FCT elections: 11,288 Ad Hoc staff, 3,345 BVAS ready
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines will be used in every polling unit for the upcoming Federal Capital Territory area council elections, with results to be uploaded to the commission’s Result Viewing Portal to improve transparency. The INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday, outlining preparations for...
How presidential panel rack up ₦13bn bill
A review of Nigeria’s federal spending shows that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have set up at least 46 committees since May 2023, with allocations and recorded expenditures exceeding ₦13 billion within three years. Analysis of budget documents from 2023 to 2026, alongside payment records from the public finance platform GovSpend, indicates that about ₦12.99 billion was...
8 missing skiers found dead in California
Eight of the nine skiers missing in California after an avalanche have been found dead and one remains missing in horrific blizzard conditions. Rescuers have been desperately searching for the group, which was caught in the avalanche in the early hours of Tuesday on Castle Peak in the Tahoe area. "We are still looking for one of the members at this...
NGX records first commercial paper listing with Dangote Cement
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has recorded its first commercial paper listing with the admission of Dangote Cement Plc’s Series 1 and Series 2 commercial papers under its N500 billion Commercial Paper Issuance Programme. The NGX made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The two series worth N119.87 billion were admitted for trading on NGX on...
Bodo/Glimt stun Inter as Gordon hits four in Newcastle Champions League romp
Bodo/Glimt stunned Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, beating last season's runners-up 3-1 in the first leg of their knockout phase play-off tie after Anthony Gordon scored four as Newcastle United hammered Qarabag 6-1 in Azerbaijan. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were held by Club Brugge in a thrilling 3-3 draw, while Bayer Leverkusen took a big step towards reaching...
Stock market reverses loss as investors gain N684bn
The Nigerian stock market reversed its previous day’s losses on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, gaining N684 billion and boosting investors’ portfolios The uptick was as a result of renewed investor interest in stocks such as Beta Glass, Mansard, Skyway Aviation Handling Company, Zichis Agro Allied Industries, Japaul Gold, and 29 other equities. The market capitalisation which opened at N121.552 trillion, increased...
EPL: Arsenal blow two-goal lead in Wolves draw
Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered a major blow as they squandered a two-goal lead and conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a damaging 2-2 draw at rock-bottom Wolves on Wednesday. Arsenal were on course to move seven points clear at the top after Bukayo Saka's early opener and Piero Hincapie's second-half strike put them in control at Molineux. But Mikel Arteta’s...
Tinubu, German Chancellor Merz agree to boost security, power cooperation
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz have agreed to deepen bilateral relations, focusing on cooperation in security, electricity, and railway development. During a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen partnerships across key sectors, including creative arts and skills development. President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s need for support in improving power transmission under the...
Tinubu calls for unity as Ramadan coincides with Christian Lent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peace and stability as the 2026 Ramadan fasting period begins alongside the Christian Lenten season. The President made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the Ramadan Tafsir at the State House Mosque in Abuja, describing the overlap of the two religious observances as a “sign” of the need for...
EFCC secures court order to seize mineral-laden trucks in Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained an interim attachment order on nine trucks conveying assorted solid minerals as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal mining in Kwara and Oyo states. The order was granted on Tuesday by Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, following an ex parte application filed by the...
