Remi Tinubu seeks prayers for Nigeria as Lent, Ramadan begin Wednesday
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday released separate messages to Christians and Muslims as Lent and Ramadan commence, calling for prayers for peace and prosperity in the country. “I felicitate with the Muslim faithful as you commence this blessed month of Ramadan,” she said. Ramadan is set to begin on Wednesday following the sighting of the crescent moon in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi authorities announcing the development earlier in the afternoon and the Sultan of Sokoto confirming late Tuesday night that the fasting month would commence nationwide. It will last 29 or 30 days based in the moon sighting of Shawwal, another month, PUNCH Online reports. Meanwhile, the Christian season of Lent is also scheduled to begin on Wednesday and is expected to end on April 2, 2026.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 21:03 UTC
Tinubu names Kaduna gov Renewed Hope Ambassador, deputy DG
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, as Renewed Hope Ambassador and Deputy Director-General for party outreach, engagement and mobilisation. The appointment comes just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the election timetable that slated campaigns for November 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The appointment, which took effect immediately, was conveyed in a letter from the President to the governor, according to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday. Onanuga said Tinubu, in his capacity as leader of the All Progressives Congress, appointed Sani to the role on account of “his salient leadership and organisational abilities.”According to the statement, the governor’s responsibilities would include working in close collaboration with the Director-General of Renewed Hope Ambassador and the party hierarchy, particularly the national chairman of the APC, “to ensure harmony, inclusiveness, and strategic coordination across all levels of mobilisation and engagement architecture.”The President said he expected the deputy director-general to “galvanise, promote and disseminate the party’s programmes and policies, including milestones and achievements, thereby strengthening public confidence and reinforcing the message of Renewed Hope nationwide.”In the letter conveying the appointment, Tinubu wrote, “The overall objective of your appointment is to ensure that the entire citizenry is aware of, understands, and ultimately supports our party and its candidates at all levels for broad national acceptance in the 2027 election. “Preparation is critical and essential to achieving this outcome, and your leadership will be central to guiding this process effectively and strategically.”
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 20:37 UTC
FG to integrate emergency health education into school curriculum
NERDC and HEI representatives during the recently concluded Emergency Health Education Curriculum Conference…Photo Credit: HEIThe Health Emergency Initiative, in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, during the recently concluded Emergency Health Education Curriculum Conference, aims to integrate emergency health education into Nigeria’s primary and secondary school system. According to the statement, the conference marked “a significant milestone in advancing health security and emergency preparedness across Nigeria’s education sector.”The organisers said the event convened key stakeholders “from the health, education, policy, and emergency response sectors to deliberate on the integration of Emergency Health Education into Nigeria’s academic curriculum for primary and secondary schools.”Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Salisu Shehu, emphasised the urgency of institutionalising emergency health knowledge within the school system. Participants also witnessed practical demonstrations, including Basic First Aid management for road traffic accidents and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. In his closing remarks, HEI’s Executive Director, Paschal Achunine, said Emergency Health Education “would be integrated into relevant core subjects in both public and private primary and secondary schools nationwide” upon the conclusion of the conference and subsequent approvals. The conference concluded with stakeholders pledging to “accelerate policy adoption, deepen inter-sector collaboration, and ensure the nationwide implementation of the Emergency Health Education curriculum.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 19:27 UTC
DHQ confirms PUNCH’s report on US troops, arms arrival
The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment. This confirmation follows an earlier report of troop deployment by The PUNCH and their arrival alongside security equipment by Sunday PUNCH. “The Defence Headquarters wishes to announce the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield. Uba said, “Nigerian troops, alongside these advisers, will commence a series of joint training engagements and intelligence-focused cooperation initiatives. “These activities are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian troops to effectively identify and neutralise extremist terrorist groups seeking to destabilise the nation.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Three remanded for assaulting Oyo fire service officials
Three suspects were on Tuesday arraigned at Ejioku Magistrate Court in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State and remanded at Agodi Correctional Centre for allegedly assaulting officials of the Oyo State Fire Service while on duty. PUNCH Online reports that members of the agency were attacked by hoodlums who were looting valuables at the scene of a fire incident in Ibadan. The Chairman of the state Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the development in a statement released on Monday in Ibadan, saying the incident occurred at Atari-Agbon in the Oki area of Olodo, Lagelu Local Government Area. He disclosed that an officer injured during the attack was rushed to hospital for medical attention. He said, “Three people were arraigned at Ejioku Magistrate’s court at the early hours of today (Tuesday) for assault of fire officers at Oki.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 18:34 UTC
Temu commits to applicable laws, regulations in Nigeria
CHINESE-based electronic commerce firm with global reach, Temu has responded to allegations of violation of data breaches in Nigeria. Recall that on Monday, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said it has launched an investigation into alleged data violation by Temu in Nigeria. National Commissioner/CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, ordered the immediate investigation, stressing that data processing activities of Temu, may be in violation of the NDP Act. In August 2025, NDPC launched a sector-wide investigation into 1,369 organisations suspected of flouting provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023. The list of the companies published by the Commission at the time also included 392 insurance broker firms, 35 insurance companies, 10 pension companies, and 136 gaming companies.
