₦airaland Forum

The 45-year-old former councillor, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was apprehended on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former two-term councillor at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council in Lagos State, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, following an intelligence-led operation into illicit drug trafficking.

The 45-year-old former councillor, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was apprehended on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA's Spokesman Femi Babafemi, during a thorough search of the premises, anti-narcotic officers recovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms in his home.

In a voluntary statement made following his arrest, Sheleru admitted ownership of the recovered drugs and the property where the exhibit was found.

He further confirmed his political background, stating he had previously served two terms as a Councilor representing the Orimedu community within the same local government area.

“In his statement, Sheleru admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered,” the statement said. “He said he had previously served two terms as a Councilor representing Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki local government council.”

Bandits Defy Peace Deal In Katsina Community, Kill Resident, Abduct Imam, Worshippers Before Dawn Prayer

Suspected bandits have carried out fresh attacks in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing a community member and abducting several residents, including a cleric, despite a recent peace deal reached with armed groups ahead of the Ramadan fasting period.

SaharaReporters gathered that the first attack occurred around midnight on Thursday in Gangaren Mangwarori area of Kankara town when gunmen stormed the community.

During the raid, the attackers reportedly killed a respected resident, identified as Malam Surajo, and abducted an elderly woman known as Gwamma.

Meanwhile, the assailants who arrived on motorcycles and fired sporadically to scare residents, operated for several minutes before fleeing with the abducted victim.

Hours later, at about 6:00 a.m. on Friday, the bandits struck again in Marabar Gurbi community, also within Kankara Local Government Area.

Residents said the attackers abducted several villagers, including the community’s second imam (Na’ibi), Malam Jamilu Marabar Gurbi.

It was gathered that the cleric was on his way to the mosque for Subhi (Fajr) prayer after observing Sahoor, the early morning meal during Ramadan, when the gunmen intercepted and kidnapped him.

A security alert monitor, Bakatsine, also confirmed the incidents on Friday, noting that the attacks occurred despite the earlier peace agreement.

Kankara Local Government Area has been one of the flashpoints of banditry in Katsina State, with residents frequently targeted for kidnappings, killings and raids on rural communities.

The attacks have caused a fresh fears among residents who had hoped that the peace arrangement reportedly reached between community stakeholders and armed groups before Ramadan would reduce violence in the area.

Residents say the latest incidents have deepened doubts about the effectiveness of peace deals with armed groups, as communities continue to suffer attacks even during the Ramadan period when many had expected a reduction in violence.

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the demolition and complete reconstruction of the Carter Bridge in Lagos, the government confirmed on Wednesday.


Announcing the decision after a cabinet meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the council also approved N5.6 billion to hire specialized engineering consultants for the design and cost assessment of the new bridge.

“Carter Bridge can no longer be rehabilitated; it must be taken down and rebuilt entirely,” Umahi stated, adding that the decision follows extensive consultations with stakeholders and had previously received backing from FEC in an earlier session.


The Carter Bridge is one of Lagos’s busiest roadways, connecting Lagos Island with the mainland and serving as a key route for daily commuters and commercial traffic.

Umahi also revealed that the FEC approved six additional large-scale infrastructure projects during Wednesday’s meeting, including major highway upgrades and reconstructions across multiple geopolitical zones.


The minister said the administration aims to complete and commission at least four projects per zone by 15 May.

“These are substantial infrastructure initiatives, not mere stopgap measures,” he emphasized.

Former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dele Momodu, says the administration of President Bola Tinubu has taken more loans than all the governments of Nigeria combined.

Momodu said this in an interview on ‘Sunrise Daily’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST on Wednesday.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine also stated that the APC-led government has not been able to balance the trillions of naira budget it claimed to be running.

“Tinubu’s govt has taken more loans than all the governments of Nigeria combined. We have not seen the effects of that loan. So, a lot is going on that Nigerians cannot understand, but there is a preponderance of propagandists who are willing to delete their brains and sell their souls.

“APC is supposed to be an offshoot of the Buhari administration, yet every day, it is APC itself that is blaming Buhari and blaming APC.

“So when you see a situation like that, you will wonder if these guys are serious at all. Now they are saying, oh yeah, they stabilised the exchange rates against the dollar. I laugh. They forget to tell us where the dollar was when they took power.

“They tell us today they are running budgets in trillions. But they forget to tell us what they have done with the trillions, and have they been able to balance the budget? They tell you that, oh, there is no government ever like the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Sunday said the National Assembly approved a hybrid system of electronic and manual transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act to prevent voter disenfranchisement and reduce apathy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abbas explained that Nigeria’s limited internet penetration and unstable power supply made it impractical to rely solely on real-time electronic transmission across the country.

The Speaker spoke while receiving the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Ambassador Felix Costales, during a courtesy visit to his office at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas received the envoy alongside the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Bichi; Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Wole Oke; and Chairman, Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, Jafaru Yakubu.

The statement noted that the Spanish envoy also indicated that Spain operates a system that allows manual transmission of election results.

Abbas assured that, based on his engagement with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the 2027 general elections would be more credible and inclusive.

On the Electoral Act, the Speaker said,”Sometimes, people scream far beyond the exact level of the issue. A lot of people think that we need to embrace electronic transmission in real-time in Nigeria, but within the very little period that you’ve been in Nigeria, you should be able to speak on the quality of our internet network. You should know that even in advanced cities like Abuja, you are not guaranteed stable internet services all the time.”

