Ondo Showcases Potentials At Investment Summit

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February 23, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has enjoined Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ignore criticisms, and allow his achievements to speak for him.

Akpabio, who was represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo South Senatorial District, spoke on Monday, at the Ondo State Investment Summit 2026 held at the International Centre for Culture and Events centre, Akure.

He called on the state government to adopt strategic thinking and position itself for success on the global stage.

The Senate President also urged the governor to have a strategy that can serve as his legacy even after his tenure in office.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called for optimism and focus, saying repositioning key sectors would require collective action from Nigerians at home and abroad.

She emphasised the critical role of the diaspora in driving investment and development within the state.

She urged Nigerians abroad to see the state not merely as a point of origin, but as a land of opportunity ripe for strategic engagement.

“Investing in your homeland is not just a patriotic act; it is an economic imperative.”

She stressed that enabling legislation and government protocols are in place to support investors, both local and foreign, and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of initiatives designed to reposition key sectors of the economy.

“We must work together to ensure that the resources and skills of Nigerians abroad are harnessed to create jobs, build industries, and strengthen our economy,” she said.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, on a keynote address, pointed out that Ondo will no longer rely predominantly on civil service structures, but will reposition itself as a private sector-led industrial powerhouse driven by structured policy, regulatory clarity and political will.

“Investors do not go where there is potential alone. They go where there is structure, certainty, and political will and Ondo State offers all three,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa stressed that the summit was not a ceremonial gathering, but a commitment to measurable outcomes.

He assured participants that every engagement, investment discussion and decision reached at the forum would be tracked, adding that by the 2027 edition, the state would present implemented projects and demonstrable economic impact arising from commitments made this year.

Under his administration’s “OUR EASE” agenda, the Governor said the government had prioritised creating an enabling environment where investment thrives by simplifying processes, strengthening institutions, improving transparency and accelerating approvals.

Rather than plead for opportunities, he presented what he termed tangible advantages which include:

“Approximately 75 kilometres of natural coastline with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean; one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world; agricultural strengths in cocoa, oil palm, rubber, and timber.

“Deposits of limestone, granite, and kaolin; oil-producing communities in Ilaje and Ese-Odo; connectivity to at least seven neighbouring states; and a strong diaspora population.

“At the centre of the state’s industrial vision is the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port under a Public-Private Partnership concession framework.”

Teachers In Ekiti Get Service Extension, To Retire At 65

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Ayodele Oni

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February 23, 2026

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Biodun Oyebanji and Primary School Teacheres

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government has adopted a harmonised retirement age of 65 years and a maximum of forty (40) years of pensionable service, for teachers in the public service of Ekiti State.

This is one of resolutions of the last State Executive Council, (SEC) meeting on Ado Ekiti.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun.

During the meeting, the SEC approved the domestication of the Teachers’ Harmonised Retirement Age Act 2022 to address workforce needs in the state’s school system and retain experienced educators to improve learning outcomes.

The statement reads, “In line with the Federal Government Circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education (Circular No: FME/HRM/S.234/II dated 23rd June, 2022), the Ekiti State Government has adopted a harmonized retirement age of sixty-five (65) years and a maximum of forty (40) years of pensionable service, whichever comes first, for teachers in the public service of Ekiti State.

“The existing retirement age of sixty (60) years and thirty-five (35) years of pensionable service, as outlined in the Public Service Rules (Revised Edition, 2021), has been revised to retain skilled educators and align teaching personnel with their counterparts in tertiary institutions.”

Recognising the unique circumstances of different States, “Ekiti State has established modalities to guide the implementation of the new retirement age and length of service with key provisions.

These include “the retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service is optional for teachers; interested teachers must submit a written application for extension six months before reaching 60 years of age or 35 years of service, whichever is earlier.

“An assessment committee comprising the Ministry of Education, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), the SUBEB, the Board for Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE), relevant Government Health Institutions, and labour unions will conduct eligibility screening.

