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Akure, Feb. 22, 2026 – The Ondo State Government says it has commenced enforcement of payment of campaign signage permit fees in the Northern Senatorial areas of the state. The Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) announced the development in a statement on Saturday.  It advised the general public, particularly all prospective political aspirants and their supporters to note that its enforcement team will be proceeding to the Northern Senatorial District of the state this week for the purpose. “This action follows the earlier public notice issued regarding the …

Abuja, Feb. 22, 2026 – The NNPC Ltd and Dangote Group have entered into the strategic alliance to unlock synergies across assets, infrastructure, capital, and markets. It will also provide visibility of all NNPCDangote business relations. The alliance was sealed at a high-level meeting of the two companies in Lagos recently which culminated in a renewed commitment to strategic collaboration between them. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, had led a delegation of his company to the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos …

… Achieves 109.8% Subscription Lagos, Feb. 22, 2026 – Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc has announced the commencement of the allotment process for its 2025 Public Offer of 12,581,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at ₦7.00 per share.  This follows the earlier receipt of final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the recent clearance by the Securities & Exchange Commission. The allotment process marks the continuation of a disciplined, multi-year capital-raising programme that has positioned the Group as one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the …

London, Feb 20, 2026 – Oil prices traded near six-month highs on Friday, poised for their first weekly gain in three weeks on growing concern over potential conflict after Washington said Tehran will suffer if it does not agree to a nuclear deal in a matter of days. Brent crude futures edged down 33 cents, or around 0.5%, to $71.33 a barrel by 1343 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 25 cents, or 0.4%, to $66.18. Over the week, Brent and WTI were both up around 5.3%. “Market …

By Richard Ikiebe Lagos, Feb. 20, 2026 – Lately, Abuja has embarked on signing or deepening defence partnerships with the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and now, Türkiye, often within overlapping time frames and against a backdrop of unrelenting insecurity. On paper, this looks like strategic diversification. But given Nigeria’s weak institutions and fragmented loyalties, these multi-power deals risk multiplying internal vulnerabilities rather than delivering autonomy. In international relations, hedging is meant to be a sophisticated strategy. Middle powers cultivate ties with rival …

Abuja, Feb. 20, 2026 – The Department of State Services (DSS) will arraign Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State, over cybercrime and breach of national security allegations on Feb 25, 2026. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court (FHC) fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her. The DSS, had on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The service accused …

Washington, Feb. 18, 2026 – Japan said it will invest up to $36 billion in US gas, oil, and critical minerals in the first phase of its $550 billion commitment under the tariff and trade deal it stuck with the US last year. “Our MASSIVE Trade Deal with Japan has just launched!” President Trump posted Tuesday on social media. “The scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS.” Meanwhile, Trump plans to roll back some tariffs on metals, including on steel and aluminum …

Abuja, Feb. 18, 2026 – The new Harvestfield Medical Free Trade Zonein Nigeria will reduce the country’s dependence on imported medical products and also boost local production capacity. Olufemi Ogunyemi, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Zone (NEPZA), made the observation while presenting the Declaration of Licence and Operational Licence to the promoters of the new zone in Abuja. He described Harvestfield Free Trade Zone (FTZ) as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing critical gaps in the country’s health sector, noting that it aligns with the Federal Government’s push to …

Lagos, Feb. 18, 2026 – Oando Plc is to raise N220.79 billion by seeking regulatory approval for a rights issue of 4.415 billion shares at N50 per share. The company disclosed this to investors via the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday. According to the notice to shareholders, Oando said it hereby notified that on February 13, 2026, the Company submitted an application to the Nigerian Exchange Limited for the approval and listing of a rights issue of 4.416 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N50.00 per share, on …

Abuja, Feb. 18, 2026 – The Federal Government is to stop salaries of federal civil servants who failed to complete their verification and skills assessment from March 2026. The exercise, which began in 2025, is part of efforts to reform the public service and was ordered by President Bola Tinubu in 2025. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, gave the directive in a memo addressed to the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa. The memo attributed the decision to the gradual …