February 2026 – Page 12

FCTA Halts Enforcement Of Drivers, Riders’ Permit Levy

23.02.2026

The Transportation Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has halted the enforcement of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy. According to the report, the development is pending a comprehensive engagement with important stakeholders. The Mandate Secretary, Dr Chinedum Elechi, gave this directive in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of First Capital Cargo Ltd,...

APC Chairman Receives Newly Elected FCT Council Chairmen

23.02.2026

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Monday received the newly elected chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils in Abuja. Photos from the event, shared on the APC’s official social media platforms, showed him seated with the Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council and Kwara State...

Tinubu Slashes GenCos’ Debt, Approves N2.8tn Payment

23.02.2026

President Bola Tinubu has approved the payment of N2.8tn to power generation companies as the Federal Government’s verified liability for accumulated electricity subsidies dating back to 2010, The PUNCH reports. This was as he rejected the N6tn claim submitted by the operators and insisted he will not pay a naira beyond the audited figure, highly...

BOI Donates 30-Room Medical Students’ Hostel to Unizik

23.02.2026

The Bank of Industry has formally handed over a newly built 30-room medical students’ hostel block at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital College of Health Sciences, Nnewi Campus. According to a statement released on Friday, the health facility was handed over to the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Professor Stanley...

Arokodare Reacts To Racial Abuse, Calls For Stringent Actions

23.02.2026

New Telegraph reports that Arokodare came under fire on social media after failing to convert from the spot in a tense contest, prompting him to address the abuse publicly via Instagram. Arokodare condemned the racist messages directed at him and called for collective action to eradicate discrimination from the game. Speaking on the development, he...

Nigeria’s $1.5tn Stranded Capital: An Economic Emergency

23.02.2026

Nigeria may be sitting on between $1tn and $1.5tn in stranded and underutilised capital, according to the Foundation for Peace Professionals, which says the estimate represents one of the largest pools of dormant economic value in Africa. In a statement obtained by The PUNCH on Saturday, PeacePro Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said research reviewed by...

Netizens Dig Up Simi’s Old Post Amid Anti-Rape Agitations

23.02.2026

Nigerian sensation singer, Simisola Kosoko, better known as Simi has been at the centre of social media controversy after some of her old social media posts resurfaced online. The resurfaced tweets followed renewed online discussions after she spoke against rape following Mirabel’s accusations that she was sexually violated last week. The online drama started after it...

NSIA & JICA Launch $50m Innovation Fund for Nigerian Startup

23.02.2026

The Federal Government has formalised the launch of a $50m Impact Innovation Fund to support Nigerian startups addressing critical social challenges, following the signing of agreements between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja on Friday, covered...

Police Bust Kidnap Syndicate, Recover Operational Motorcycles

23.02.2026

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have busted a kidnapping syndicate, arrested two suspects, and recovered operational motorcycles used for kidnapping in different parts of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the suspects were part of the syndicates involved in the recent kidnapping cases in the state, especially...

SIA Foundation opens applications for startup cohort in Nige

23.02.2026

The Sola & Ibukun Adeyinka Foundation has officially opened applications for Cohort 3 of its flagship SIA Startup Foundry, a high-impact incubation programme designed to equip early-stage founders with the training, funding, mentorship, and operational capacity required to scale sustainable, investable ventures. Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to pulse with innovation and ambition, yet thousands of...