“Applicants must not be under disciplinary action, and those who have benefited from prior conditions of service breaks are excluded.

“Beneficiaries, including Principals, Vice Principals, Head Teachers, and Assistant Head Teachers, will be deployed to classrooms only and will not hold executive or union positions.

“Payroll for beneficiaries will be separated from that of regular teachers to ensure transparency.

“Applicants must be registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and will receive their current salaries for the additional years without incremental accruals.

“No promotions or preferments will be granted during the extension period; and Annual performance appraisals will determine continuation of service under the extended arrangement.”

Hon. Kuye: I Am Not Desperate For The Awujale Stool

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Akinwale Kasali

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February 23, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

Hon. Ademorin Kuye, representing Somolu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has dismissed allegations that he has been parading himself as the Awujale-Elect. Such claim is baseless and malicious, he emphasized.

Kuye, who is a contender for the vacant stool of the Awujale of Ijebuland, has stated that allegation of him being desperate for the exalted throne is false, and an attempt to smear his name.

The Federal Lawmaker said that the allegations levelled against him by some Princes and Princesses of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu-Ode is malicious and an attempt to pull his name in the mud, stating that he would not engage in any act capable of breaching extant laws or established succession procedures.

Kuye, a Legal Practitioner of 37 years added that he would not be involved in anything that could undermine the Chieftaincy and Customary Laws guiding the emergence of the Awujale.

A statement signed by Barr. Kunle Johnson Adebajo, on behalf of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, had earlier accused Kuye of presenting himself as Awujale-elect and allegedly commissioning a female ‘Waka’ Singer to produce a song celebrating his purported selection.

The alleged action by Kuye, the statement said, is illegal and capable of causing unrest in Ijebuland. It insisted that it violated Ogun State’s Chieftaincy and Customary Laws as well as laid-down succession procedures.

:We want to state without equivocation that the action of the said Hon. Kuye is illegal and capable of causing chaos and unrest in Ijebuland,” the statement read in part.

The Group had, in the statement said that the Princes and Princesses of Fusengbuwa Ruling House had urged the Governor Dapo Abiodun led Ogun State Government to intervene and compel Kuye and his supporters to desist from actions they described as unlawful and provocative.

Kuye has, however, distanced himself from the allegations, reiterating that he is not desperate to occupy the revered Stool.

“I have never been involved in any of their allegations. I am also a member of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House. I know nothing about what they are saying,” he said.

He added that his family has already issued a statement dissociating him from the claims and affirming support for the Ogun State Government’s position on the matter.

“The truth is that I am not desperate about becoming the next Awujale. I was never even interested initially. It was my family that obtained the nomination form for me. For over a month, I did not fill it until they completed the process. So how can anyone say I am desperate?” he queried.

As regards the alleged viral song praising him as the New Awujale-elect of Ijebuland, Kuye denied commissioning any Musician, suggesting that political detractors might be behind it.

“I did not commission any song. I neither saw nor heard it until people began drawing my attention to it. If anyone claims otherwise, let such a person come forward with evidence,” he said.

Benue To Establish Rehabilitation Centre For Repentant Bandits

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Akinwale Kasali

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February 23, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Benue State Government is seeking respite for repentant bandits. To this end, it is seeking the approval of the Federal Government to set up a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre for them.

Josephine Habba, Director-General, Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, made this disclosure in Makurdi, Benue State Capital.

He stressed that the request was rife in rehabilitating some of the bandits who, by circumstances, found themselves as foot soldiers to bandits.

Making a passionate request to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Habba stated that setting up of a DDR centre for bandits of Benue origin was essential. The Centre will be for Local repentant Bandits in the State.

Explaining further, Habba said the centre is aimed at rehabilitating over 400 people, including women who are not criminals but were abducted by the bandits.

