Author: Naija Daily News

photo: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike By Deborah Nnamdi In a dramatic political shift less than 72 hours before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Joshua Ishaku Musa. The move followed the direct intervention of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and was finalized on Wednesday during a bipartisan stakeholders’ meeting in Bwari Area Council. The announcement effectively narrows the contest for the Bwari chairmanship seat ahead of the February 21 polls, reshaping the political…

By Deborah Nnamdi President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill into law, formally repealing the Electoral Act 2022 and establishing a new legal framework to guide Nigeria’s elections ahead of the 2027 general polls. The President assented to the legislation on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, around 5:00 p.m., in the presence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, alongside other principal officers of the National Assembly. The signing came days after the National Assembly harmonised and passed the amended bill on Tuesday, following deliberations that drew opposition…

By Deborah Nnamdi Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has projected that the naira could appreciate to as low as N1,100 to the dollar this year, citing the impact of the Federal Government’s industrial and economic reform policies. Dangote made the projection on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, while speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Industrial Policy in Abuja. The event was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior government officials. According to him, ongoing reforms are already yielding positive results, particularly for manufacturers, who he said are beginning to feel the benefits of government policies. “I…

By Deborah Nnamdi No fewer than 37 persons have reportedly died following suspected exposure to toxic gas at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, raising fresh concerns over unsafe mining operations in the area. The tragic incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, was said to have happened after miners allegedly dug deep into the ground and were exposed to a deadly gas. The Wase Youth Leader, Shafi Sambo, who confirmed the development said he received a distress call at dawn informing him of the incident. “It happened at a mining…

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…