Nigeria

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected Boko Haram fighters carried out fresh assaults in parts of Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas of Niger State late Friday night.

The attacks were disclosed by security reporter and analyst, Comrade Zakari Y. Adamu Kontogora, through a post on his Facebook page where he detailed the incident.

He reported that the armed men moved across several communities. They opened fire on residents and set houses ablaze during the raids.

Quoting security operatives who spoke with his newspaper, he said no fewer than 21 people lost their lives after the gunmen invaded Konkoso community.

The sources also revealed that the assailants extended their attacks to nearby settlements such as Pissa, Zango and Tungan Maƙeri. Casualties were recorded in the affected villages. Properties were destroyed as homes and shops were burnt.

Residents were said to be gripped by fear as the attackers reportedly remained within the general area as of the time this report was filed.

There has been no official statement yet from security authorities regarding the incident or the number of casualties recorded.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

South African authorities have arrested a woman suspected to be involved in the murder of 22-year-old Nigerian e-hailing driver, Isaac Satlat, in Pretoria West earlier this month.

The Gauteng Police Command confirmed the arrest following investigations into the violent hijacking and murder of the Bolt driver, who was attacked while on duty. His death has sparked outrage among Nigerians both in the country and in the diaspora.

According to the South African news outlet IOL, the incident occurred on February 11, 2026. Satlat was allegedly attacked inside his vehicle after picking up passengers who had requested a ride.

Preliminary investigations suggest the driver was targeted by a male and female duo who hijacked the vehicle during the trip. Satlat’s body and the stolen car were later recovered in Atteridgeville on the same day.

The police also noted a video circulating on social media that reportedly shows the victim being attacked while seated behind the steering wheel. Authorities have cautioned the public against sharing the footage.

> “The police strongly condemn the circulation of the video that depicts what appears to be a gruesome murder of the victim,” the Gauteng Police said in a statement.



The arrested female suspect is scheduled to appear before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 16, 2026. She will face charges including hijacking and murder.

Meanwhile, authorities have launched a manhunt for the second suspect believed to have participated in the attack. The public has been urged to provide any information that could help locate the fleeing individual.

The incident has intensified concerns about the safety of Nigerian nationals working abroad, with calls for increased security measures for drivers and other expatriate workers.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that top security and political figures were involved in the abduction of social media influencer, Abubakar Idris Dadiyata, who has been missing since 2019.

Sowore made the claims in a post published on his Facebook page, where he directly accused former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of having knowledge of the incident.

According to him, Dadiyata’s abduction was “a joint operation carried out by the Nigeria Police Force,” which he alleged was ordered by former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, with El-Rufai’s full awareness at the time both leaders were influential figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sowore further alleged that those he accused “didn’t just know who took Dadiyata, they likely knew why, where, and what was done to him afterwards.”

He added that the prolonged silence surrounding the case raises grave concerns, stating that “the most chilling possibility is that they murdered him and dumped him in a shallow grave somewhere, hoping time would erase the crime.”

The activist also linked the incident to what he described as a pattern of state repression, claiming he was abducted the same night in 2019 from a hotel in Lagos.

He alleged that his own arrest was carried out by operatives of the Department of State Services on the orders of then President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside former DSS Director-General Yusuf Bichi, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, former Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, and ex-Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, whom he accused of funding the operation.

Sowore said the presence of CCTV footage at the Lagos hotel where he was arrested served as evidence that prevented what he implied could have been a worse outcome.

He concluded his statement by urging continued public attention to the case, declaring that Nigeria “must not move on from this,” and reiterating the long-running social media campaign hashtag #WhereIsDadiyata.

As of press time, the individuals and institutions named in Sowore’s statement have not publicly responded to the allegations. Dadiyata, a vocal government critic, was abducted by unknown gunmen in August 2019, and his whereabouts remain unknown despite repeated calls for investigation and accountability.

By Abdullahi Danlami Hassan

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) was established in 1990 under the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) as an independent regulatory body responsible for corporate governance and business registration in Nigeria. The Commission formally commenced operations in 1991, marking a significant step toward institutionalising corporate regulation in the country.

In its early years, CAC services were largely centralised in its Abuja headquarters. Customers from across the federation travelled to the capital for business registration, often enduring long queues and extensive paperwork. Registration processes for Business Names, Companies, and Incorporated Trustees (such as Non-Governmental Organisations, religious bodies, and associations) were entirely manual and could take several days to complete. However, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, CAC expanded its operational reach by establishing state offices nationwide, thereby improving service accessibility.