She said, “These persons are not necessarily criminals but were taken in to do dirty jobs for those in the forest because they know that if they (local bandits) come out, they would be recognised, so they needed foot soldiers.

“Even pregnant women were abducted and turned to their cooks. These number of people from the biometric we have done are over 1,800, but 400 are willing to be rehabilitated.”

She explained that the DDR centre is a programme by the military, funded and certified by the United Nations, stressing that the programme, which is yet to be approved by the Chief of Defence Staff, when established, will attract international community attention to the state.

She added that the operationalisation of the facility will bring more troops into the state.

“My commission has worked out a plan which will be unveiled at a peace summit on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, that captures everything and ensures that these people graduate and are given certificates.

“The programme will run for six months to one year. While they are there, the committee will engage in community resilience, identify the livelihoods that were destroyed and restore them, compensate where needed, as well as ensure that schools and hospitals are rebuilt so we have a seamless reintegration of these people into their families,” Habba stated.

She added: “The Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and I went to the Commander of Safe Corridor. We also recommended to the Governor to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff and request for this DDR centre and see if he might oblige him.

“The Governor asked me, the Homeland Security Adviser, Liaison Officer in Abuja and the Bishop to meet the CDS. We made a passionate appeal for this centre for peace to return to the state.

“The CDS said he will set up a committee to come and assess the facility the Governor has put in place, and if it is befitting, they will work on the recommendation of the committee.

“The CDS set up a committee made up of Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals and Colonels, and they had their first meeting in my office with the Commissioner of Justice in attendance.

“An entry point and checklist were looked at, and the governor gave permission to inspect the facility, and we are waiting for the report. We are praying and hoping that they will give us this facility.”

The Rehabilitation Centre if approved, is expected to be located in Logo Local Government Area of the State.

Fire Engulfs Lagos Airport

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Adesina Soyooye

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February 23, 2026

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By Adesina Soyooye

The old terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Local Wing, Lagos, was Monday afternoon, gutted by fire.

The sad situation was confirmed by Henry Agbebire, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. He said that Authorities were on ground managing the fire outbreak.

Even though he did not disclose the cause of the fire outbreak, he said that FAAN’s Emergency Response Team swung into action to curtall its spread, and assured that there were no casualties.

He said:,”We are aware of the outbreak, and we are there right now. We will publish a statement. Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to curtail the situation. No loss of lives has been recorded. Further updates will follow.”

FCT Council Polls: “Wike Did Wonders In Abuja” – Oshiomhole

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Adesina Soyooye

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February 23, 2026

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By Adesina Soyooye

Following in the foot steps of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Edo North, has applauded the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the unprecedented victory recorded by the Candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the February 21 Council Polls.

Almost immediately after the release of the results, President Tinubu, while congratulating the winners, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Security Agencies, singled out Wike for a special commendation.

He attributed the APC victory to the Minister whom he said had done a fantastic job by delivering dividends of democracy in the FCT which endeared the APC to the people, and made them deliver victory to the Party.

Hailing Wike for APC’s performance, Oshiomhole commended him for what he described as Wike’s exceptional leadership of the FCT. “Wike did wonders in the FCT Local Government Elections”, Oshiomhole pointed out.

In what could pass for a satire, Oshiomhole pointed out that even Wike’s magic pushed the PDP to take the second place. Inspite of Wike’s campaign for APC’s victory.

Nyesom Wike - FCT Minister — Nyesom Wike

Oshiomhole: “If anybody was in doubt, he did this one that yesterday (Saturday), when his party (PDP), came second after APC.”

And in a pointed ridicule of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, which scored zero, Oshiomhole added: “To take second place after APC is no issue. Particularly after some people got not (zero) over 100.”

El-Rufai Sues ICPC For N1 Billion Over Search Of Abuja Home

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 23, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The embattled former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has instituted a suit challenging the legality of the search carried out at his Abuja residence by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

The Source reports that the anti-graft Commission which had taken the former Kaduna Governor into custody, immediately after the perfection of his Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC’s bail bond, last week, raided his Abuja residence.