He continued, “Based on the NCC report, they said Nigeria is still underserved by almost 40 per cent, which means 40 per cent of territories at large in Nigeria are not covered by the internet. Now, tell me, for those who are saying we should go ahead and do that, already, if you look at the number of our registered voters in this country, it is alarming.

“It is sad to say that even with the manual arrangement we are using, we are only able to capture about 12-15 per cent of registered voters who, after every four years, come to vote. That’s voter apathy. Very few people go out to vote.”

According to him, exclusive electronic transmission could further suppress participation. “Now, if we are to introduce only the electronic system, it will further reduce the number because 40 per cent of the country will probably not be able to vote as they don’t have adequate internet services. It means what we should be expecting is not only disenfranchising the voters—denying some people the right to vote—we will also record, perhaps, the lowest number of voters in the next elections.

“These are all avoidable. That is why we said, in our wisdom, the Electoral Act should be hybrid—a combination of both the manual and electronic systems. Where it is feasible to use the electronic transmission, use the electronic transmission; where it is not possible, use the manual, because there is no way one form, particularly the electronic, can be used entirely in all parts of the country for the elections.”

The Speaker further argued that even critics of the provision were aware of the country’s infrastructure limitations.

“The opposition, even though they know the truth—are Nigerians, they live in Nigeria, they travel all over Nigeria—they know that the level of internet penetration in Nigeria is inadequate. There is no way you will be able to have transparent elections using an inadequate system, and through our energy crisis in the country as well, we do not have enough electricity.

“The internet is always backed by energy. How do you power the entire country on the day of the election to have phones that are working and internet that is working, backed by adequate electricity? All those are challenges that, for now, will not be able to provide us the opportunity to do transmission in real time online.”


Abbas described democracy as a gradual process that improves over time. He said, “In our entire democracy, we will continue to improve year after year, election after election. I believe Nigeria, with the support of countries like Spain, will do better.

“We expect you to continue to guide us and give us all the technical advice and support to do better, particularly in the National Assembly, through collaboration between your country and our parliament. It will go a long way in strengthening our competence, particularly in areas of legislative drafting and so on. I believe that with what you have in Spain, Nigeria can benefit a lot.”

He added that Nigeria was making steady progress despite existing challenges. “You cannot say you have everything that you require. You keep on learning. We believe that Nigeria is not doing badly, even though it may not be at the rate that the international community would want to see, but we are moving slowly and gradually.”

Earlier, Costales said his visit was aimed at strengthening legislative diplomacy and deepening bilateral ties between Spain and Nigeria. He said Spain would closely monitor Nigeria’s electoral process and support efforts to strengthen democratic institutions.

“You can count on us—whatever we can do to deepen Nigerian democracy. Yes, there may be challenges, but you can count on us in any way possible.”

The envoy also noted that political polarisation was a global phenomenon. He said, “Sometimes when you dig down, you realise that the issues are not that big, or not as big as they seem in the public discourse. It happens a lot in Spain… At the end of the day, if you want to move forward in democracy, you have to reach some level of compromise. We have to try to rule and govern on the level of consensus.”

PUNCH Online reports that President Bola Tinubu recently assented to the amended Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly as part of reforms aimed at improving the credibility and inclusiveness of future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls.


The amendment clarifies the legal framework for the transmission of election results, authorising the use of both electronic and manual methods depending on the availability of infrastructure and operational feasibility.

The reform has generated debate among political actors and civil society groups, with supporters describing the hybrid model as pragmatic, while critics argue that it could weaken transparency if not properly implemented and monitored.

Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, has disclosed that more than 300,000 people have been displaced across 10 local government areas of the state due to insecurity.

Bago made this known while addressing journalists shortly after receiving humanitarian support from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna, the Niger State Capital.

He said efforts to determine the exact number of displaced persons were still ongoing because of continuous attacks in the affected LGAs.

“For now, we can only give an estimate. On average, we have over 300,000 people displaced across Niger State in more than 10 LGAs affected by insecurity,” he said.

The governor assured residents that the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government and security agencies to restore peace and enable victims to return to their communities.

On electricity supply, Bago advised residents dissatisfied with power from the national grid to consider switching to solar energy.

He revealed that the Government House, the State Secretariat and public hospitals had already disconnected from the national grid and adopted solar power systems.

He, however, blamed poor revenue collection on customers’ failure to settle their bills with the distribution company.

According to him, about 180 communities in the state have exited the national grid by adopting solar energy to ensure more stable supply.

Defending the regular power supply to consumers on 33kva, the governor said electricity tariffs vary across bands, with Band A customers paying significantly higher rates than those on Bands B and C.

“We must call a spade a spade. We cannot politicise what is right. Those on Band A pay far more than others. If you want improved service, you must be ready to pay for it,” he said, likening electricity payments to recharging mobile phones.

On water scarcity, Bago said his administration inherited deteriorated water infrastructure, which it is currently rehabilitating.

He disclosed that the state spends about N100 million monthly on electricity to pump water into the main pipeline for distribution.

The governor added that boreholes were being drilled in communities under the Ward Development Projects Initiative to ease the shortage, noting that ongoing road construction in the state capital has further compounded the situation.

On Wednesday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, expressed dismay over the worsening socio-economic and political challenges in the country and called on government to take urgent action.

