Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 26th February, 2024

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the CityNews roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 26th February 2024.

1. As part of measures to tackle the ongoing hardship in the country, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday established an economic advisory committee. The committee comprises the federal government, sub-nationals and the private sector.

2. There was a major fire outbreak at the private residence of the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, on Sunday. It was gathered that the outbreak occurred at her residence in the highbrow area of Asokoro in Abuja in the afternoon.

3. The Presidency again on Sunday warned the Nigeria Labour Congress not to embark on its two-day nationwide protest against the rising cost of living in the country. Also, the police warned against disruption of commercial activities during the protest scheduled for February 28 and 29.

4. In a move to tighten the noose on food smugglers, the Nigeria Customs Service has deployed drones and more operatives to restrict the diversion of foodstuff to neighbouring countries through about 1,500 identified illegal border crossings. The Public Relations Officer of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed on Sunday that the NCS has increased its presence across the borders, including the illegal routes.

5. The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, says in less than 100 days of his assumption of office, the anti-graft agency received over 5,000 fraud petitions and recovered N60bn loot. Of the 5,000 petitions, he said the EFCC has approved 3,000 for investigation.

6. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has initiated a rehabilitation process to revive about 46 abandoned housing projects nationwide. The bank said this would be achieved through a partnership with Shelter Afrique Development Bank, a pan-African finance institution that exclusively supports the development of the housing and real estate sector in Africa.

7. The Qatar authorities yesterday reversed their earlier stand on the hosting of a business and investment forum with a Nigerian delegation during the forthcoming visit of President Bola Tinubu to Doha. President Tinubu is scheduled to be in Doha, the Qatari capital, on a two-day official visit, between March 2 and 3.

8. Northern Senators’ Forum, NSF, on Sunday hailed the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu, and other leaders of the sub-regional body for lifting sanctions it earlier imposed on Niger Republic. The ECOWAS under Tinubu’s leadership had imposed sanctions on Niger Republic to force the country’s junta to return to democratic rule.

9. Seven persons have reportedly died in a stampede that occurred during the sale of rice to members of the public at the Zone ‘A’ headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Harvey Road in Yaba, Lagos. The Lagos State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the death of one of its members, Comfort Adebanjo, and six others.

10. Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has said he is worried about a new scheme to remove him from office. He said the scheme was intensified after he was elected as a factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the upcoming governorship election.