Author: Naija Daily News

Photo: AbdulSamad Rabiu By Deborah Nnamdi Nigerian industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu has seen his net worth rise to an estimated $12.3 billion as of February 18, 2026, driven by renewed investor confidence in his publicly listed companies and sustained gains in Nigeria’s industrial and consumer goods sectors. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Rabiu’s fortune jumped by $915 million in a single day—an 8.1 per cent increase—bringing his year-to-date gain to $2.13 billion, or about 21 per cent. The surge was largely fueled by strong performance in BUA Foods Plc and cement-related equities on the Nigerian Exchange. Rabiu, popularly referred to…

By Deborah Nnamdi Saudi Arabia on Tuesday officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon, marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447. With the Hilal confirmed, the holy month of Ramadan will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, while Taraweeh prayers will be observed after the Isha prayer on Tuesday night. A post by Muslim on X stated, “BREAKING: Saudi Arabia announces the first day of fasting for Ramadan to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Taraweeh will begin tonight on the first evening of the blessed month. It’s recommended to follow the fasting time designated by your local community and…

By Deborah Nnamdi No fewer than six persons have died while two others sustained injuries in a multiple road crash that occurred around 8 a.m. on Tuesday at the Old Toll Gate, Ota, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State. The accident involved an articulated vehicle, a vegetable oil tanker with registration number EKY 913 YH, and two other vehicles. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the tanker reportedly suffered brake failure while navigating the busy toll gate area, causing the driver to lose control and ram into other vehicles and bystanders. The spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday said it thwarted a planned attack by suspected bandits on Irawo town in the Oke Ogun area of the state, neutralizing two suspects during a gun duel. The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement, describing the operation as a remarkable display of proactive policing, operational efficiency, and intelligence-led crime prevention. According to him, the breakthrough followed credible information from a concerned citizen who alerted security operatives to the presence of about 10 armed men allegedly hiding in a farm settlement at Elebe Village, Aleniboro, via Irawo…

By Deborah Nnamdi Suspected bandits have abducted at least six travellers along the Naka–Makurdi road in Benue State in the early hours of Tuesday, in an incident that has heightened fresh security concerns in the area. The attack reportedly occurred at Kula village, a community located a short distance from Makurdi, the state capital. Sources said the victims were part of a seven-member group travelling from Ilorin on Monday. According to a relative of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the travellers had initially halted their journey in Ankpa due to security concerns along the route.…

Photo: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a heated plenary session marked by sharp disagreements over key provisions of the proposed legislation. Tensions flared during clause-by-clause consideration of the bill when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) demanded a division on Clause 60(3), which addresses the transmission of election results. The clause provides that in the event of failure in electronic transmission of results, Form EC8A may serve as a basis for manual transmission. The session became rowdy after Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 21-year-old suspected armed robber and cultist during a police operation in Awka, as operatives recovered firearms and repelled an ambush by other gang members. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said operatives attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, Enugu-Ukwu, carried out a search operation in the early hours of February 16 at a criminal hideout in Amikwo, Awka. According to him, the suspect, identified as Chukwuka Solomon, allegedly attempted to escape during the operation. “The Anambra State Police…

By Deborah Nnamdi Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized reported plans to power the Aso Rock Presidential Villa with solar energy, warning that such a move signals possible neglect of Nigeria’s struggling national electricity grid. Obi made his position known in a statement posted on his X account while reacting to reports that the Presidential Villa may disconnect from the national grid and rely fully on solar power. The remarks come amid persistent power supply challenges across the country and renewed debate over the Federal Government’s commitment to fixing Nigeria’s electricity system. In the statement, Obi referenced a campaign…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal Government has approved N5 billion as an intervention fund for traders affected by the devastating fire outbreak at the popular Singer Market in Kano. The approval was disclosed in a statement shared on X by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who said the support was aimed at helping victims rebuild their businesses and restore commercial activities disrupted by the inferno. According to Shettima, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorized the N5 billion relief package following the destruction of goods and livelihoods in the market. “The Federal Government has approved the sum of N5 billion as an intervention fund…

A leadership reshuffle has been announced at the Dangote Group, with founder Aliko Dangote assigning expanded executive responsibilities to his three daughters in what industry observers describe as a deliberate transition and scale-up strategy. According to details reported by ARISE TV, the new structure distributes oversight of some of the conglomerate’s most strategic divisions among the next generation of leadership. Halima Dangote will coordinate the Group’s Family Office while supervising overseas interests and partnerships linked to its Dubai and London operations. Fatima Dangote is taking charge of commercial strategy within the oil and gas portfolio, while Mariya Dangote will manage…