A major regulatory transformation occurred with the re-enactment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 into CAMA 2020. The revised legislation strengthened the Commission’s mandate by enhancing its roles in business registration, corporate supervision, incorporation processes, and regulatory compliance. The new Act also modernised corporate governance structures and introduced reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business in Nigeria.

One of the most remarkable developments in CAC’s evolution has been its transition from manual operations to fully digitised services. The Commission has successfully developed a seamless online service delivery system that offers 24/7 accessibility to customers. This transformation expanded CAC’s service offerings from 33 operational services to over 109 digital service functionalities, significantly reducing processing time and improving customer experience.

As global economic systems increasingly integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into administrative and commercial processes, CAC reached another milestone with the deployment of the Intelligent Company Registration Portal (ICRP) on July 6, 2026. The AI-powered platform revolutionises company registration by offering automated name searches, smart name suggestions, alternative business name recommendations, and instant approvals for Business Name registrations. The system operates continuously with minimal human intervention while maintaining strict credential verification standards. Notably, it enables instant registration, electronic certificates, and status reports within approximately ten minutes.

The introduction of AI technology has dramatically improved registration efficiency. Business Name registration under the ICRP is reported to be approximately 336 times faster than the previous Company Registration Portal (CRP). Additionally, the system has enhanced CAC’s registration capacity, enabling up to 10,000 daily Business Name registrations. Based on current projections, CAC anticipates that by the end of 2026, Nigeria will record approximately three million registered business names, reflecting significant growth in the country’s formal economic sector.

Further technological advancement is evident in the introduction of the AI-Lawyer system within the CAC digital framework. This innovation provides customers with detailed guidance on registration procedures, legal compliance requirements, stamp duty processes, and other regulatory services. The AI-Lawyer simplifies complex legal procedures and improves customer engagement by offering real-time support.

Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital economic transformation also aligns with CAC’s technological innovations. At the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, emphasised the country’s digital economic future during an interview with CNN Business correspondent Richard Quest. When asked to summarise Nigeria’s economic trajectory for the next four years, she boldly wrote “Digital,” highlighting the government’s strategic direction. CAC’s digital reforms clearly demonstrate alignment with this national vision, reinforcing its role in advancing Nigeria’s economic competitiveness through technology-driven solutions.

As part of activities commemorating its 35th anniversary, the Registrar-General, Ishaq Hussaini Magaji, SAN, announced several corporate social responsibility initiatives. These include free Business Name registration for 3,500 micro and small-scale enterprises, scholarships for six outstanding Corporate Law students across the six campuses of the Nigerian Law School, and enhanced staff welfare packages, including a 25 per cent gross salary bonus, housing loans, and vehicle support schemes.

In conclusion, the Corporate Affairs Commission’s 35-year journey represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s economic and regulatory development. Through sustained institutional reforms, digital transformation, and technological innovation, CAC continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening corporate governance, promoting entrepreneurship, and facilitating economic growth. Its commitment to modern service delivery positions the Commission as a key driver of Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy.

This is Abdullahi, writing from the Customer Service/Call Unit at the Headquarters in Abuja.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Nigerian university lecturer, Mubarak Ibrahim Lawan, has raised concerns over the scheduling of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, describing the dates as anti-Islamic and warning that they could spark religious conflict in the country.

In a Facebook post, Lawan criticized the decision to hold the gubernatorial election in the middle of Ramadan and the presidential election on the eve of Eid. He wrote:

“Let Mr. President know that the anti-Islamic election dates set by the Islamophobe, Amupitan, would surely ignite a religious war in the country. To every responsible Muslim, the sacrosanctity of Ramadan is inviolable and, inserting gubernatorial election in the middle of it and the presidential one on the eve of Eid is no different from desecrating the holiness of the month.”

Lawan argued that the timing of the elections could disenfranchise Muslim voters, who may prioritize religious observance over participating in the polls. He added:

“Similarly, this is a criminally insidious way of disenfranchising the Muslim Community as they would surely choose to stay on the holy course and neglect the worldly one, especially on the presidential election day, the eve of Eid. Therefore, we unequivocally disagree and uniformly ask for review of the undue dates.”

