Year: 2026

ARCN to host Plant Breeders Conference, boosts Tinubu’s food sustainability drive

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Academic Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has pledged full support for the upcoming Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria (PBAN) Conference, an initiative aimed at advancing the nation’s food sustainability agenda under President Bola Ahmad Tinubu. The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary of ARCN during a meeting with a delegation from PBAN at the council’s headquarters on Monday. He emphasized the crucial role of plant breeding in agricultural research and called for its integration into the curricula of agricultural colleges, polytechnics, and institutes nationwide. “Teaching plant breeding at…

Senate approves ₦140bn for North Central Development Commission’s 2026 Budget

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission has sanctioned a ₦140 billion budget allocation for the Commission for the 2026 fiscal year. Senator Titus Zam, Chairman of the Committee, made the announcement following the Commission’s budget defence session at the National Assembly on Monday. He explained that the funding is intended to fast-track development across the North Central region. According to Senator Zam, the approved allocation will support critical infrastructure projects, security interventions, agricultural development, and humanitarian programs aimed at addressing regional challenges. He emphasized the committee’s insistence…

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI seize ₦37 million, disrupt terrorist supply lines in North East

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have successfully sustained operations targeting terrorist logistics networks, recovering ₦37 million linked to terrorist financing and crippling their supply chains in the region. On 16 February 2026, Sector 1 troops, in collaboration with local vigilante forces, executed a night ambush along a known crossing route used by ISWAP elements moving from the Cameroon axis into Nigeria. The terrorists, caught off-guard by the concealed deployment, withdrew in disarray after coming under effective fire. Subsequent searches of the area led…

NiDCOM welcomes 13 Nigerians rescued from trafficking network in Ghana

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has received 13 Nigerian nationals rescued from a human trafficking network in Ghana, reaffirming ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable citizens abroad. Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana for facilitating the safe return of the victims. In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa also expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for consistently supporting rescue operations through the provision of transportation and other…

NASS Joint Committee seeks funding priority for Solid Minerals Ministry, hails sector reforms

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development came under legislative review on Monday as the National Assembly Joint Committee on Solid Minerals Development called for the sector to be placed on first-line charge to guarantee sustainable funding, even as lawmakers commended the Ministry for its ongoing reforms and performance. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, appeared before the joint committee to present the Ministry’s 2024 budget performance and projections for the 2026 fiscal year. The session, co-chaired by Senator Ekong Sampson and Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, evolved beyond…

DSS arraigns El-Rufai over alleged NSA Phone interception

Emporium Reporters

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. According to court documents, the DSS based part of its case on comments allegedly made by El-Rufai during a live television interview on ARISE TV on February 13, where he reportedly acknowledged knowledge of the interception. The security agency argued that the alleged action posed a threat to public safety and national security, warning…

FCT Police arrests neighbours over Teen’s death after domestic dispute in Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested two neighbours in connection with the death of a 16-year-old boy following a violent domestic incident in the Byazhin area of Abuja. Police authorities disclosed that the incident occurred late on February 12, 2026, when officers at the Byazhin Divisional Headquarters received a distress call at about 11:45 p.m. reported a serious altercation involving a teenager identified as Chidera Benjamin. Operatives were immediately deployed to the scene, where preliminary investigations revealed that the teenager had allegedly attacked his mother during a…

NOA reaffirms lead Govt Communication role in engagement with FRSC

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has reaffirmed the agency’s statutory mandate as the Federal Government’s principal public communication institution, highlighting its extensive grassroots presence and direct engagement with citizens nationwide. Issa-Onilu made this known during an interview session with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The media interaction was conducted by members of FRSC’s Safe Wheel Nigeria Magazine team, led by Mr Festus Everistus, alongside Miss Chioma Amajor Love and RC Amaka. Speaking during the session,…

El-Rufai: Tinubu’s angry kingmaker By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

Alhaji Shehu Shagari first met General Murtala Mohammed in August 1974. Newly appointed Federal Commissioner for Communications, Murtala, wrote a memo for cabinet approval and needed financial clearance from Shagari, then Commissioner for Finance.   Shagari recalled the encounter: “I studied the memo carefully and made a number of comments and suggestions. He replied it was too late to make any amendments given the urgency. Thereupon I expressed my regret for being unable to support the memo. He took leave of me, apparently disappointed. When the memo came before the…

Troops repel coordinated terrorist attacks in Pulka, Mandaragirau

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, have successfully repelled coordinated terrorist attacks on military formations in Pulka and Mandaragirau communities of Borno State, reinforcing ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North-East. The military disclosed that the attacks occurred late on February 14, 2026, when terrorists launched coordinated offensives aimed at overrunning defensive positions in both locations. According to a statement issued by the task force’s Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, troops demonstrated discipline, tactical coordination and superior firepower, ultimately forcing the attackers to retreat…