Specifically, the bishops decried persistent insecurity and loss of lives, socio-economic sabotage, and poor leadership as major causes of these afflictions.

The bishops lamented the situation in a communiqué issued at the end of their First Plenary Meeting, held from February 19 to 26, 2026, and signed by Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri, outgoing CBCN President, and Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi, outgoing Secretary of the Conference.

Part of the communiqué said: “We continue to experience tragic events of senseless massacre, mass burials, endless tears, and grief. There are incidents of mass murders in different communities. Nigeria is richly blessed with abundant mineral resources. With good leadership, these resources would have been contributing significantly to our national economic growth and development. In our country, the ownership of all mineral resources is vested in the Federal Government, which also regulates their exploration and exploitation.

“Yet, trillions of Naira are annually lost to bunkering and illegal mining owing to banditry, kidnapping and other organized crimes in parts of our country. We observe that a major cause of our problem as a nation is poor leadership and the wrong idea of politics. Where politics is erroneously understood only as rigging of elections and stealing of other people’s mandate, leadership is unfortunately taken as the amassing of illicit gains or engaging in other fraudulent activities. We note that bad leadership in our nation has caused systemic damage showing up in a worsening economy, widespread and persistent insecurity, and extreme poverty, despite the blessing of rich human and natural resources.”

Leading member of the CBCN, John Onaiyekan, who is an Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, in this interview first aired on Arise TV, spoke on the various issues highlighted by the body. Excerpts:

Bishops’ Conference says Nigeria is drifting into insecurity, economic sabotage and democratic decline. Is this country already mired deep in crisis or approaching one?

Before I answer that question, permit me to remind our viewers, and I hope also remind those in power who may be listening to us, that this communique is not a political statement. It is a document that was fashioned with a deep love of Nigeria in mind, with honesty, and I also say with deep Christian faith. Imagine a group of almost 70 prelates from different parts of Nigeria and different ethnic nationalities who come together and are able to endorse this kind of communiqué. We believe that we are reflecting what people are actually saying on the ground. I like to say we represent the people in what we say more than what is happening in the National Assembly, which is supposed to represent the people.
But that’s part of our major problem, that we are no longer sure that our representatives in the National Assembly represent us, both in the priorities they set, in the decisions they take. Why I am stressing this is so that governments should not look at what we are saying as the rantings of some political organisations. We have no intention of taking over government. If anything is driving us, it is purely the love of our nation, and we have what we consider like a prophetic role, namely to speak truth to power. We don’t speak carelessly, but we are not afraid to voice out the truth in clear terms.

Not to put down anyone, but to let people know this is what is facing us. I have been in this country now for 82 years. 60 of them I was quite aware of what is happening. I am not the only one who is feeling that this is not the country we lived in before. Not that, when we say not the country we lived in before, this country is worse than it was before on many aspects.

Of course, there are areas where we seem to see indices of progress and so on. But there are other areas too where we really are very sad. I am particularly sad in the area of political institutions.

Why?

Elections. We studied the data of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. And from 1999 until now, every election, voter apathy was getting worse and worse and worse. We interpreted that to mean people no longer trust the election.

You said you and your colleagues’ statements are not a political statement, which is understandable. But your communiqué blames bad leadership and what it called a distorted understanding of politics.

Can you tell us more about what you and your fellow bishops believe has gone wrong at the highest levels of governance?

It did not happen in one day. And obviously, it did not happen because of President Bola Tinubu. This deterioration has been going on. Like I mentioned, if you take the indices of the number of Nigerians who come out to vote, we find that they are less and less. In the last election, 23 per cent of registered voters showed up in the last general election. That’s what we are told from the INEC data, meaning whoever emerges as winner has been elected by a very small minority of Nigerians. What kind of democracy is that? I think those in power ought to understand, therefore, that we have to face how we make sure that elections begin to be acceptable by the people. Popular by the people. People that will want to leave their home and go and vote in the election.

Do you believe that the reason why there’s such voter apathy is because of a loss of faith in the system?

Well, certainly, first of all, some of the people were not even allowed to vote. There was quite a lot of manipulation. I still remember many young people making pilgrimages to the INEC offices for many days to collect these famous voters’ cards and were not able to get them. They come and they show up in a big house, in a big room full of voters’ cards and they could not find their own. Many people were disenfranchised simply because of that. And then there were those who just felt there’s no point going because even if we vote, they are not going to count our votes. I think it is not good for us. If we do not want democracy, maybe we should say it and say, look, this system doesn’t work for us, let us look for another system. There are other systems. There are other ways of running government. There are places where government is run by a family. Is that what we want to do? If we say we want democracy, we should be sincere about it.

In your communiqué, the bishops speak of senseless massacres and communities living in fear, even as you raise questions about whether government is truly in control of the security situation in this country. You suggest that there’s a perception of complicity when terrorists are not prosecuted or are reintegrated. So in your assessment, government is either complicit or soft on terror…

Before I come to terror, let me go back a little bit. One would have expected that the National Assembly would be as anxious as, at least we bishops are, and as anxious as the rest of Nigerians are for a review of the electoral law. But we don’t seem to see that.

Why do you think that’s the case?

Well, your guess is as good as mine, but I don’t want to impute any bad feelings on them. But obviously they seem to be happy with the status quo.

