PRESIDENT TINUBU URGES RELEASE OF SOUTH SUDAN VICE PRESIDENT MACHAR

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the swift implementation of the revitalised peace agreement in South Sudan, urging the immediate and unconditional release of the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar, and other key opposition figures.

The pledge was made in a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, on Monday.

The statement highlighted President Tinubu’s position, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, during the African Union High-Level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan, also called the C-5 Plus Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the margins of the 39th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The summit was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Nigerian leader said the country joins other African nations in recognising the South Sudanese people’s desire for peace, sustainable development, and a speedy resolution of the conflict.

Tinubu stressed that national unity and elite consensus were crucial to achieving progress in the country’s transition, urging African leaders to prioritise inclusive, peaceful, and transparent elections as the only way to build trust and confidence in the country’s future and leadership.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s role in the recently launched Regional Partnership for Democracy and called attention to the adverse effects of insecurity and political tension on South Sudan’s transitional processes, including security sector reforms and constitution drafting.

President Ramaphosa commended African leaders for their determination to resolve the conflict and noted the delayed implementation of the revitalised agreement, eight years after it was endorsed.

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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FILES CHARGES AGAINST EL-RUFAI OVER INTERCEPTION OF NSA RIBADU’S PHONE

The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed charges against the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The charges, were filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai as defendant.

According to court documents seen by reporters, the prosecution claimed that on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on TV in Abuja, El-Rufai admitted that he and others unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Count two alleges that El-Rufai stated during the same interview that he knew and related with individuals who unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s phone communications but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, contrary to Section 27 of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.

The third count also claimed that El-Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026 in Abuja, used technical equipment or systems to unlawfully intercept the National Security Adviser’s phone communications, an act said to have compromised public safety and national security, contrary to Section 131of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

As of the time of filing this report, no date had been fixed for El-Rufai’s arraignment.

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLEDGES ACTION ON SPECIAL SEAT BILL

The Nigerian National Assembly on Monday pledged to consider the Special Seats Bill currently before it, following sustained advocacy by Nigerian women groups.

Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North, gave the assurance while addressing protesting women at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex.

Rotimi said the proposed legislation was gathering momentum, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu had endorsed the constitutional amendment promoting women’s inclusion.

The Spokesman therefore disclosed that approximately 40 constitutional amendment bills were before the National Assembly and would be subjected to a vote by lawmakers in the coming weeks.

He added that the constitutional amendment bills would be voted on electronically, stressing that lawmakers had tested the technology to ensure seamless and transparent operation.

Rotimi stressed that voting electronically will ensure every member’s and senator’s vote is publicly known.

According to him, once deliberations on the Electoral Act Amendments are concluded, lawmakers will proceed to vote on the 40 constitutional amendment bills, including the reserved seats proposal.

Recall that the Special Seats Bill seeks to reserve additional seats for women in both the National and State Assemblies to guarantee minimum representation.

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BAMIDELE– SENATE’S DECISION ON ELECTORAL BILL GUIDED BY EMPIRICAL DATA

The Nigerian Senate has reeled out empirical data that guided its decision to make the electronic transmission of election results discretionary rather than mandatory in the ongoing reform of the country’s electoral governance framework.

The upper chamber stated that the decision was based on the stark realities of the country and not on emotion or sentiment, after due consultation and engagement with principal actors in the country’s communications and power sectors, among others.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified the position of the upper chamber through a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in Abuja.

According to him, lawmaking comes with huge obligations globally and the senate cannot discharge such responsibilities to the detriment of the citizenry.

Recall that the senate had resolved against Clause 60 of the Electoral Bill, 2026.

In specific terms, the clause stipulates that the presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, in real time…

Meanwhile the senate subsequently reviewed the contentious clause to further strengthen the electronic transmission of results, in response to public demand, though with a caveat that in the event of internet failure, Form EC8A would serve as the primary means of result collation.

Bamidele, however, described Clause 60, 3, of the Electoral Bill, 2026 as an initiative that any legislature or parliament globally would have embraced ordinarily.

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LASHMA URGES RESIDENTS TO EMBRACE ‘ILERA EKO’ FOR QUALITY HEALTHCARE

The Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, has urged residents to enrol in the Lagos State Health Insurance Plan, popularly known as ‘Ilera Eko’.

Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Emmanuella Zamba, made the appeal in Lagos at the close of a two-day capacity building for journalists.

Mainland-FM reports that the training focused on the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme and was organised by LASHMA.

Zamba described Ilera Eko as a guaranteed health initiative and urged residents to embrace the scheme to enhance their quality of life and longevity, just as the Permanent Secretary said the plan was a highly subsidised social health insurance programme designed by the state government for all Lagos residents.

According to her, residents should not wait for life-threatening emergencies before seeking healthcare solutions, warning against situations where patients could not pay hospital bills or women were detained after childbirth due to unpaid fees.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, says Lagos remains the driving force behind Nigeria’s economic growth with 22 per cent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product GDP.

