News February 17, 2026 Lenten Season: Pope Leo XIV urges kind words, compassion as Lent begins tomorrow

 

Ahead of Lent 2026, Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics worldwide to embrace fasting, listening, and community, urging believers to abstain from harsh words and rash judgment.

In his Lenten message released Friday, the Pope encouraged Christians to “refrain from words that offend and hurt our neighbor,” describing it as a practical yet often overlooked form of abstinence.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, and the Pope said the season is an opportunity to place God’s mystery at the center of life and renew commitment to Christ through reflection on His passion, death, and resurrection.

“Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves,” Pope Leo said. “Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media, and in Christian communities.”

The Pope highlighted fasting as a tool for spiritual and social awareness, helping believers recognize their desires and hunger for justice. He said fasting “frees us from complacency and trains our conscience to respond to the cries of those who suffer.”

Pope Leo also emphasized the communal dimension of Lent, urging parishes, families, and religious communities to become spaces of listening, service, and reconciliation. “By listening to the cry of the poor and setting our hearts on a path of conversion to Christ, we improve the quality of our lives and relationships,” he said.

Concluding his message, the Pope called on Christians to create spaces where words of hatred give way to hope and peace, ensuring Lent becomes a season of personal renewal and social compassion.

News February 17, 2026 BREAKING : Ramadan crescent moon sighted in Nigeria, fasting begins Wednesday- Sultanate Council

 

The Sultanate Council of Sokoto has confirmed the sighting of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447AH, declaring Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of fasting for Muslims across Nigeria.

In a statement released Tuesday by the Sultanate council, His Eminence, Sultan Alhaji  Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, president of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, announced that the crescent was sighted on Tuesday, February 17, corresponding to the 29th day of Sha’aban 1447AH.

The Sultan, represented by Shehu of Borno,  Shehu Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, disclosed that verified reports of moon sightings were received from various parts of the country and were carefully authenticated and accepted by the Sultanate Council, thereby confirming the commencement of the holy month.

“After due verification and authentication of the reports received from across the country, the Sultanate Council has accepted the sighting of the new moon. Consequently, Wednesday, 18th February 2026, marks the first day of Ramadan 1447AH,” the statement said.

In a related development, the Council noted that, due to the Sultan’s temporary absence, this year’s formal public announcement was made by the Shehu of Borno, acting on behalf of the Sultanate Council, in line with established tradition.

The Sultan urged Muslims nationwide to dedicate the holy month to fervent prayers, spiritual reflection, and acts of charity, while seeking divine guidance and peace for Nigeria.

“Ramadan is a period of sacrifice, self-discipline and compassion. I call on all Muslims to use this sacred month to pray for the unity, stability and progress of our dear country, and for wisdom and guidance for our leaders at all levels,” he said.

The commencement of Ramadan signals the start of a month-long fast observed daily from dawn to sunset by millions of Muslims across Nigeria and the world, reinforcing the nation’s rich religious heritage and spirit of communal harmony.

Religious leaders across states have since begun mobilising faithful for special nightly prayers (Taraweeh), charity outreach, and community feeding programmes, underscoring Ramadan’s enduring message of faith, solidarity and national renewal.

News Politics February 17, 2026 APC defection aims to accelerate state devt – Gov Yusuf

 

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has defended his defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting the decision was driven by the need to strategically align the state with the federal government to fast-track development.

Addressing thousands of supporters at the 2026 Grand Rally held at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Monday, Governor Yusuf said Kano’s size and strategic importance made continued political disconnection from the centre unsustainable.

“Kano is too large and strategically important to remain politically disconnected from the federal government,” Yusuf said. “It is about placing Kano in a position where it can fully participate in national development and secure a better future for its citizens.”

He stressed that the move was not motivated by personal ambition but by a sense of responsibility to the people of Kano, adding that the state must actively engage in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“With the support of our great party and the cooperation of the Federal Government, Kano State is better positioned to move forward with confidence and stability,” he added.

The governor thanked Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors of Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, and Plateau states, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, ALGON Chairperson Hajiya Sa’adatu Yushau Soja, Hon. Alasan Ado Doguwa, and other lawmakers for their support and attendance.

APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda praised the massive turnout, saying: “The turnout today demonstrates that Kano APC members are united, enthusiastic, and committed to advancing the party’s agenda and supporting President Tinubu’s vision.”