Well, they would argue that they’ve actually moved the electoral laws forward, that they’ve added things that weren’t there and improved on it…

But not enough. If you read our communique, you will notice the areas we refer to. For example, how do you ensure that an incumbent government that is also a part of the election, how will you ensure that that kind of government can conduct a free, fair and impartial election? It is not rocket science. Other countries have managed it. That is where we are saying that when government in power controls every institution of the state, in order to have an advantage in this context, then we are not really serious about wanting to allow the will of the people to prevail.

We come to the other serious issue, which is insecurity. For a long time, in the past three years, we keep hearing government telling us that they are on top of the situation. But what we see doesn’t reflect it. It is interesting and amazing. We once went to the villa and we thanked President Tinubu, who gave us an audience. We raised the issue about insecurity on the road. To our surprise, the National Security Advisor started talking. As he was doing that, we were all looking at one another. He was telling us how much progress they have made, how successful they have been and how safe the country now is. And we asked if we were in the same country. We have been hearing this government feeling that they must by all means keep telling us that not only this is the best they can do, but this is the best we can have.

A bit like Animal Farm, it sort of reminds you of Boxer…
Our communiqué raised this issue that we thank God, we commend the fact that finally government seems to admit that they really are not coping because the movements we are seeing about reaching out to foreign nations to help us, that means that we need help. But that creates its own problem.

You acknowledged some steps by President Tinubu, including declaring a security emergency. But you said the results remain grim. I know that you talked about structural failures…
We were expecting that when the declaration was made, that there’s a declaration of emergency against insecurity, we were going to see a definite change of attitude. That the terrorists would be hunted down. But we didn’t see anything. It’s only a presidential declaration. We do not think that Nigerians are asking for too much. We ought not to be living in a country where killings are going on. Where villagers are not safe. Where even the people in power are not safe. I challenge any of them to jump into his car and drive to his village without security, which means this is not how it should be. We cannot continue like this. Let no one tell us that there is no other way out.

You talked about oil bunkering, illegal mining as a reason for the insecurity. You also criticised continued food importation. Is this a failure policy or political will?

As you know, when a group of 70 bishops tried to come up with a communique, everybody would have brilliant ideas. So many things came out. We had to pick and choose which we are going to even mention. The mining thing, which for a long time we did not even know about. Nigerians are now hearing. There are people who are doing large business, carting away our mineral resources without any government control. Bunkering is even better because at least in bunkering, it is understood that the petroleum resources go through a particular channel, through the NNPC. There are people who have been making billions from our natural resources without any accountability. And certainly not without the complicity of those who ought to stop it. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes we say in Latin, meaning who is going to look after the grass man himself. When those who regulate are not doing their duty, where do we stand? It’s not only that mining is depriving Nigeria of our natural resources, it is also destroying our environment. It is destroying communities. The latest, what we do know now is that a lot of these attacks, which end up displacing villagers, is to make room for large scale mining.

How can that be happening in a civilised nation? It is difficult for us as bishops to believe that those who are in charge of our affairs are not aware of this. This issue of food worries us. Many bishops who come, especially from the north, are saying farmers are now in trouble. They went out to plant. By the time their crops, rice, beans, whatever, comes to the market, the prices have come down.

And it is reported, it is alleged, that the fall of price is a political gimmick, that government flooded the market with imported food. If that is true, then it is the wrong decision to take because if government flooded the market with imported food, that means our money is being spent to go and buy imported food from abroad, thereby supporting those who produce those things. That money should have been given to our farmers. To reduce the cost of production of their food, reduce the cost of fertilisers, give them free, just give them everything that they need.

If you had the president’s ear tonight, what are the three immediate actions, or three or four or whatever, you would demand that he takes?
One would need to mention things that he should be able to do that are feasible. And of course, for most Nigerians, the major problem is security. We can’t continue like this. He should do whatever it takes to make Nigerians safe. Second point, a major point, which is linked to security also, is corruption. You cannot completely eliminate corruption. Corruption is all over the place in the world. But Nigeria is different. It seems that corruption thrives.

In other countries, people who want to be corrupt have to be careful because they can be caught. And when they are caught, they pay for it. But here in Nigeria, it seems that those who are corrupt always get away with it.

It’s not right. And of course, the third element is our own peaceful relationship among ourselves. In my own opinion, that’s even the greatest thing to help Nigerians to begin to…

Get past religion, ethnicity, and all the rest of it?
Exactly. There has been too much polarisation. Yes, I would agree with that. First, it was because of politics. Because by this very nature, politicians want to say we are better than the other group. And so, the nation was split . Now, later on, religion has become more problematic now than it was 20 years ago. We need to really face it. I have the strong conviction that the vast majority of Nigerians, Christians and Muslims, want nothing more but to live together in peace. There are those fringe groups that have their own ideas. Thank God, those ideas are not shared by all of us. We should be able to deal with them. We should be able to deal with them, and deal with them decisively.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that it contains “boobytraps” designed to exclude opposition parties and pave the way for President Bola Tinubu’s unopposed return in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC faulted new compliance requirements introduced under Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, saying they impose unfair burdens on opposition parties while conferring undue advantage on the ruling party.

According to the ADC, INEC’s timetable mandates political parties to submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026, ahead of party primaries scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The party said the timeline creates an “almost impossible hurdle” that could prevent opposition parties from fielding candidates.


The ADC noted that Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides that any party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period “shall not be eligible to field a candidate,” a provision it described as exclusionary rather than administrative.