The Governor made this known at the Business Council session of the Oniru Business and Cultural Day held on Saturday night in Lagos, stressing that the state contributed roughly one-fifth of the country’s total GDP.

This, he said, makes the state a primary engine of national growth and productivity, just as Governor Sanwo-Olu attributed the development to deliberate governance choices and sustained reforms, citing the THEMES+ development agenda, which had strengthened the foundations of economic prosperity.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, however, reassured the business community that the state remained open for business, noting that Lagos State would continue to prioritise infrastructure, job creation, youth empowerment, and security.

Represented by his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the administration is committed to protecting the gains made by prioritising security and infrastructure among others.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also highlighted the state’s efforts in revenue generation and fiscal responsibility.

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LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND ORDERS TIGHT SECURITY AFTER MILE 12 ROBBERY ALARM

The Lagos State Police Command has directed officers to intensify security operations along the Mile 12–Ketu axis following a social media report alleging robbery attacks on motorists in the area.

Recall that a X user, @lollypeezle, raised the alarm in a post on Monday, claiming that armed youths were attacking vehicles around Mile 12.

Reacting to the post via her X handle, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, Abimbola Adebisi, said the Commissioner of Police had ordered immediate action to strengthen security in the area.

Adeebisi also urged residents and motorists to promptly report suspicious activities or emergencies through its dedicated helplines.

She also advised members of the public to make use of the following numbers below, 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929, whenever such incidents occur to enable a swift response by security personnel.

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OGUN ADC SUSPENDS CHAIRMAN OVER REPORTED CHAOS AT PARTY EVENT

The Ogun State Executive Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Femi Soluade and suspended him from office as Chairman pending the outcome of an investigation into a series of allegations levelled against him.

The party condemned Soluade for allegedly leading armed individuals to disrupt the governorship declaration of Jimi Lawal in Abeokuta.

ADC said in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo, that the party has appointed the deputy chairman, Adedeji Abiodun, as acting state chairman pending the conclusion of the investigation.

A disciplinary panel was also constituted to examine the allegations against Soluade.

The panel was mandated to submit its report to the State Executive Committee within 14 days.

The statement read: “The State Executive Committee (SEC) of our great party, at its duly convened meeting held today, Sunday, 15th February, 2026, at the party State Secretariat, deliberated extensively on the numerous allegations levelled against the state chairman, Otunba Dr Femi Soluade.

The committee said such conduct, if established after due investigation, was not only unbecoming of a party leader but also constituted a serious breach of party discipline and a threat to public peace and safety.

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TROOPS NEUTRALISE TWO TERRORISTS, RECOVER WEAPONS IN ONDO STATE

Troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army have neutralised two terrorists during a tactical operation conducted along Akunu–Auga road in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 32 Artillery Brigade, Irabor Njoka, made this known in a statement on Monday in Akure.

Njoka said the operation was carried out on Feb. 14 by troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Auga, explaining that the troops acting on credible intelligence on the movement of the criminals within the area, swiftly mobilised and intercepted the suspects.

The Assistant Director stressed that the troops’ interception of the criminals led to a firefight that resulted in neutralising two of the terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

He therefore revealed that the success of the operation highlighted the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to deny criminals freedom of action and movement, as well as to protect lives and property across the state.

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GOVERNOR OKPEBHOLO OF EDO STATE NAMES MOMODU COMMISSIONER-DESIGNATE

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo has approved the appointment of Andrew Momodu as Commissioner-designate.

The decision was announced in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, in Benin.

Ikhilor described Momodu as a seasoned political administrator and public affairs practitioner with extensive governance and security coordination experience.

He said Momodu had held strategic roles across government and party structures over the years, noting that the appointee previously served as Special Adviser on Security and Public Order, coordinating critical safety matters across the state.

Momodu also served as political aide to Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo governor and ex-national chairman of the APC.

According to Ikhilor, Momodu has remained active in civic discourse and political education to promote democratic participation.

In 2023, Momodu contested a House of Representatives seat to deepen his commitment to public service.

His nomination will be forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for confirmation, in line with constitutional provisions. 

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POLICE ARREST FOUR SUSPECTS OVER MURDER OF THREE CAMEROONIANS IN ANAMBRA STATE

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four additional suspects over the murder of three Cameroonian nationals in the state.

Recall that the gang of suspects reportedly kidnapped and murdered the victims in November 2025 and dumped their bodies in a river in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state, while some days later, police operatives found their decomposing bodies floating on the river.

Following the discovery, the command launched an investigation which led to the arrest of two suspects who had been assisting with information.

However, in a statement released on Monday, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that through the confession of the two suspects already in custody, four more suspects were arrested by security operatives on February 13, 2026.

