vice President will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government, as well as the 30th General Assembly, scheduled to hold on February 14 and 15, 2026, respectively.

“On the margins of the Summit, Senator Shettima will participate in high-level side events and hold bilateral engagements with political and business leaders aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic, and strategic partnerships across the continent,” the statement read.

He said the Vice President is accompanied by cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.

According to Nkwocha, Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his official engagements in Ethiopia.

President Bola Tinubu receives in audience Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo and Sir Emeka Offor at the State House, Abuja. Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the 10th Senate’s decision to roll back disputed sections of the Electoral Amendment Bill, calling it a significant win for Nigerians.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC acknowledged the role of sustained public advocacy, both online and on the ground, in influencing the Senate’s action.

“We must stay alert to avoid last-minute changes or loopholes that could undermine the process,” Abdullahi said.

“Democracy thrives on active engagement, persistence, and sometimes peaceful dissent.”

Abdullahi described the Senate’s move as evidence that collective civic pressure can counter partisan interests.

The opposition party urged Nigerians not to relent in their efforts to strengthen democracy.

“However, we must not relent. This is only a step forward,” said the ADC.

“We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the president, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic,” it added.

The ADC urged Nigerians to maintain vigilance and continue applying pressure until the bill is signed into law by the president, officially published, and fully enacted.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted comments attributed to United States Congressman, Rep. Riley Moore, on Nigeria, religious persecution and self-determination, describing them as based on flawed assumptions and a misreading of history.

In a statement titled “A Response to Rep. Riley Moore on Nigeria, Religious Persecution, and Self-Determination,”

IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, argued that preserving Nigeria’s territorial integrity has not translated into safety for Christians, particularly in the North, the Middle Belt and parts of the South-West.

According to IPOB, Nigeria’s more than six decades of unity under what it described as a “British-designed central structure” have coincided with recurring attacks on Christians, including killings, mass displacement, church burnings and a culture of impunity allegedly enabled by the state.

Powerful said the crisis facing Nigeria is not a lack of international security cooperation but a “structural failure” rooted in what he called a forced union of incompatible religious and civilizational systems.

Reacting to claims that self-determination could embolden terrorism, IPOB dismissed the argument as misleading, insisting that terrorism thrives in environments where identities are suppressed and autonomy denied, rather than where oppressed groups seek peaceful self-rule.

He cited Afghanistan as an example, arguing that decades of foreign military support and cooperation failed to prevent the resurgence of extremist ideology once the underlying political structure collapsed.

Drawing from history, IPOB maintained that separation has often provided safety for persecuted religious minorities. The group referenced the experience of the Huguenots, who found refuge in Protestant England, as well as the State of Israel, which it described as a sovereign haven for persecuted Jews.

Powerful stressed that the agitation led by IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is not a call to violence but a demand for a democratic referendum, which he described as a peaceful and internationally recognised means of conflict resolution.

According to him, a restored Biafra would serve as a “safe civilisational anchor” where Christians and people of other faiths could live without fear, adding that such a state could also provide refuge for persecuted Christians from other parts of Nigeria.

He further claimed that since the emergence of IPOB, mass killings of Igbos in parts of Northern Nigeria have significantly reduced, attributing the development to what he described as collective self-assertion and deterrence.

While acknowledging the importance of international cooperation in combating violent extremism, IPOB argued that such efforts merely manage symptoms and do not address the root causes of Nigeria’s insecurity.

The group warned that rejecting peaceful constitutional exits while insisting on the permanence of what it called a “demonstrably broken state” would only prolong persecution and instability.

Powerful concluded that an independent Biafra would not threaten regional stability but rather enhance it, insisting that true peace, safety and dignity have historically followed self-rule, not forced unity.