It further argued that the law prescribes extensive data requirements for the digital register, including members’ personal details, National Identification Number (NIN) and photographs, and prohibits the use of any pre-existing register that does not meet these specifications. Failure to comply, the party said, would result in disqualification.

The opposition party alleged that the ruling party had begun compiling the required digital register as far back as February 2025, giving it a significant head start.

The ADC claimed this amounted to insider advantage and a misuse of incumbency, as other parties are now expected to complete the same process within a matter of weeks.

“Democratic competition is based on a level-playing field,” the statement said, adding that a system that gives one party a year-long advantage over others is “rigged and corrupt.”

The ADC said it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting what it described as a “corrupted” Electoral Act 2026 and, by extension, the revised INEC timetable derived from it.

The party warned that it would not take any step that could legitimize what it called a fraudulent electoral framework, noting that it is reviewing its options and would announce its next steps in the coming days.


The party also called on civil society groups, democratic stakeholders and Nigerians across party lines to scrutinize the timetable and demand fairness, warning that democracy cannot survive if electoral rules are designed to produce predetermined outcomes.

“Between now and 2027, a sitting president will påss away.”

— Primate Ayodele prophecy pic.twitter.com/QOUW8YUsc9

— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) February 26, 2026

A Sitting President Will Pass Away Between Now and 2027 - Primate Ayodele Prophecy

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has stirred fresh reactions after declaring that a sitting president will pass away before 2027.

Speaking to his congregation during a recent service, the cleric said, "Between now and 2027 a sitting president is passing away."

Primate Ayodele, known for issuing prophecies on political and global matters, did not mention the country or region the president would come from.However, his statement has since sparked widespread debate across social and traditional media platforms.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that it paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State, describing the claims as false and baseless.

AFP had said the federal government paid a multimillion-dollar ransom to secure the release of 230 pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Secondary and Primary School, Papiri, Niger State.

However, AFP cited four intelligence sources familiar with the negotiations who claimed that a “huge” sum was paid to secure the hostages’ freedom.

The abduction occurred on November 21 at the Catholic school, where nearly 300 pupils and staff were taken.

At least 50 later escaped, according to the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna.

The report further alleged that two Boko Haram commanders were released as part of the agreement, despite existing Nigerian laws prohibiting ransom payments to kidnappers and terrorists.

According to AFP, the funds were transported by helicopter to Gwoza in Borno State, a known Boko Haram stronghold near the Cameroon border.

But in a statement on Tuesday, Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, picked holes in the report which he said relied on unnamed and shadowy sources.

‘The Federal Government states that these allegations are completely false and baseless, and constitute a disservice to the professionalism and integrity of Nigeria’s security forces and the sacrifices they make daily. While we respect the freedom of the press, we firmly reject a narrative built on shadowy, unnamed sources seeking to undermine the credibility of a sovereign government acting within its laws. For the avoidance of doubt, no ransom was paid, and no militant commanders were freed.”

“The allegations rely entirely on anonymous “intelligence sources” and individuals “familiar with the talks,” in contrast to the clear and on-the-record denials issued by constituted authorities. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the leadership of the National Assembly have all publicly refuted claims of ransom payment.

“The report itself reveals contradictions that expose its speculative character, presenting sharply conflicting accounts regarding the alleged ransom. Such inconsistency underscores a lack of direct knowledge and undermines the credibility of the claims. The assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross-border confirmation of receipt, is fiction. The DSS has formally dismissed this claim as fake and laughable.


“Nigeria is confronting a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise. The successful rescue of the pupils, without casualty, was the result of professional intelligence and operational precision. The Federal Government remains unwavering in its commitment to security and urges the media to verify facts before publishing speculative reports that risk emboldening criminals or undermining troop morale,” the statement read.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama has struck out a suit filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

On January 16, the ICPC filed a three-count charge bordering on forgery allegations, against Ozekhome.

The office of the attorney-general of the federation had taken over the case on January 26.

Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the AGF, had on the last adjourned date, said the case will be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.

However, at the resumed court session on Tuesday, which was scheduled for arraignment of Ozekhome, Oyedepo moved an application to withdraw the case.

He said the office of the AGF would need time to review and consolidate the issues which cuts across different investigating agencies.

Oyedepo added that this would help strengthen the case.

Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, struck out the case.

Ozekhome was accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

The alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021 in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital, within the jurisdiction of the court.

BACKGROUND

Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.

It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while lawyers for ‘Ms Shani’ insisted she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as ‘Mr Tali Shani had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.

On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.

The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The court ruled that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the low voter turnout in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, saying the development showed democracy is being suffocated.

Reacting to the exercise in a statement by his media office, Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the turnout as a damning verdict on the health of Nigeria’s democracy under the current administration.

According to him, such abysmal civic participation in the nation’s capital was not accidental.

“It is the predictable outcome of a political environment poisoned by intolerance, intimidation, and the systematic weakening of opposition voices.”

He noted that the present administration has pursued a deliberate policy of “shrinking democratic space, harassing dissenters, coercing defectors, and fostering a climate where alternative political viewpoints are treated as threats rather than contributions to national development.

“When citizens lose faith that their votes don’t matter, democracy begins to die,” Atiku stated.

“What we are witnessing is not mere voter apathy. It is a direct consequence of an administration that governs with a chokehold on pluralism. Democracy in Nigeria is being suffocated slowly, steadily, and dangerously.”

Atiku warned that the steady erosion of participatory governance, if left unchecked, could inflict irreversible damage on the democratic fabric painstakingly built over decades.

