The recap of top 10 key latest updates that you might have missed this Friday evening, 13th February, 2026
Makinde elevates 14 Oyo high chiefs to Obas, presents staff of office
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday elevated 14 High Chiefs and Baales in Oyo town to the status of crown-wearing Obas with the presentation of Staffs of Office and Instruments of Office.
The state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, presented the Staffs of Office and Instruments of Office on behalf of Makinde at a colourful coronation ceremony held at the premises of Oliveth Heights in Oyo West Local Government Area of the state.
The newly elevated monarchs include the Alaaguo of Aguoland, Oba David Oyediran; the Baba Eyaji of Oyo, Oba Afonja Mukaila; the Alajagba of Oyo, Oba Samuel Odurinde; the Ona-Isokun of Oyo, Oba Isiaka Tella-Titiloye; the Onimileke of Imileke, Oyo, Oba Fakayode Alowonle; the Onigbudugbu of Gbudugbu, Oyo, Oba Salawu Oyeniran; the Oloodu of Ojongbodu, Oba Olaniyi Adegboye; and the Alapa-Ara of Apa-Ara, Oba Tijani Ajeigbe
Others are the Onidode of Idodeland, Oba Oyeleke Yusuff; the Iba Samu of Oyo Empire, Oba Lamidi Jimoh; the Alago-Oja of Ago-Oja Land, Oba Ganiyu Busari; the Agbaaki of Oyo, Oba Asimiyu Jimoh; the Alakeitan of Akeitan, Oba Jimoh Oyeleye; and the Elepe of Iseke, Oba Abel Oyekan.
Elumelu meets Tinubu, says dollar scarcity over, FX market sorted
The foreign exchange market in Nigeria has been “totally sorted,” with businesses no longer plagued by the difficulties that once characterised access to dollars, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, has said.
Elumelu, who spoke to State House correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday, said the Central Bank of Nigeria under Governor Olayemi Cardoso had brought predictability and stability to the economy
Illustrating the transformation, the billionaire banker said,
“There was a time before if I got 10 calls on banking issues, seven of those calls was about how to access foreign exchange.
“Today, if you get 10 calls on banking issues, not even one is on FX. That market is totally sorted.”
FG warns citizens against plastic pollution
The Federal Government has warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health, with microplastics already entering the food chain through fish consumption.
The Deputy Director of the Solid Waste Management and Technology Division at the ministry, Falmata Bukar-Kolo, gave the warning on Friday in Abuja while speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop convened by the ministry, in collaboration with PROTEGO, to validate a policy brief on marine litter prevention in Nigeria.
Bukar-Kolo said plastics, which are widely used across the country, are non-biodegradable and remain in the environment for years, worsening pollution in waterways and coastal areas.
She said,
“Plastic pollution has severe consequences for aquatic ecosystems and human health. Microplastics have entered the food chain through fish consumption.“
Clogged waterways, soil contamination and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics further compound the crisis.”
Kannywood actress Samha gets six months jail for naira mutilation
Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, on Friday, February 13, 2026, convicted and sentenced Kannywood actress Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, also known as Samha, to six months imprisonment for mutilating the Nigerian currency.
According to a post obtained from EFCC’s X handle on Friday, the actress was arraigned on a one-count charge of tampering with a ₦1,000 note, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
The charge against the convict reads: “That you, Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, sometime in 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court tampered with Naira currency in the sum of N1000 (One Thousand Naira) note issued by Central Bank of Nigeria by soiling same using your nose and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 (1) of the CBN Act. 2007.”
Inuwa pleaded guilty when the charge was read to her.
Following her plea, the prosecuting counsel, Musa Isah, presented the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence her.
Reps probe 20-year concession deals, grant agencies seven-day document extension
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee examining concession agreements in Nigeria’s air and seaport sectors has granted a seven-day extension to government agencies and private operators to submit required documentation covering operations from 2006 to 2025.
The directive was issued on Friday in Abuja by the Chairman of the committee, Mr Kolawole Akinlayo, during a public hearing attended by major regulatory bodies and concessionaires.
Those present included the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
Prominent terminal operators and concessionaires such as Dangote Group, Julius Berger, Joseph Dam, West Africa Container Terminal, Tincan Terminal, ECM Terminal, Ibeto Terminal and Apm Terminals were also represented, alongside other industry stakeholders.
Group commends Tinubu for removing Igboho from wanted list
A Yoruba socio-political organisation, the Yoruba Commitment Group (YCG), has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the removal of Yoruba rights activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons.
In a statement jointly signed by Otunba Tayo Onayemi (Convener), Chief Olugbenga Oyewusi, Mrs Buky Tunde Oshunrinde, Barr. Akeem Aponmade (Secretary) and Dr Olukayode Olunuga, the group also thanked traditional rulers across Yorubaland for working behind the scenes to secure the development.
The group described Igboho as a courageous defender of the Yoruba race, saying he fought against the activities of Fulani terrorists.
Army’s operational success hinges on superior training, warfare skills — COAS
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu says the Nigerian Army’s operational successes hinge on superior training and mastery of core warfare skills.
Shaibu made the remarks at the inauguration of Course 10/2026 of the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), on Friday in Abuja.
He described the institution as the army’s premier centre for operational-level education.
He stated that the college equips officers to translate national and military objectives into coordinated operational plans within joint and multi-agency environments.
According to him, since its establishment in 2017, the AWCN has grown into a hub of excellence in operational art, strategy, and national security studies, recording notable progress in curriculum development, research, innovation, and infrastructure.
Customs launches ‘One-Stop’ Platform to cut port delays nationwide
Nigeria took a step to simplify cargo clearance and reduce port bottlenecks on Wednesday as the Nigeria Customs Service launched its One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform in Lagos.
The platform introduces a unified system aimed at fast-tracking clearance processes, streamlining risk management interventions and improving the resolution of trade disputes at the nation’s ports.
The stakeholder engagement, held Friday at Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja, drew regulators, manufacturers, customs agents, freight forwarders and industry operators who welcomed the initiative as a long-awaited reform capable of transforming Nigeria’s trade environment and improving ease of doing business at ports and borders.
e-Transmission: INEC to conduct mock presidential election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially set the wheels in motion for the 2027 general elections, releasing a comprehensive timetable and announcing a landmark “mock presidential election” to verify the integrity of its electronic transmission systems.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
Addressing lingering concerns regarding the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Professor Amupitan emphasised that the commission is focused on avoiding the technical “glitches” that marred public confidence in previous cycles.
Yahaya Bello backs Tinubu’s re-election, describes it as personal mission
Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has declared unwavering support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, describing the effort as a personal mission.
Bello made the declaration while receiving members of the pro-Tinubu support group, Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN) Movement, at his Abuja residence.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the party gave him his first political opportunity, which led to his election and re-election as governor, as well as the emergence of his successor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and other elected officials in Kogi State since 2016.
