Nigerian Newspaper Headlines, Naija News for Tuesday 17th February 2026

Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines And Naija News For Tuesday 17th February 2026.

1. Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was detained at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on Monday night after hours of interrogation over an alleged N432 billion corruption probe. El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, is also expected to face criminal prosecution over the alleged bugging of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone.

2. There are strong indications that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Assembly have agreed to move the 2027 presidential election to January 16, 2027, in a dramatic reversal of the earlier February 20 date. The lawmakers are expected to reconvened today.

3. Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday described Kano State as pivotal to the All Progressives Congress, adding that the state cannot continue to be on the sidelines. Speaking at the official reception of Governor Abba Yusuf into the party on Monday, Shettima stressed that the state “can’t be on the sidelines” in national political calculations.

4. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arraigned an Abuja-based couple, Osabohein Ologbose and his wife, Hope Oghelemu, before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court Abuja over an alleged N740m fraud. The couple, alongside two companies—Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-Concept Media Limited—faced seven counts of obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds, and money laundering.

5. Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has raised concerns over the Federal Government’s handling of the country’s power sector. In a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi said the National Grid continues to perform poorly under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite promises of stable electricity during his campaign.

6. The Defence Headquarters on Monday announced the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel at the Bauchi Airfield to support the Armed Forces of Nigeria in training and intelligence-sharing operations. In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the deployment followed formal engagements between Nigerian and US defence officials and was based on a request by the FG.

7. The Federal Government has announced a donation of N5 billion to victims of the recent fire outbreak at Singer Market in Kano. Vice President, Kashim Shettima, disclosed the intervention on Monday during a sympathy visit to the market, where goods and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.

8. Nigeria’s headline inflation figure dropped to 15.10 percent in the month of January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The Bureau, in its monthly inflation report, said the Headline inflation rate eased to 15.10%, down from 15.15% in December 2025 and looking at the movement, the January 2026 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 0.05% compared to the December 2025 Headline inflation rate.

9. Kebbi State Government has expressed deep sorrow over a tragic boat accident in Yauri Local Government Area that claimed the lives of 14 people, mostly women, shortly after a wedding ceremony. Governor Nasir Idris, popularly known as Kauran Gwandu, commiserated with the bereaved families, the Yauri Emirate and residents of the area, describing the incident as a painful tragedy that has thrown the state into mourning.

10. Anambra State Police Command has arrested four additional suspects in connection with the kidnapping and murder of three Cameroonian nationals in the state. The victims were reportedly abducted in November 2025 and later killed, with their bodies dumped in a river in Anambra West Local Government Area.