“A democracy without vibrant opposition, without free political competition, and without public confidence is democracy in name only. If this chokehold is not released, history will record this era as the period when our hard-won freedoms were traded for fear and conformity.”

The former Vice President called on opposition parties and democratic forces across the country to urgently close ranks and forge a united front.

“This is no longer about party lines; it is about preserving the Republic. The time to stand together to rescue and rebuild Nigeria is now.”

It expressed concerns over the decision of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to implement a curfew from 8pm on Friday, a full day before the election.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed serious concerns over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration’s declaration of a premature curfew in Abuja ahead of Saturday’s elections.

In a statement by the party spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the decision to impose restrictions on movement a day before the polls as “a blatant move to suppress voter turnout, having realised that it stood no chance in the election.”

The ADC acknowledged that “while some restrictions on movements on election day may be justified, the conventional practice is for such restrictions to commence at midnight on election day.”

It expressed concerns over the decision of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to implement a curfew from 8pm on Friday, a full day before the election.

“We are therefore concerned by the decision of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to impose a curfew on the FCT from 8pm on Friday. The ADC will therefore like to register our strong objections to this premature restriction on movement,” the statement added.

The party emphasised the importance of conducting elections in an environment that is “not only safe but also visibly free and open to all eligible voters.”

It called on authorities to ensure that Abuja residents can travel to their polling units, remain there until the voting process is concluded, and return home “without fear of harassment, obstruction, or arbitrary restriction of movement.”

ADC officials argued that early curfews and movement restrictions could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, potentially discouraging voters from participating.

"Any action that limits access to polling stations or creates the perception of intimidation is a direct threat to the credibility of the elections,” the party warned.

The statement also urged the FCT administration to adhere to established electoral norms, emphasising that voters’ rights to free and unrestricted movement during election periods must be respected.

ADC leaders stressed that ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process is critical for strengthening democracy in the FCT and across the country.

As Abuja prepares for the polls, political parties and civil society groups are closely monitoring government directives to safeguard electoral integrity and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.

The ADC has reiterated its call for authorities to review the curfew timing, highlighting that elections must remain accessible to all eligible voters without undue restrictions.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has asked President Bola Tinubu to recall the executive order (EO) that stripped the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited of its oil revenue deduction powers.

On February 18, Tinubu signed an EO for the direct remittance of oil and gas revenues to the federation account allocation committee (FAAC).

Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Festus Osifo, national president of PENGASSAN, said the EO was a “direct attack” on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).


“The executive order that was signed by the president yesterday is a direct attack on the PIA,” he said.


“The provisions are sections 8, 9, and 64 of the PIA. It’s a direct attack.”

Osifo said the president has used an executive order “to set aside a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

“We think that with immediate effect, the president should recall that executive order, and have a second look at it, because we know that the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has done everything possible to attract investment to the oil and gas industry,” he said.


The PENGASSAN president acknowledged that the president has the right to enact executive orders and the duty to safeguard the industry.

“But we strongly believe that, in this particular case, the president has been misled,” Osifo said.

“We strongly believe that the people advising the president did not actually tell him the entire truth,” Osifo said.

The PENGASSAN president said Tinubu’s action contradicts his efforts to attract both local and international investment to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.

He said if the president had been fully briefed on the implications of the recent executive order, he likely would have acted differently.

Given his background in the industry, his previous experience at ExxonMobil, as well as his understanding of how the sector has evolved, Osifo said the president would not have signed the executive order in its current form.

‘EXECUTIVE ORDERS CAN’T SUPERSEDE PIA’

Furthermore, Osifo said an executive order should not override the provisions of the PIA.

“You will agree with me that when we talk about executive orders, they cannot supersede the law of the land. Executive order cannot override the provision of a law,” he said.

The group leader also likened the president’s action to “signing an executive order setting aside Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”.

“It’s just like the president waking up tomorrow and signing an executive order to decrease the government contribution in pension from the 10% government contribution today to 2%,” he added.

He described the EO as “quite troubling” and “an aberration”, questioning the signal it sends to investors.

“This should never have happened because at this time today, the president is telling Nigerians and the international community that he can one day use a law to set aside the grand law or the provisions of our constitution or the extant laws that are enacted by the national assembly,” Osifo said.

He warned that “the international community” could lose confidence in the PIA, fearing that the government might, through an executive order, raise the royalties they currently pay and override other provisions that protect their investments.


Osifo said if the order is not recalled, “our members are in danger of being declared redundant because NNPC may not be able to meet their obligations to our members”.

Cash Crunch: Tunji-Ojo’s Interior joins Nigerian ministries with zero capital budget release

The Federal Ministry of Interior has been added to the list of five ministries that have complained of zero or little capital disbursement in the country’s 2025 budget.

The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said his ministry received zero capital budget allocation for two consecutive fiscal years, 2024 and 2025.

Tunji-Ojo made the revela­tion during a recent budget defense session before the joint com­mittees of the Senate and the House of Representatives in Abuja.

His comment further confirms Nigeria’s state of cash crunch in the last two fiscal years.

Tunji-Ojo described the situ­ation as a major setback to project implementation and infrastructure development under the ministry.

“For two consecutive years, we have recorded zero per­cent capital release,” he told lawmakers, noting that per­formance on capital projects equally stood at zero percent, he said.