In a motion on notice filed at the Federal High Court Abuja, the former Kaduna Governor, who is one of the chieftains of the emerging opposition Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, is seeking an order of the court declaring as illegal, the ICPC’s search at his residence on the grounds that the warrant for the exercise was invalid.

He contended that the said warrant used for the search lacks particularity, is full of material drafting errors, ambiguous in execution parameters, and without stating clearly the probable cause of action.

According to El-Rufai, the search conducted by the operatives of the ICPC at his residence on No 12 Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, at about 2.00 pm was in total violation of his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.

Consequently, he prayed the court to declare as illegal, null and void the search, and an order also restraining the Commission from using any evidence gathered in the process against him as it was obtained unlawfully.

He further prayed the court for an order mandating the ICPC and the Inspector -General.of Police, IGP, to return all items taken from his residence.

He asked the court to award him the sum of One Billion Naira representing 300 million for psychological trauma, emotional distress, and loss of personal security; N400 million as examplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies, and another N300 million as aggravated damages ,as well as N100 million as legal cost.

Sit-at-home: Gov Soludo Shuts Down Another Anambra Major Market

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 23, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday, February 23, 2026, ordered the closure of Nkwo Nnewi Market for alleged failure to heed to the no-sit-at-home directive of the Government.

The closure order is coming barely less than three weeks when the Governor reopened the Onitsha Main Market after he shut it down for a week on Monday January 26, 2026, for ignoring Government’s ban on the five-year-old sit-at-home order proclaimed in the South East region by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to press home it’s demand for the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

A statement on Monday by Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information , informed that the closure order will last for an initial one week.

According to the statement, the closure order which takes effect from Midnight Monday, February 23, 2026, will end on Monday, March 2, 2026.

“The Anambra State Government, hereby, informs the general public that the New Auto Spare Parts Association Market NASPA, Nkwo Nnewi, is closed for business”,Mefor stated.

The Commissioner said that the action of the Government follows the traders’ abysmal compliance with the no-sit-at-home directive from the state Government.

The closure order, he further stated, has been conveyed to the traders by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Markets, Chief Evarist Uba, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, AVM Ben Chiobi rtd, the Mayor of Nnewi North Local Council, Hon Echezona Anazodo, and the Ministry of Information.

The statement warned traders and other market users to stay away from the shut Market to avoid possible confrontation with law enforcement agents.

This is as the Government threatened to extend the period of closure should the traders continue to ignore Government directives.

Instructively, and curiously too, the traders’s alleged continued shunning of Monday activities is coming amidst Nnamdi Kanu’s formal cancellation of the sit-at-home order.

On the heels of the controversy that trailed the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and public outcry about its toll on the South East region, the IPOB leader had issued a statement ordering the discontinuation of the sit-at-home exercise.

But despite its official abrogation some major cities in the region including the Aba the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, have continued to observe the sit-at-home order

Wike Shuts Falana Up: “You Must Not Comment On Everything”, He Tells The SAN

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Adesina Soyooye

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February 23, 2026

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By Adesina Soyooye

Senior Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has been advised by the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to get his facts correct on issues before making a comment.

“It is not every issue you comment on”, the Minister told Falana.

Wike gave this advice on Sunday when he spoke to Journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa.

Minister Wike was responding to the Senior Lawyer’s condemnation of the 22 hours curfew he imposed on the Federal Capital Territory over the Council Election which took place on Saturday, February 21.

Recall that the Minister had, on Thursday, not only declared Friday a work-free day but imposed a 22-hour curfew which began by 8.00pm on Friday and stretched to 6.00pm on Saturday. Both actions were roundly condemned by not a few people, including Falana.

But specifically responding to Falana, Wike disclosed that Security reports indicated that there was a plan to import hoodlums into the FCT, apparently to disrupt the election exercise, hence the imposition of a curfew which restricted movement of people.

