Compilations of top 12 key latest stories that you need to know this Wednesday morning, 25th February, 2026
Tinubu picks Disu for pre-2027 security boost, DIGs to retire
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday resigned from office, paving the way for the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, as the new police boss ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu, who was promoted to the rank of AIG in March 2025, is expected to take over from Egbetokun who was appointed by the President on June 19, 2023.
The IG’s continued stay in office sparked widespread controversy in 2024 after Egbetokun officially reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4.
However, his stay in office was extended following the amendment to the Police Act.
Speaking with one of our correspondents, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga confirmed that Egbetokun resigned his appointment, citing family issues that require his undivided attention.
He disclosed that the former IG submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday.
“The IG resigned in a letter today, citing family issues which require his undivided attention,” he said.
Meet DIGs likely to retire after Tunji Disu’s appointment
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed AIG Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police.His appointment followed the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun from the apex office of the nation’s police force.
The immediate past IG tendered his resignation, citing pressing family considerations.
Appointed in June 2023, Egbetokun was serving a four-year term scheduled to conclude in June 2027, in line with the amended provisions of the Police Act.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President received the letter earlier on Tuesday and expressed appreciation for his service to the nation.
Until his appointment, Disu was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
In Nigeria, it is an established practice for senior police officers to retire when a junior colleague is appointed Inspector General of Police, and although this is not legally mandatory, it reflects the force’s strong respect for hierarchy, seniority, and organisational stability.
FG slammed as medical tourism hits $550m annually
The Federal Government has come under criticism as foreign exchange outflow for health-related travel by Nigerians surged to $549.29m in the first nine months of 2025, a 17.96 per cent increase from $465.67m in the same period of 2024, The PUNCH reports.
Analysts and health experts slammed the government for failing to curb medical tourism despite repeated pledges to improve local healthcare infrastructure and reduce dependence on treatment abroad.
The foreign exchange refers to the personal allowance an individual can obtain from the Central Bank of Nigeria for medical travel abroad. While the CBN tracks the FX outflow, it does not monitor how the money is spent.
Analysis of the CBN quarterly statistical bulletin for Q3 2025 shows sustained growth in medical-related travel expenses.
Nigerians spent $151.53m in Q1 2025, $189.41m in Q2, and $208.35m in Q3, bringing the nine-month total to $549.29m.
By comparison, the same period in 2024 recorded $142.95m, $153.67m, and $169.04m, respectively.
Diri’s CoS cleared as Bayelsa deputy gov
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, cleared Governor Douye Diri’s nominee, Dr Peter Akpe, as the new deputy governor.
Until his nomination and approval by the Assembly, he was the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
There are indications he may be sworn in today at the Exco Chamber in the Government House.
The development followed the demise of the former deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, after he slumped in the office on December 11, 2025 and was buried on January 30, 2026.
The governor insisted that no action would be taken on appointing a replacement for the deputy governor until after the burial.
Akpe, a former majority leader of the state House of Assembly, was swiftly cleared by the lawmakers, who congratulated him amid cheers.
Akpe, a trusted aide and a maternal cousin to Diri, arrived at the House of Assembly complex accompanied by supporters.
Nigeria, 106 others back UN vote voicing support for Ukraine
Nigeria joined 106 other members of the UN General Assembly to voice support for Ukraine on Tuesday, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.
The General Assembly meeting, which was held in an emergency special session, adopted a resolution titled “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine”.
The resolution was passed by a tally of 107 countries in favour, 12 against, and 51 abstentions, which included the United States.
The resolution called for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace; an immediate and unconditional ceasefire; the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of civilians forcibly transferred, including children.
The assembly, in the resolution, said it was committed to “the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.”
Dangote signs deal to distribute 65m litres petrol
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has concluded an offtake agreement with 12 major petroleum marketing companies to distribute between 60 million and 65 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) daily across the country, in a move expected to stabilise supply and deepen Nigeria’s fuel self-sufficiency.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disclosed this in Lagos, noting that the structured framework would guarantee nationwide availability of petrol while exporting surplus volumes.
According to a statement issued, Dangote said,
“We have agreed an offtake framework to supply up to 65 million litres daily for the domestic market. Any surplus, estimated at between 15 and 20 million litres, will be exported.”
Dangote stated that the initiative marks a major shift in the country’s downstream petroleum sector, as Nigeria’s daily consumption currently ranges between 50 million and 60 million litres.
This means the refinery is expected to supply about 1.8 billion to over 2 billion litres of petrol monthly, depending on daily output and the number of days in the month.
