“Three very serious allegations were made last week by the former Minister of the FCT and former Governor of Kaduna state Malam Nasir el-Rufa’i. Firstly, that he bugged Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the President’s National Security Advisor (NSA)’s phone, and is privy to his most sensitive conversations, secondly that the National Security Advisor’s office has imported large sums of dangerous chemical weapons into the country for unspecified purposes; and thirdly, that there is a conspiracy between the NSA and Governor Uba Sani, of Kaduna state, his successor in office, to “destroy…
Read MoreDay: February 18, 2026
Tinubu names Uba Sani ‘Renewed Hope Ambassador’, Deputy DG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna State, as ‘Renewed Hope Ambassador’ and Deputy Director-General for party outreach, engagement, and mobilisation. The appointment is with immediate effect. The President, as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), appointed Governor Sani to the role for his salient leadership and organisational abilities. The governor’s responsibilities will include working in close collaboration with the director-general of Renewed Hope Ambassador and the party hierarchy, particularly the national chairman of the APC, to ensure harmony, inclusiveness, and strategic coordination across…
Read More“Nigeria imports $4bn worth of cotton, textiles annually” — Arewa Cotton CEO
Managing Director of Arewa Cotton and Allied Products Ltd., Anibe Achimugu, has revealed that Nigeria imports an estimated $4 billion worth of cotton, textiles and garments annually, warning that the trend is crippling local production and threatening jobs across the value-chain. Achimugu, who also serves as President of the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), made the disclosure during an interview on television yesterday. He attributed the decline of Nigeria’s cotton, textile and garment (CTG) sector to smuggling, high production costs and inadequate power supply, which have forced many textile…
Read MoreNASS approves ₦1.5tr Army Budget for 2026
The joint committee of the 10th Senate and the House of Representatives has approved the Nigerian Army proposal to spend ₦1.50 trillion in its 2026 budget. Lawmakers also pledged to ensure that funds allocated to the Army are released promptly to support effective implementation. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, announced the decision after a closed-door budget defence session in Abuja with the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu. According to Yar’Adua, members of the joint committee expressed satisfaction with the Army’s budget presentation. However, he noted…
Read MoreSaudi declares today start of Ramadan
Saudi Arabia has announced today Wednesday, February 18, as the first day of Ramadan 2026. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday night. Several other countries, including Qatar, also declared Wednesday as the start of the holy month. In Nigeria, Muslims are awaiting an official declaration from the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar. As President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, his announcement determines the formal commencement of fasting nationwide. The Council had urged Muslims across the country to search for…
Read More“We track, send movements of bandits to DSS, Police, but they don’t act” – Gov. Lawal
Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that security agencies don’t take action on critical security information that could help them in dealing with bandits, terrorists and other criminals in the state. He disclosed that with the aid of drones and other technological platforms, his government is able to track the movement of the terrorists and the information is relayed to the Police, Military, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), but they often ignore such information. According to him, despite deploying surveillance…
Read MoreFAAN bans cash payments from Feb. 29
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that all cash payments and collections across its operations must stop by February 29, 2026. Naija News reports that the directive is part of a wider move to implement a cashless system in line with government policy. FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku, issued the order in a memo to all agency departments. The move follows the Federal Executive Council’s decision for government agencies to phase out cash transactions. All financial dealings within FAAN are now expected to use approved electronic channels.…
Read MoreSenate cuts election notice to 300 days, retains manual backup
…As H’Reps protest The 10th National Assembly was engulfed in dramatic scenes yesterday, as both chambers moved to revisit and amend key provisions of the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections, sparking protests, rowdy sessions and a sharply divided vote on electronic transmission of results. The Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, reducing the statutory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days. The amendment grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) flexibility to schedule the 2027 general elections…
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