The lecturer also expressed concern over the apparent lack of response from northern political representatives, suggesting that the proposed schedule could advantage southern candidates. He stated:

“In the same vein, this dating is anti-northern blog. I wonder why no northern governor, senator or member of the house of representative is yet to attack the proposal. If they think that this dating has only an anti-Islamic agenda they are wrong. I believe, should the elections hold on the dates so far given, voter apathy would be remarkably seen everywhere in the North and that would be an advantage to the South. So, we do not agree!”

Lawan’s post reflects growing debate among civil society groups and political commentators about the potential impact of the election timetable on voter participation and national cohesion.

At the time of filing this report, neither the presidency nor the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had responded to the concerns raised by Lawan.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A human rights lawyer, Barrister Abba Hikima, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reconsider the administrative decision to fix Nigeria’s national election during the Ramadan fasting period.

Hikima made the appeal in a Facebook post, where he warned that maintaining the proposed schedule could reinforce claims of religious bias if not urgently reviewed.

He wrote: “Unless Professor Amupitan intends to lend credence to the lingering agitation that he harbours certain bias against Muslims, he must immediately review the administrative decision of fixing Nigeria’s national election in Ramadan.”

The lawyer explained that Ramadan is a period of compulsory fasting for Muslims. He said the exercise comes with significant physical demands. According to him, the realities of election voting in Nigeria — including long queues, heat exposure, transportation difficulties, and extended physical exertion — place fasting Muslims under serious strain.

Hikima stated: “While Ramadan is a period of compulsory fasting for Muslims, characterized by intense physiological demands and requiring adherents to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk, voting, especially in Nigeria, entails long queues, prolonged exposure to heat, transportation challenges, and extended physical exertion- conditions wholly incompatible with the demands of fasting Muslims. Both activities are constitutionally protected by Nigeria’s constitution and INEC is duty bound to uphold them.”

He further argued that election scheduling remains an administrative action that can be reviewed in the public interest. He urged the Commission to consider adjusting the date to protect both religious freedom and civic rights.

In his words: “The fixing of an election date is an administrative decision subject to review in the broader public interest. In order to preserve the religious freedom and civic participation rights of more than half of the voting population, prudence dictates that the Commission reassess the proposed date and consider scheduling it either before the commencement of Ramadan or after the completion of the fasting period. Nothing in the Constitution bars the Commission from making such an adjustment in the interest of fairness, inclusivity, and national cohesion.”

Hikima warned that failure to make such an adjustment could discourage voter turnout among fasting Muslims.

He added: “Failure to do this would disproportionately burden fasting citizens which amounts to about 55 percent of the population and ultimately defeat INEC’s statutory duty to encourage voter participation.”

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Commission nor Professor Amupitan had issued an official response to the concerns raised.

By Uzair Adam

The Department of State Services (DSS), Kano Command, has rescued a five-year-old boy, Muhammad Haruna, who was abducted in Dan Zaki Village, Minjibir Local Government Area.

The Daily Reality reports that the DSS, in a statement issued on Friday, said the minor was rescued at about 7:40 p.m. on February 12, 2026, by its Tactical Team in Dan Zaki Village.

The statement indicated that the operation followed a formal report that Haruna had been abducted by suspected kidnappers to an unknown destination, with a demand for N15 million ransom.

According to the DSS, a 20-year-old suspect, Aminu Mukhtar, was apprehended during the operation while negotiating with the victim’s father using GSM number 07084228695.

“In the course of debrief, Mukhtar affirms that he abducted the victim with a view to collecting ransom,” the statement said.

It added that the suspect and the rescued minor are currently in command custody for further action.

Public reactions have continued to trail the decision to fix Nigeria’s 2027 general elections within the holy month of Ramadan, with commentators and political figures raising concerns about possible implications for voter participation.

A Facebook user, Ibrahim A. Khaleel, was among the early voices to criticize the development. In a widely shared post, he questioned the rationale behind scheduling the elections during the fasting period, arguing that leaders who genuinely prioritize nation-building would have avoided such timing.

> “If our politicians were sincere and truly had nation-building at heart, the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, would have been greatly surprised. Why then fix the 2027 election in the month of Ramadan?”



He stressed that fasting should not prevent civic engagement, citing Islamic history.