Police grill man for killing girlfriend in Abia
The Abia State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Edward Okorie from Isiugwu, Ohafia, in the Ohafia Local Government Area for allegedly killing his girlfriend, a young nurse identified as Sophy Chika, during a domestic altercation.
Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Monday, at Isiugwu, Ohafia.
The deceased, who hailed from Ozu Abam in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state, was reportedly involved in a dispute with her boyfriend before the situation escalated.
It was gathered that the couple had been cohabiting in Okagwe village, Ohafia, for over three years prior to the tragic incident.
Community sources claimed that an argument between the two turned violent, leading to the nurse’s death.
A source within the community, who pleaded not to be named, said,
“The incident happened in the early hours of Monday at Isiugwu Ohafia. They had a misunderstanding, which reportedly escalated, and she was allegedly beaten to death.”
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said the suspect had been arrested.
Oil revenue shakeup: States back Tinubu’s Executive Order
The Chairman of the Forum of State Commissioners of Finance, Akintunde Oyebode, has said President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order 9 on direct remittance of oil and gas revenues would add only about N1.5tn to the Federation Account, arguing that the bigger issue is enforcing constitutional custody of federation revenues and fixing leakages created by the Petroleum Industry Act framework.
Oyebode, who spoke on Arise News on Tuesday, is also the Commissioner for Finance for the Ekiti State Government.
He said,
“In monetary terms, this is not even a significant increase to the federation account.
In total, from the management fee, frontier exploration fee and the gas flaring penalties, we estimate approximately N1.5tn will be added to the federation account.”
He added that even that figure must be seen against the scale of inflows into the Federation Account, saying,
“If you assume that’s an account that gets upwards of N30tn per annum, you can do the math.
It’s a single-digit impact in terms of growth on the federation account.
But that’s not the point.”
Family seeks help over missing 20-year-old UTME applicant in Lagos
The family of a 20-year-old, AbdulBasit Muhammad, has appealed to the public for assistance in locating him after he went missing while attempting to register for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination.
Muhammad was last seen on Thursday, February 12, 2026, when he left his uncle’s residence in Igbede to complete his JAMB registration in the Ajangbadi area of Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the family, his uncle, Taiwo Adesina, said he reported the case at the Ajangbadi Police Division on Friday, February 13, 2026, but had yet to receive any update.
“He left home around 8 a.m. for his JAMB capturing in Ajangbadi.
I expected him back at night because he usually goes to work afterwards and returns by 9 p.m.
“I waited from 9 p.m. till late, but he never returned. This has never happened before, so I immediately reported to the police.
Recapitalisation: Banks raise N4tn ahead of March deadline
Banks have raised N4.05tn in verified and approved capital ahead of the March 31, 2026, recapitalisation deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Monetary Policy Committee briefing in Abuja, saying, “As of February 19, 2026, total verified and approved capital raise stands at N4.05tn.”
The PUNCH observed that this figure was nearly double the N2.4tn reportedly raised as of April 2025.
Cardoso said N2.90tn of the amount, representing 71.6 per cent, was mobilised domestically, while N1.15tn, equivalent to 28.33 per cent, came from foreign participation.
“In summary, 71.67 per cent is domestic mobilisation and 28.33 per cent is foreign participation.
This balance, in my view, represents a mix of domestic and foreign, which signals broad investor engagement and confidence in the sector,” Cardoso said.
Remi Tinubu unveils menstrual hygiene initiative
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially launched the ‘Flow with Confidence Sanitary Pad Initiative’, a landmark programme aimed at improving menstrual health and hygiene among schoolgirls across the country.
Speaking during the launch on Tuesday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, the First Lady said the core objective of the initiative is to empower schoolgirls through education on menstrual hygiene, intended to promote confidence and dignity.
The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, stressed that no girl should ever be forced to miss school because she cannot afford sanitary materials.
“It is unacceptable that our girls still face significant challenges during their menstrual cycle.
Menstruation is natural, and it must never stand in the way of education, confidence, or self-worth,” she said.
She noted that the programme was carefully designed for the well-being of the girl child across the federation, with particular emphasis on girls in rural communities.
Residents decry soaring Lagos house rents, demand urgent control
Residents across parts of Lagos State have described the spiralling cost of house rents as suffocating, urging urgent legislative and executive intervention to prevent a deepening housing crisis.
In separate interviews with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, many residents lamented that rent now consumes nearly half—or more—of their annual income, leaving little room for savings or basic needs
.A 2023 report on Nigeria’s housing market indicated that households spend between 50 and 70 per cent of their income on rent—far above the globally recommended threshold of 30 per cent—describing the development as “symptomatic of structural dysfunction, not a temporary spike.”
A resident of Ogba, Rasaq Adebanjo, said the rising cost of accommodation has become unbearable.
