Author: Adejuyigbe Adegoke

In response to the Iranian regime’s sweeping crackdown on peaceful demonstrators during nationwide protests in December 2025 and January 2026, the United States has announced additional visa restriction measures targeting individuals responsible for undermining the Iranian people’s fundamental freedoms. The decision underscores Washington’s continued commitment to accountability for human rights abuses and reaffirms its public support for the Iranian people’s right to free expression and peaceful assembly. Nationwide Protests and Government Crackdown During late 2025 and early 2026, tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets across multiple cities to express grievances related to political freedoms, economic hardship, and…

From February 23–25, senior officials from the United States and Mauritius will convene in Port Louis for a new round of bilateral security discussions, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the evolving future of the Chagos archipelago. The talks will be led by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and will include participation from across the U.S. interagency. The agenda will center on bilateral security cooperation and the long-term implementation of security arrangements related to the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia. Strategic Importance of the Chagos Archipelago At the heart of the…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has announced it will conduct its second Treasury Bills auction for February 2026, offering a total of ₦1.15 trillion in Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs), to investors on Wednesday as part of its ongoing debt and liquidity management strategy. Auction Structure and Offer Size The NTB auction will feature bills across three standard maturities: 91‑day bills 182‑day bills 364‑day bills The total offer of ₦1.15 trillion is split across these maturities to cater to varying investor preferences: smaller allocations are typically made to short and mid‑term bills, while longer‑term bills command the largest share of the…

The Federal Government has announced that it will undertake a comprehensive review of MTN Group’s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of IHS Holding Limited, underlining the strategic importance of telecommunications infrastructure to the nation’s economic and security interests. Background: A Landmark Telecom Deal In a major development earlier on 17 February 2026, MTN agreed to acquire IHS — one of Africa’s largest independent telecommunications tower operators — in an all-cash transaction valued at about $6.2 billion. Under the terms of the deal: MTN would buy out the remaining shares in IHS that it does not already own, moving from minority stakeholder…

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), has directed the immediate disengagement of directors who have spent at least, eight years in the directorate cadre, reinforcing the Federal Government’s enforcement of tenure limits across the civil service. The directive, conveyed in a memo sighted in Abuja on Tuesday morning, affects directors within the ministry, federal hospitals, agencies, and parastatals under its supervision. It marks one of the most decisive steps yet in implementing the eight-year tenure policy contained in the Revised Public Service Rules (PSR) 2021. Memo Details and Scope of the Order The memo, signed by Tetshoma Dafeta, Director overseeing…

Every February, the streets of Lagos transform into a global sporting arena as thousands of runners converge for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. What began as a bold vision to put Nigeria on the global athletics map has evolved into one of Africa’s most prestigious road races. But beyond the medals, cheering crowds, and elite competition, the marathon tells a deeper story – one about ambition, resilience, and a financial institution positioning itself as the bank of choice for Nigerians, Africans, and the world. Triumph in the Rain: A Powerful Symbol This year’s edition delivered more than athletic excellence…

In February 2026, the Dangote Refinery — Africa’s largest single-train oil refinery — announced it had attained its full designed processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd). This milestone followed extensive optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), and Motor Spirit (MS), production block, enabling a sustained supply of up to 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily to the Nigerian market. The refinery, based in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos, marks a historic transformation for Nigeria — a major crude producer that has imported most of its refined petroleum products for decades. Otedola’s Projection: Naira…

The United States has taken decisive action to disrupt Hizballah’s illicit financial networks by sanctioning operatives who exploit Lebanon’s informal financial sector to generate revenue for the terrorist organisation. These individuals have facilitated sanctions evasion schemes involving Hizballah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH), and an Iran-based Hizballah finance operative, enabling the group to access and move funds outside legitimate regulatory channels. Targeting Hizballah’s Shadow Banking Network Hizballah continues to manipulate Lebanon’s fragile financial environment to sustain its operations, circumvent international sanctions, and finance its destabilising activities. AQAH, which operates under the guise of a charitable financial cooperative, functions in practice…

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN), latest policy shift — permitting licensed Bureau De Change (BDC), operators to access the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), with a weekly cap of US$150,000 per operator — marks a significant recalibration of FX management strategy. This move seeks to address one of the most persistent challenges plaguing Nigeria’s economy: chronic FX scarcity at the official window and the resulting disconnect between official and parallel market rates. Putting Liquidity Back into Retail FX Channels For years, the CBN’s approach to forex liquidity — including tight controls on dollar sales and restricted access to…

1. The Appointment Announcement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf as the new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). The nomination was made official in a State House statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate in line with Section 3(2) of the NAHCON Act. President Tinubu has formally written to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, urging an expedited confirmation process for Ambassador Yusuf’s appointment. 2. Who Is Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf?…

Passengers on an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt faced an unexpected detour on Wednesday when a loud bang from the Boeing 737-700’s left engine prompted the crew to divert the aircraft to Benin Airport. All 80 passengers and crew disembarked safely, and authorities, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, have launched an inquiry into the engine anomaly. The aircraft, registered 5N-MJF, had departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and was on approach to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa when the sound was detected. Arik Air in a statement described the incident as a precautionary safety concern, prompting…

In a notable escalation of military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, Washington has announced the deployment of approximately 200 U.S. military personnel to Nigeria. This decision, confirmed by U.S. and Nigerian officials on 11 February 2026, marks a significant deepening of bilateral efforts to confront long-standing security threats posed by Islamist insurgencies and other armed groups in West Africa. Purpose of the Deployment Contrary to some speculation, the U.S. has stated that the forces being sent are not intended to engage in combat operations. Instead, the primary mission of the troops will be to: Train and advise elements…