Wike, therefore, urged Mr Falana to verify and get his facts right before making comments on any issue.

Wike: “With all due respect, Femi Falana must not always comment just because he wants to comment.

“Comment on something you know about and have facts on. You can’t just wake up and hear somebody said this, and you can’t even verify before you make comments.

“It was Mr President’s approval that movements should be restricted because of a security report that people were trying to bring in hoodlums.

“It’s not everything you must comment on. And if you must comment, go and find out and know what actually happened.”

President Tinubu’s Political Party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, won five of the Chairmanship seats leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with only one Area Council, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, with none.

President Tinubu has since credited Wike with APC’s unprecedented victory. For the records, Wike insists he is a member of the PDP.

Wike Rigged FCT Election With The Declaration Of Work-Free Day, Movement Restriction – Okutepa, SAN

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 23, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Fiery Senior Lawyer and social criticn Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN, has warned that unless urgent and genuine electoral reforms are carried out, democracy may be imperiled in 2027.

The legal luminary who spoke in reaction to last weekend’s FCT council polls, described the exercise as a “democratic sabotage, and a treason against the will of the people.”

The Source reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday February 22, 2026 formally declared the All Progressive Congress, APC, as winners in five of the six Local Government Councils of FCT. The Peoples Democratic party, PDP, secured one – Gwagwalada Local Council.

However, in a post on his official site, Okutepa described the polls and the outcome as a sham and predetermined selection.

According to him, the exercise totally fell short of the standards of free, fair and credible election.

He insisted that the work-free day declared on Friday February 20 by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, was the prelude to the “shenanigans that characterized the polls.”

According to him, the long period of movement restrictions proved to be the final weapon deployed to brazenly upturn the will of the people.

This is as he cited the “audacious and devilish alterations” that occurred on EC8A result forms. He decried clear irregularities and manipulations that took place during the exercise.

He, particularly, referenced a case in which a political party was recorded to have scored a total of 1,212 votes , while the total number of valid votes cast in the polling unit was 211.

He described such brazen act of election manipulation as not only unconstitutional, but undermines the sovereign will of the people as well as endangers democracy as a whole.

He called for an urgent review of the recently enacted 2026 Electoral Act amendment law to allow for real-time electronic transmission of election results.

According to him, with the “shameless and barefaced results alterations, and manipulations ,there is the urgent need for the adoption of digital electoral process within the system.

” The FCT council elections showed that Nigerians’ will and votes do not matter and Nigerians do not determine who govern them.

“2027 elections will be more terrible and brazen than what happened in the FCT on Saturday February 21,2026 . First , democracy is not a function of show of force . It is not a process rooted in arrogance or exhibition of naked force .

“The declaration of work free day on Friday February 20,2026 by the FCT Minister was the prelude to the rigging that took place on Saturday 21st February 2026.

” To call what happened on Saturday 21st February 2026 an election is completely an abuse of language . What happened on Saturday was never a free,fair and credible election.

” It was democratic sabotage where people were prevented from coming out to vote due to unlawful ,and unconstitutional declarations of a work free day and restrictions of movement of people on the day of election.

” Nigeria’s democracy is in danger ,it is currently on life support ,and those in power have decided to sabotage the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

” INEC staff were equally not alive to their responsibility in some cases . The mutilation of election results ,and arbitrary additions of votes as seen on forms EC8As on social media points to fact that lam making.

” Those who engaged in this democratic imposition have committed treason against the people and again the Nigerian Constitution.

” For democracy to thrive in Nigeria ,we must reject manual collation of votes . We must demand and insist that any votes that has mutilations , cancellations , alterations and subtractions should not count and must not be counted.

” It means that INEC leadership must have the liver ,and courage of convictions to cancel results that have alterations , cancellations , mutilations and such other interlineations on the face of electoral-forms” Okutepa wrote.