Ikenga also disclosed that the suspects, all males, were arrested in a shrine located in Nando, Anambra East LGA, after a fierce gun duel, stating that two pump action guns, one locally made Beretta pistol, one machete, assorted ammunition and criminal charms were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

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SULTAN OF SOKOTO URGES MUSLIMS TO LOOK FOR RAMADAN CRESCENT TUESDAY

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has urged Muslims across the country to search for the crescent of Ramadan immediately after sunset on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, corresponding to 29 Sha’aban 1447 A.H.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, made the declaration in the press statement signed by the Secretary-General of NSCIA, Prof Is-haq Oloyede.

The Council said the crescent should be observed after sunset on the specified date, noting that the National Moon Sighting Committee, in consultation with the National Space Research and Development Agency, has put facilities in place to monitor and report credible sightings.

According to the statement, if the crescent is sighted on Tuesday evening, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA will declare Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan.

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NIGERIA’S INFLATION RATE DROPS TO 15.10%

Nigeria’s headline inflation eased slightly to 15.1 per cent in January 2026, down from 15.15 per cent in December 2025.

This was revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, on Monday.

At the previous release, the NBS adopted a revamped methodology that it said better reflects real-world prices.

This comes ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the Central Bank of Nigeria expected to be held between February 23 and 24, 2026.

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PRESIDENT ERDOGAN POSTPONES UAE VISIT OVER HEALTH CONCERNS

Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan, has announced postponing a visit to Abu Dhabi because Emirate leader Mohamed Al-Nahyan had a health problem.

The message, posted by Erdogan’s team on X, said he had talked with President Al-Nahyan by phone.

The three-paragraph message revealed that during the course of the call, President Erdogan expressed his sadness over the health problem experienced by President Al Nahyan and wished him a prompt recovery.

According to the statement, Erdogan would travel to the United Arab Emirates at a later date.

Recall that the Emirati leader’s team on Saturday evening released photos taken the same day showing Al Nahyan, known as MBZ, smiling and apparently in good health, with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Al Thani.

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FRESH ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 12 PEOPLE 

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 12 people since dawn on Sunday, while a military official said the attacks were in response to ceasefire violations.

Despite a US-brokered truce that entered its second phase last month, violence has continued in the Palestinian territory, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for violating the agreement.

The civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authorities, said one strike hit a tent of displaced people in northern Gaza, and another targeted an area in the south.

The agency said in a statement. Five people were killed, and several were injured when an air strike targeted a tent sheltering displaced people in Jabalia in the north.

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STAFF IN NETANYAHU’S OFFICE DISCOVER ‘SUSPICIOUS ENVELOPE’

Staff in the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discovered a suspicious envelope on Monday.

According to Israeli media reports on Monday, there was no danger to the public, citing a relevant department in the prime minister’s office.

Local Reports have it that the envelope reportedly contained vials with an unknown substance, revealing that the envelope has been sent to a laboratory for examination.

Meanwhile, a government spokeswoman declined to confirm the reports and directed inquiries to Israel Police, which initially did not comment.

Recall that this is not the first of such incident involving suspicious mail at the prime minister’s office.

Security forces most recently examined another envelope in November, which was ultimately deemed harmless.

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CAF TO INVESTIGATE AL AHLY VS ASFAR INCIDENT

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has strongly condemned the incidents that occurred during the CAF Champions League fixture between Al Ahly SC of Egypt and AS FAR of Morocco in Cairo on Sunday.

Recall that the match, part of the group stage of Africa’s premier inter-club competition, was played amid heightened tension, with reports of crowd disturbances and other unsporting conduct during and after the encounter.

In a statement published on its official website on Monday, CAF described the incidents as unacceptable and confirmed that the matter had been referred to its Disciplinary Board for thorough investigation and possible sanctions.

CAF also reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on violence, misconduct, and any actions that tarnish the image of African football, stressing that safety, respect, and fair play remain central to its competitions.

Recall that the CAF Champions League is Africa’s most prestigious club tournament, organised annually by CAF, and features top clubs from across the continent.

Under CAF regulations, clubs can face disciplinary measures including fines, stadium bans, matches played behind closed doors, or other sanctions if found culpable for crowd trouble or breaches of competition rules.

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SUPER EAGLES TO FACE JORDAN IN FRIENDLY, AWAIT FIFA WORLD CUP RULING

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to take on Jordan in an international friendly in Amman during the March 23–31 FIFA window.

According to a report by NTA on Monday, the match will mark the first-ever senior meeting between the two nations and forms part of Jordan’s preparation for their debut World Cup appearance.

Reports also indicate that Iran is exploring a March fixture against the three-time African champions, while a potential June clash with Portugal is under consideration.

However, Nigeria’s participation in the game will depend on FIFA’s upcoming ruling on the country’s eligibility protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo, DR Congo.

Recall that Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco, marking the second consecutive time the West African country will not qualify for the World Cup.

The outcome of the FIFA meeting could potentially reinstate the Super Eagles into the intercontinental play-offs in Mexico later this month, where one of the last World Cup tickets will be decided.

With both Nigeria and DR Congo reportedly prepared to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if dissatisfied, world football’s governing body is said to be treating the file with exceptional caution to avoid reputational damage.

 

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