Day: February 13, 2026

‘4,654 killed, 3,141 kidnapped in Nigeria in one year’ – Report

Aminu Imam
Report on insecurity

…Warns insecurity may worsen ahead of 2027 elections Violent conflicts across Nigeria claimed 4,654 lives in 2025, while 3,141 persons were kidnapped in 1,274 incidents nationwide, according to the Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database (NVCD) 2025 released by Nextier Advisory Ltd., which warned that insecurity may worsen without urgent reforms in intelligence, governance, and conflict prevention. The findings were unveiled in Abuja during the launch of the 2026 Nigeria Security and Conflict Outlook, themed: ‘When Capability Meets Resolve’, alongside a new predictive security platform designed to strengthen data-driven conflict response and…

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Nigeria’s crude oil output rises to 1.459m bpd in January – OPEC

Aminu Imam
Crude oil rises

Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.459 million barrels per day (bpd) in January 2026, reinforcing its position as Africa’s largest oil producer despite falling short of its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota. The figures were disclosed in OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) released on Wednesday. The latest data highlights modest month-on-month growth in output but underscores Nigeria’s continued struggle to meet its assigned production ceiling. The increase signals gradual recovery in output levels, even as structural and operational challenges persist in the oil sector. While…

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Money Laundering: “El-Rufa’i defies agents at Abuja airport, avoids arrest

Aminu Imam
el rufai on arrest

…”He’ll honour EFCC invitation on Monday” – Counsel Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday. Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Esop Akpan, disclosed this yesterday while reacting to the alleged attempt by security operatives to arrest el-Rufa’i at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Akpan said his client was approached by security agents yesterday afternoon upon his arrival from Cairo aboard EgyptAir flight MS 877. Describing the development as a violation of constitutional rights, the lawyer accused authorities…

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‘Aso Villa to exit national grid by March’ – State House 

Aminu Imam
Aso Villa national grid

The Presidential Villa in Abuja is set to fully disconnect from the national power grid by March 2026, as the Federal Government finalises its solar mini-grid initiative at the seat of power. The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi, disclosed on Wednesday, during the 2026 Budget defence session before the Senate Committee on Special Duties at the 10th National Assembly. He explained that installation of the solar infrastructure was completed in late 2025 and has since been undergoing testing and technical assessments. Fashedemi expressed optimism that the Villa…

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2027: “It’ll be hard to sell northern candidate to southern voters” – Amaechi warns ADC

Aminu Imam
Amaechi on North

…Pledges loyalty to party’s flagbearer Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against fielding a northern presidential candidate in 2027, warning that it may be difficult to convince southern voters to support such a move. Speaking in Kano on February 12, 2026, Amaechi said the party must carefully weigh regional dynamics ahead of the general election, stressing that the current balance of power in the country cannot be ignored. “It will be hard to get the South to give up…

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“I’ll resign if Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Rd project fails quality test” – Umahi vows

Aminu Imam
Umahi vows

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has vowed to resign if the ongoing Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road project is found to be substandard, declaring his readiness to subject the work to independent testing.  Umahi stated this while defending his budget before a joint session of the 10th National Assembly on Wednesday. During the session, questions were raised over the award of a section of the project to a company some legislators described as unknown and previously associated with generator sales. Adams Oshiomhole demanded to know why the contract was taken from an established…

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“BVAS doesn’t require Internet on election day” – Yakubu

Aminu Imam
Yakubu on BVAS

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has clarified that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not require internet connectivity to function on election day. Yakubu explained that voter accreditation using BVAS is conducted offline, stressing that the device is designed to verify voters through fingerprint and facial recognition without relying on internet access. According to him, connectivity is only needed later for the transmission of election data to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He made the clarification amid recurring concerns and public debates…

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“Kano govt. writes FG seeking to stop Kwankwaso from coming to Kano” – Buba Galadima

Aminu Imam
Buba Galadima on KNSG

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has alleged that Kano State governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, wrote to the Federal Government seeking to stop the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from coming the state. Galadima made the allegation during an interview yesterday, while reacting to reported moves by the United States Congress to impose a visa ban on Kwankwaso over allegations of Christian persecution. “We are aware that the Kano State Government has written to the Federal Government trying to prevent Kwankwaso from coming into…

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