The House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation has reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to strengthening Nigeria’s tourism sector by providing stronger legislative backing and strategic oversight. Richard Bamisile, made the remarks during a familiarisation visit to the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) in Abuja. “Tourism is not merely about leisure; it is a powerful catalyst for economic growth, job creation, social cohesion and international diplomacy. While acknowledging that the NTDA Act of 2022 is still undergoing activation and refinement, the DG expressed optimism that sustained legislative support would address existing gaps. The visit concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism sector for economic prosperity and national pride.

Nigerian youths have been urged to embrace skills acquisition and other empowerment opportunities provided in various intervention programmes offered by the government and other stakeholders as a safeguard against falling into the trap of substance abuse and other social vices. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd), gave the charge in his remarks as the Special Guest of Honour at the launch of a youth empowerment and skill acquisition programme by Grassroots Bridge Builders, a non-governmental organisation, held in Abuja on Thursday. He expressed happiness that the programme aligns with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration on youth empowerment, skills acquisition, job creation, and social inclusion. “To the young people here today, I want to say this clearly: you are not a problem to be managed; you are a solution to be empowered. Your talents, creativity, and resilience are needed to build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said the partnership reflected the growing importance of personal data protection to citizens’ rights and national development. According to him, this year’s global data privacy theme, ‘Own Your Data’, underscored the need for individuals to understand and exercise control over how their data is used. “Data controllers and processors must obey the laws and regulations governing data privacy. That is why it is important to look at data privacy in a way that benefits our people and our country,” he said. Olatunji recalled that Nigeria began formal efforts on data protection in 2019 and now has full national legislation on data privacy and protection, following the law’s enactment in June 2023.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties, increasing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja. According to Amupitan, the two newly registered parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). “They are the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP). Certificates of registration will be handed over to the two new political parties in due course,” he said.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has successfully rescued a three-year-old girl abducted in Abak Local Government Area and arrested a suspect, following a swift, intelligence-driven response to a distress call on Wednesday. The dramatic rescue, which occurred barely hours after the incident was reported, has been widely commended as a major boost to public confidence in security efforts across the state. ALSO READ: Edo: Police rescue two kidnap victims, arrest eight suspectsThe operation led to the arrest of one Saturday Ofonmbuk, 29, from Afaha Ikot Inyang Village in Ukanafun Local Government Area, and the successful rescue of the abducted child. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the suspect’s motive and to establish whether he has links to similar crimes within or outside the state. In a stern warning, the Command declared that Akwa Ibom State will not serve as a haven for child abductors or criminal elements, stressing that anyone involved in crimes against children will face the full weight of the law.

Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has opened up about what he described as one of the biggest regrets of his life, saying his focus on work and money cost him a relationship with a woman he believed was his soulmate. However, Timini said he was more focused on building his career and achieving financial stability, believing that providing money was his way of showing love. He added that he expected her to understand his frequent absence because he felt pressure to work harder and secure a better future. The actor also explained that listening, paying attention to small details, being present, and showing genuine interest in a partner’s daily life are key parts of keeping a relationship stable. Timini also admitted that selfishness and poor communication played a role in some of his past relationships.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has thrown her weight behind the real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing any failure to adopt the system as a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic future. The Kogi Central lawmaker made her position known in a post on her official Facebook page on Thursday. Her words; “I, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, support the real-time electronic transmission of results. Failure of such steals a lethal assault to Nigeria’s democracy.”ALSO READ: JUST IN: Senate rejects electronic transmission of election resultsHer statement comes amid renewed national debate following the Senate’s recent rejection of a proposed amendment that sought to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory. Building on her position, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that real-time electronic transmission is no longer optional in a modern democracy, but a necessary safeguard against manipulation, delays, and post-election disputes.

A man allegedly smashed his girlfriend’s phone after she rejected his marriage proposal at a supermarket in Lagos. The incident was captured in a video that later went viral on X (formerly Twitter). The clip shows the man going down on one knee in the middle of a busy supermarket aisle, holding a ring as shoppers watched and recorded the scene. The woman appeared uncomfortable and repeatedly asked him to stop, but bystanders continued filming as the situation became tense. The situation escalated when the man allegedly smashed a phone he claimed to have bought for her on the floor, saying he had spent a lot of money on her despite her rejection.