> “Fasting is not a death sentence. Muslims even fought the Battle of Badr in the month of Ramadan in the 2nd year after Hijrah (2 AH). So what is a democratic election where people only have to stand in line?”



Khaleel, however, suggested that economic hardship and public distrust in leadership could discourage turnout, alleging that inducements have often influenced voter mobilization.

“Even pasta and seasoning cubes would have to be very convincing to bring the masses out to vote. If one bag of pasta brought Mr. ‘Raw Material’ to the voting line in 2023, then it will have to be doubled now. At least two bags, with two packs of seasoning cubes added. Maybe that will motivate Mr. ‘Raw Material,’ the friend of Nigerian Democrats!”



He also drew parallels with Muslims in conflict zones, arguing that faith and perseverance endure despite hardship.

“Have Muslims in Gaza not been facing killings since October 7, 2023? They have observed Ramadan twice in the midst of this unjust war, yet they did not lose hope and they did not give up. So why should we fail to come out and vote?”



Adding to the discussion, former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad issued a formal public appeal to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to reconsider the dates.

In his statement, Ahmad acknowledged the announcement of February 20 and March 6, 2027, for the Presidential/National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly elections respectively, but noted the religious significance of the period.

“This is a respectful observation following the announcement of February 20th and March 6th, 2027, as the date for the next Presidential and National Assembly and Governorship and State Assembly elections respectively. The proposed dates fall within the holy month of Ramadan, a period during which many Muslims devote significant time to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.”



He warned that the timing could pose participation challenges for Muslim voters.

“If the intention is to encourage full and inclusive participation in the electoral process, scheduling such a critical national exercise during Ramadan may present challenges for a large segment of the population. Many Muslims tend to reduce engagement in demanding worldly activities during this period in order to focus on religious obligations.”



Ahmad further urged electoral authorities to weigh inclusiveness in their considerations.

“Given the significant Muslim population in this country, it may be worthwhile to reconsider the timing to ensure broader participation and convenience for all citizens. I do hope this observation will be taken in the spirit of inclusiveness and national cohesion.”



The debate continues to generate mixed reactions across social media and political circles, with some Nigerians supporting a review of the dates for inclusivity, while others insist that religious observance should not hinder democratic participation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled February 20, 2027, for the conduct of the next Presidential and National Assembly elections across Nigeria.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the date during a news conference held in Abuja on Friday. He also disclosed that governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on March 6, 2027.

The release of the timetable comes at a time when discussions continue over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act, which is still before the National Assembly.

Earlier, on February 4, the commission indicated that it had concluded work on the election timetable and the schedule of activities, despite the uncertainty surrounding the amendment to the law.

INEC stated that it had already forwarded the timetable to lawmakers. It, however, warned that certain components of the schedule could experience adjustments. The commission said any change would depend on when the amended Electoral Act is eventually passed.

Further details on the electoral programme are expected to be made public in due course.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has informed the National Assembly that it will require N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections.

The commission also proposed N171bn as its budget for operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the presentation of the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and projected expenditure for the 2027 polls before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

He explained that the N873.78bn estimate covers the full conduct of the 2027 general elections. He added that the N171bn request for 2026 would fund routine responsibilities. These include by-elections and off-season governorship polls.

The proposed election budget shows a sharp rise compared to the N313.4bn released by the Federal Government for the 2023 general elections.

Providing a breakdown of the projection, Amupitan said, “N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses.”

He noted that the estimate was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”

On the 2026 proposal, the INEC chairman said the Ministry of Finance issued a budget envelope of N140bn. He, however, stated that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”

According to him, the 2026 estimate includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital projects.

Amupitan also revealed that the election budget did not accommodate a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps seeking an upward review of allowances for corps members engaged as ad hoc election staff.

During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that external bodies should not impose a budgeting template on INEC due to the sensitive nature of its mandate. He called for the removal of the envelope budgeting framework and urged lawmakers to support the commission’s financial request.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Billy Osawaru, advocated placing INEC’s funding on first-line charge in line with constitutional provisions. He said this would guarantee early release of funds for election planning.

The joint committee later approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the commission’s annual budget. It also pledged to review the NYSC’s request estimated at about N32bn to raise corps members’ election allowance to N125,000.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would collaborate closely with the electoral body to ensure successful conduct of the 2027 polls.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, promised legislative backing but cautioned the commission against making commitments it might not fulfil.

“IReV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.