DAILY POST reports that the Ministers of Health, Justice, Power, Transportation, Women Affairs, and Social Development had complained of zero and little release of capital budget allocation in 2025.

This comes ahead of the National Assembly’s move to approve Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N58.18 trillion, presented by President Tinubu in December 2025.

Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, the Chief of Operations at the Naval Headquarters (NHQ), has died following a brief illness.

Rear Admiral Katagum, a highly respected officer of the Nigerian Navy, recently served at Defence Headquarters and was formerly the Chief of Naval Intelligence, according to counterinsurgency source, Zagazola Makama.

He was recently appointed Chief of Operations by the Chief of Naval Staff, a role in which he oversaw critical operational activities and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s maritime security.

During his career, Rear Admiral Katagum’s contributions to national security were reportedly immeasurable.

He played a pivotal role in shaping operational strategies, strengthening intelligence capabilities, and mentoring generations of officers who would go on to emulate his professionalism and dedication.

His insight, foresight, and meticulous approach to operations ensured that the Nigerian Navy remained vigilant, formidable, and ready to defend the nation’s maritime interests.

His contributions reportedly played a vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial waters and enhancing the operational readiness of the Nigerian Navy.

The news of his death has also sent ripples of grief through the Armed Forces, with his colleagues describing him as a "symbol of courage, discipline, and service excellence."

Reports said senior naval officers have also expressed profound sorrow over the loss of a visionary leader whose legacy will endure within the Navy.

"Beyond his professional accomplishments, he will be remembered for his humility, his generosity of spirit, and his unwavering commitment to the welfare of those who served alongside him," sources said.

Lagos Commercial Drivers Protest Against Takeover Of Transport Routes By Seyi Tinubu’s New Buses, Block VGC Road

Commercial drivers operating small buses popularly known as "korope" on Wednesday staged a protest along the Ajiwe axis en route to Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah, Lagos State, following allegations that they were being forced to abandon their existing vehicles and purchase newly acquired buses allegedly linked to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.

The protest, which brought traffic to a standstill, erupted after aggrieved drivers claimed they were instructed to stop operating their korope buses entirely and instead take up a new set of vehicles allegedly introduced by interests connected to the president’s son.

Speaking to SaharaReporters during the protest, affected drivers and operators described the development as unfair and oppressive, especially for those who had already acquired their buses through long-term payment plans and were close to completing, or had completely completed, payment.

According to several eyewitnesses, the drivers were not merely restricted from plying certain routes or relocating to other areas, but were allegedly prevented from working altogether.

“They didn’t stop us from moving from one place to another,” one eyewitness told SaharaReporters. “They stopped us from working entirely. They told us we should not use korope again.”

The affected operators said they were explicitly instructed to stop using their existing korope buses because another set of similar vehicles had been introduced into the area.

Although no official statement named the individual behind the newly introduced buses, multiple drivers alleged that the vehicles were brought in by Seyi Tinubu.

“They didn’t mention names openly,” one driver said. “But everybody here knows that the buses are allegedly from Seyi Tinubu. That’s what we were told.”

Following this development, the drivers said they were being forced to abandon the buses they had already acquired and instead collect the newly introduced korope vehicles under new purchase terms allegedly linked to Seyi Tinubu.

The drivers insisted that the directive was unreasonable, noting that many of them had invested heavily in their existing buses and had structured their livelihoods around them.

“This is not fair to us at all,” one operator said. “Some of us have almost finished paying for our buses. Some of us have fully paid. We are already making sales and operating independently.”

One operator, who spoke emotionally, said he had personally collected a bus under a hire-purchase agreement and had completely paid off the cost before the latest directive.

“I finished paying for my bus,” he said. “So why should anybody now come and tell me to leave my own vehicle and start buying another one?”

He questioned the logic behind the move, describing it as exploitative and unjust.

“Who does that?” he asked angrily. “There’s no way anyone would agree to that. You can’t tell someone who has finished paying for his bus to abandon it and start afresh.”

According to him, the frustration and sense of injustice triggered the protest and led to the decision to block the road.

As of Wednesday morning, movement along the Ajiwe–VGC corridor was severely disrupted.

An eyewitness who travelled through the area said the entire route was effectively under lockdown as protesters occupied the road, bringing both commercial and private activities to a standstill.

“I travelled from Ajiwe to VGC this morning,” the witness said. “The whole place was blocked. Nothing was moving. The protest completely shut down the route.”

At the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Lagos State authorities or from Seyi Tinubu regarding the allegations, as tensions remained high among the protesting drivers who vowed not to vacate the area until their concerns were addressed.

WATCH: Lagos Commercial Drivers Protest Against Takeover Of Transport Routes By Seyi Tinubu’s New Buses, Block VGC Road pic.twitter.com/gnDLrVeEZd

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) February 18, 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that results of the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time from polling units.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday after assessing the commission’s level of preparedness in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils ahead of the February 21, 2026 polls.

Amupitan said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has consistently been used to accredit voters and transmit results in real time since its introduction, stressing that the commission would not compromise standards.

“BVAS is capable of accrediting and also of uploading and transmitting the results. So definitely the results will be transmitted,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the level of preparedness across the councils, Amupitan disclosed that Kuje Area Council reported 99.9 per cent readiness, Gwagwalada 90.8 per cent, while Bwari indicated 100 per cent preparedness.