The party described the 10th Senate’s decision as retrogressive and called on all Nigerians to reject it. The party also faulted the Senate’s decision to shorten the notice periods for elections and the timelines for the publication of the list of candidates. According to the ADC, the Senate’s actions reveal the ruling party’s fear of free and fair elections in 2027, despite its political dominance. “As Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrogression of the Nigerian Senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it. “We also call on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submission.

The House of Representatives has constituted a bipartisan conference committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, in accordance with legislative procedure for harmonising areas of difference between the versions of the Bill passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly. This development was contained in an internal correspondence dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, conveying the directive of the House leadership. According to the correspondence, the bipartisan conference committee is composed as follows: Rep. Adebayo Balogun – Chairman; Rep. Fred Agbedi; Rep. Sada Soli; Rep. Ahmadu Jaha; Rep. Iduma Igariwey Enwo; Rep. Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Rep. Zainab Gimba. ALSO READ: Electoral bill: Reps step down consideration of outstanding clausesThe bipartisan conference committee was mandated to confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both Chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly. Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who confirmed this via a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja, reiterated the House’s commitment to advancing electoral reforms that strengthen transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has suggested that wealth does not guarantee happiness. In a post shared on X on Thursday, Musk reflected on the popular saying that money cannot buy happiness, implying that it carries a deeper truth. He tweeted, “Whoever said “money can’t buy happiness” really knew what they were talking about 😔.”His remarks come just days after he became the first individual to reach a net worth of more than $800 billion following a major corporate deal involving his companies. Before the merger, Musk held significant stakes in both SpaceX and xAI, with SpaceX alone accounting for the largest share of his assets. He also maintains major holdings in Tesla, including shares and stock options, alongside a potential future compensation package tied to long-term performance targets.

A Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing and deputy vice chancellor (Administration) at Nile University of Nigeria, Professor Prema Kirubakaran, has allayed fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace humans, noting that the technology is designed to enhance human capacity, innovation and productivity. “Will AI define who we are as human beings, or will we continue to define AI? In an interview after the lecture, Professor Dogo disclosed that Nile University has made AI literacy compulsory for all students and staff, describing it as essential for relevance in the 21st Century. Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of Nile University, Mr John Vermaaten, expressed optimism about the future of artificial intelligence, particularly in healthcare, business automation and drug research. “I am very hopeful, and I believe Nile University can be a leader in AI research in Nigeria and globally.”He acknowledged that while AI remains transformative and full of uncertainties, the university’s academic and management team is well positioned to promote responsible innovation.

Bandits have reportedly released the remaining worshippers abducted during a Sunday attack on churches in the Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. He also commended the Kaduna State Government, noting that Governor Uba Sani had demonstrated commitment to protecting lives and property in the state. “I can confirm to you that the remaining worshippers have been released, but I cannot confirm the exact number,” the police source said. Efforts to get confirmation from the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says that the proposed Aba Commercial Smart City, a strategically situated Public-Private Partnership investment hub sitting on a 140-hectare land at Osisioma, will, on completion, launch Aba into an industrial centre for sustainable economic development and job creation. Otti, who was speaking on Wednesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Aba Commercial Smart City and United Market Leaders/Traders held in Umuahia, noted that the project, when realised, will practically transform the state and modernise trade, commerce, manufacturing and logistics. “When we talk about the Aba Commercial Smart City, it is a project that will significantly transform Aba and indeed Abia.”In an address by the Group Managing Director of Aba Commercial Smart City, Professor Chinedu Nebo, represented by the President, Aba Commercial Smart City, Amb. He said that the Aba Commercial Smart City is a symbol of prosperity through enterprise, designed to restore Aba’s pride as Africa’s commercial heartbeat and connect it seamlessly to global trade corridors. In his technical speech, the Manager, Technical Services, Aba Commercial Smart City, Mr David Okoro, said that the project is built on four core pillars of innovation, including automated manufacturing, medical, commerce, hospitality and smart housing, logistics efficiency and smart energy, noting that the smart city is a resilient city where business thrives on intelligence and connectivity.

Pedestrians walk past an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei 225 stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on February 3, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)Stocks mostly fell Thursday to track more losses on Wall Street, where tech firms were again under pressure as fears over vast AI investments and extended valuations gained momentum. The selling extended into Asia, where Seoul — which has cruised more than 20 per cent to multiple record highs this year thanks to its strong tech presence — sank 3.9 per cent. Oil prices fell more than two per cent at one point after Iran and the United States said nuclear talks would go ahead in Oman this week. And Sony rallied nearly six per cent after announcing it had hiked its full-year sales and profit forecasts thanks to a weaker yen.