Source:The Guardian
February 17, 2026 17:14 UTC
Baby monkey named Punch who was abandoned by his mum now only has a cuddly toy for company leaving fans heartbroken
AN abandoned baby monkey has broken hearts after being seen snuggling up to a soft toy, using the stuffed animal as a stand-in parent. Six-month-old Punch, a baby macaque, was filmed clinging to his stuffed orangutan for comfort after his own mother rejected him shortly after he was born. The baby monkey was born in July last year when his mother rejected him, according to reports. “The burden of her [Punch’s mother] first birth may have been a factor,” Shikano said. AdvertisementRECOMMENDED STORIESPunch has cautiously started to play with the other macaques in his enclosure, but as he continues to adjust to life, Punch’s stuffed companion is never too far away.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 16:54 UTC
Quota limits stall MDCN induction for 44 Unilorin doctors
These 25 graduates were fully deserving of induction with the first batch but were not included due to the 150-student quota. Together, these 44 young doctors were supposed to be inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria following the first induction held on November 14. Alabi added that the university approached the MDCN for induction but was informed that only 150 students could be inducted—the institution’s approved quota. Even though there was a pronouncement by the Federal Government that the quota for medical students’ admission would be doubled, that has yet to be implemented. “Each institution has a quota, and the truth is that we cannot induct more than the approved quota, so nobody should blame the MDCN,” the official said.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 16:33 UTC
Food inflation in Nigeria hits 14-year low at 8.89%
The latest food inflation figure marks the first single-digit reading in 128 months and the lowest since August 2011, when food inflation stood at 8.66 per cent. From June 2015, when the rate rose to 10.04 per cent, food inflation remained in double digits for 128 consecutive months until December 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation contracted by 6.02 per cent in January, compared with a 0.36 per cent decline in December 2025. In the report, the bureau stated, “The food inflation rate in January 2026 was 8.89 per cent on a year-on-year basis. The 12-month average core inflation rate was 22.84 per cent, lower than the 27.24 per cent recorded in January 2025.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 15:31 UTC
ICPC arraigns works ministry director for money laundering allegation
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned a Director with the Federal Ministry of Works, Blessing Lere-Adams, on charges bordering on money laundering and corruption. Lere-Adams was brought before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday on six charges under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; the Penal Code (Northern Nigeria) Federal Provisions Act; and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. A statement on Tuesday by the ICPC spokesman, John Odey, said the alleged offences were committed between August 2022 and January 2024 in Abuja. The ICPC said the arraignment underscores its resolve to ensure accountability in public service. On January 29, the ICPC arraigned Yusuf Mustapha, a Deputy Director at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged forgery.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 12:59 UTC
Reps in rowdy session over Electoral Act Amendment Bill
The House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Tuesday during a resumed plenary presided over by Speaker Dr Tajudeen Abbas. The sparsely attended session saw the Speaker read the only item on the day’s Order Paper: “Rescission of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” following a motion moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr Francis Waive. The motion was supported by the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun. “They have doctored the Electoral Act, but whatever they brought here will not be considered. Recall that the National Assembly set up conference committees in the Senate and House to reconcile the two versions of the bill.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 11:43 UTC
Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies at 84
United States civil rights leader and eloquent Baptist minister, Jesse Jackson, has died at age 84, his family said in a statement on Tuesday. Jackson was raised in the segregated South and became a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. The media-savvy Jackson advocated for the rights of Black Americans and other marginalised communities dating back to the turbulent civil rights movement of the 1960s spearheaded by his mentor King, a Baptist minister and towering social activist. Jackson weathered a spate of controversies but remained America’s preeminent civil rights figure for decades. He founded the Chicago-based civil rights groups Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition and served as Democratic President Bill Clinton’s special envoy to Africa in the 1990s.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 10:44 UTC
EFCC detains El-Rufai over N432bn corruption probe
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was detained at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on Monday night after hours of interrogation over an alleged N432 billion corruption probe. “We are investigating him on the allegations against him by the Kaduna State Assembly,” a senior EFCC source told one of our correspondents. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, accused El-Rufai of attempting to create political tension and divert attention from corruption allegations in Kaduna State. “Former governor El’Rufai claimed that until Dadiyata’s disappearance he didn’t know that anybody with such a name existed. “You’re a good National Security Adviser; honest, bold, courageous and committed to the job.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 10:37 UTC
Court remands suspected killers of S’Africa-based Nigerian student
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has remanded three suspects in custody over the murder of a Nigerian student and e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat. Satlat, a 22-year-old mobile engineering student, was reportedly killed on February 11 after picking up passengers who had requested his e-hailing service. A fourth suspect reportedly surrendered to police in Atteridgeville on Monday and is expected to be arraigned before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, also facing charges of carjacking and murder. The commission said it was closely monitoring proceedings to ensure transparency and justice for Satlat’s family and the Nigerian community. “NIDCOM continues to monitor developments as we ask for transparent proceedings and stand with the family and Nigerian community.”
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 10:35 UTC
Health ministry orders immediate retirement of longstanding directors
The Federal Ministry of Health has ordered an immediate disengagement of Directors who have spent at least eight years in the directorate cadre with immediate effect. The directors affected include those in the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies, among others, according to a memo sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday morning. “This is reiterated in a circular recently issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ref. Speaking at a lecture at the State House, Abuja, to mark the 2023 Civil Service Week, Yemi-Esan stated that the revised PSR took effect from July 27, 2023. According to Section 020909 of the revised PSR, the tenure limit for permanent secretaries is four years, with a possible renewal based only on satisfactory performance.
Source:Punch
February 17, 2026 09:55 UTC