“The report they gave us, I’ve verified that they are correct. In Kuje, they said they are 99.9% ready. In Gwagwalada, they said they are 90.8% ready. And in Bwari, they said they are 100% ready. So it means that there should be no excuse for any form of malfeasance. The election, it is hoped, will go very well,” he stated.

He added that both sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been batched and inspected, including verification inside storage facilities to confirm readiness.

Transmission, Debates Committee Report Thursday

The INEC chairman emphasised that credible elections depend on timely deployment of materials and adequate security arrangements. He directed that security personnel and poll officials report to Registration Area Centres (RACs) on Friday to ensure early deployment on election day.

“Set out early so that materials get to polling units on time and voting should start at 8.30am. If you start on time and manage the process well, you can conclude voting by 2.30pm, begin counting before darkness and upload results promptly,” he said.

Amupitan reiterated that all results must be uploaded through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), noting that recent modifications require results to be properly keyed in and cross-checked at collation centres to ensure accuracy.

He also addressed voter apathy, stating that INEC would work within the law to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“We want to do everything possible to meet the aspirations of Nigerians. They have the right to make demands, and we will perform our responsibilities to redeem confidence that is a little bit deficient,” he said.

The Electoral Officers of the three area councils separately affirmed their readiness for the polls, reinforcing INEC’s assurance of a credible and transparent election in the FCT.

The House of Representatives has gone into another round of rowdy session over the Electoral Bill.

The move to amend provision of the Electoral Amendment Bill raised uproar among members.

This even after the executive session held to resolve issues.

Lawmakers had disagreed over a motion seeking to rescind the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment bill.

Trouble started after Francis Waive, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion for the House to reverse its decision on the bill which was passed on December 23, 2025.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, had put the motion to a voice vote. While the “nays” were louder than the “ayes”, he ruled that the ayes had it, a development which triggered protest.

Abbas subsequently called for an executive session.

Details later…

The Federal Government has refuted claims that the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 imposes a 25 per cent levy on building materials, construction funds, or bank balances.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday via X, in response to a viral video of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi, while addressing crowd during a gathering, warned of impending economic hardships if the All Progressives Congress retains power in the 2027 elections.

“The tax law is if I pay you 100 million Naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will leave your account.


“If you are a landlord and building a house, you will charge 25% extra because you won’t bear it alone; you will transfer it to the person who buys or rents,” the former minister stated.

But Oyedele said both claims that the new tax laws would commence in 2027 and that it would introduce a 25 per cent tax on funds for building materials and other transactions were incorrect.

“We are aware of a recent video claiming that the new tax laws will commence in 2027 and alleging the imposition of a 25% tax on funds for building materials and other transactions.


“Both claims are incorrect. Contrary to the misinformation seeking to create fear, panic and disaffection, the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has already commenced and does not impose a 25% tax on construction funds, bank balances, or business expenses.

“Instead, it contains provisions specifically designed to reduce the cost of housing, rent and real estate development,” he said.

Oyedele outlined key provisions of the Act aimed at lowering housing costs and encouraging real estate development.

According to him, land and buildings are exempt from Value Added Tax under Section 185(l), while contractors can recover input VAT on materials, assets, and overhead costs where VAT is applicable.

He added that a reduced Withholding Tax rate of 2 per cent now applies to construction contracts, while mortgage interest is tax-deductible for individuals developing owner-occupied residential houses under Section 30(2)(iv).

Property owners earning rental income, he said, can deduct related expenses such as repairs, insurance, and agency fees under Section 20 of the Act.

On reliefs for renters and tenants, Oyedele stated that individuals can claim rent relief of up to ₦500,000, representing 20 per cent of annual rent, under Section 30(2)(vi).

He further noted that rent is exempt from VAT and that lease agreements with an annual value below ₦10m, or 10 times the annual minimum wage, are exempt from stamp duty under Section 134.

The committee chairman also listed incentives for investors and developers.

“𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘎𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘹 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘚.51(1)): Individuals pay no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) when disposing of a dwelling house or an interest in one.

“𝘙𝘌𝘐𝘛 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 (𝘚.162(𝘤)): Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are exempt from Companies Income Tax (CIT) when distributing at least 75% of their dividend or rental income within 12 months after the financial year-end.

“𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴: Manufacturing of building materials such as iron, steel, and domestic appliances qualifies for specific tax exemption under the economic development incentive scheme for up to 10 years.

“𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘹 𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘦 (𝘚.56): Scope for the reduction of companies’ income tax rate for large businesses from 30% to 25%,” he said.

He noted the Act provides priority sector incentives for manufacturers of building materials such as iron, steel, and domestic appliances for up to 10 years, as well as scope for reducing Companies Income Tax for large businesses from 30 per cent to 25 per cent under Section 56.


Oyedele added that small companies would benefit from zero per cent Companies Income Tax, exemption from charging VAT, and no deduction of Withholding Tax from their invoices and payments.

He stressed that the Act does not tax money in bank accounts, transfers for buying building materials, or introduce any 25 per cent construction or business cost tax.

“The Act does not tax money in bank accounts or bank balances. It does not tax transfers for buying building materials. It does not introduce a 25% construction or business cost tax. It does not delay implementation until 2027,” he said.

Dismissing the viral claims as false, Oyedele concluded: “Fact Not Fear, evidence beats emotion. If anyone makes an alarming claim or tries to misinform you, ask them ‘Where is it in the law?’

“With the new tax laws, housing should become more affordable, and rent should go down, NOT up!”