Ganduje, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Abbas, and other leaders pledged full loyalty, declaring: “We pledge 100 percent loyalty and cooperation to the governor and the APC in Kano.”

The rally, attended by thousands, was widely seen as a show of strength and unity, signalling a new political chapter for Kano as it seeks greater integration into national governance.

Recall that Governor Yusuf resigned from the NNPP in January 2026, citing “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” after a visit to President Tinubu in Abuja. His defection is part of a broader trend, with several PDP-elected governors—including Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau)—having joined the APC in recent months.

News February 17, 2026 NERC outlines steps for resolving electricity complaints nationwide

 

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has provided electricity consumers with a step-by-step guide for resolving power supply and billing issues across the country.

The commission disclosed this on Tuesday via its official X platform, urging customers experiencing electricity challenges to follow established complaint channels to ensure prompt resolution.

According to NERC, the first point of contact for consumers should be their respective Distribution Company (DisCo) customer care units, which are responsible for handling technical faults, outages, metering concerns, and billing disputes.

The commission advised that if complaints remain unresolved, customers residing in states that have transitioned to a State Electricity Regulator (SER) should escalate their cases to the relevant state regulatory authority.

For consumers in states without a state regulator, or those requiring further assistance, NERC directed them to contact its call centre to ensure their grievances are heard and addressed.

The commission provided the following contact details for support:

0201 344 4331

0908 899 9244

[email protected]

NERC reiterated its commitment to protecting electricity consumers and improving service delivery across Nigeria’s power sector.

National News February 17, 2026 NDPC investigates Temu for alleged data breach

 

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) says it will investigate Temu, an e-commerce online marketplace, over an alleged data breach against the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

This is contained in a statement by Babatunde Bamigboye, Head, Legal, Enforcement and Regulations of the commission, on Monday in Abuja.

Bamigboye said that Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, NDPC, gave the directives following concerns relating to online surveillance, personal data processing practices and compliance obligations under the Act.

He said the probe was triggered by issues surrounding accountability, data minimisation requirements, transparency, duty of care and cross-border transfer of personal data.

Bamigboye said that preliminary findings indicated that Temu processes personal information of about 12.7 million data subjects in Nigeria, while the platform recorded approximately 70 million daily active users globally.

He said the commission warned that data processors, who carried out processing activities on behalf of data controllers without verifying their compliance with the provisions of the NDPA could be held liable under the law.

“Findings on the investigation would be made public as it progressed.”

Bamigboye reiterated the commission’s commitment to protect the privacy rights of Nigerians and ensure that organisations handling personal data operate within the framework of the country’s data protection regulations. (NAN)

Business News February 17, 2026 CBN to fine Banks N10m for using unaccredited cheque printers

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a N10 million penalty on commercial banks that engage unaccredited cheque printers or personalisers.

The sanction is part of the apex bank’s revised penalties for violations of the Nigeria Cheque Standard (NCS) and the Nigeria Cheque Printers’ Accreditation Scheme (NICPAS).

According to the updated framework, any bank found using an unaccredited cheque printer either through reports from accredited providers or CBN/MTIC audits—will face a N10 million fine and immediate withdrawal of the affected cheques from circulation. A repeat violation will attract a N20 million fine alongside cheque withdrawal.

The CBN also stated that banks that fail or refuse to submit personalised cheque samples for required testing and analysis will be fined N5 million. Additionally, improperly encoded cheques or those that do not meet mandatory security and quality standards will incur a penalty of N10,000 per instrument.

In a circular signed by the Director of the Banking Services Department, Hamisu Abdullahi, the CBN recalled that it had earlier issued sanctions in 2019 for breaches of the Nigerian Cheque Standards and NICPAS.

The bank explained that the review of the sanction regime was necessary to strengthen efficiency and safety within the Nigeria Clearing System and to reflect current developments in the banking sector.

The CBN urged all banks and accredited cheque printers/personalizers to comply strictly with the revised guidelines.

News February 17, 2026 Food inflation drops to 8.89%, lowest level in 14 years as headline rate eases to 15.10%

 

Nigeria’s food inflation dropped to 8.89 per cent year-on-year in January 2026, marking its lowest level in over 14 years, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Headline inflation also edged down slightly to 15.10 per cent in January from 15.15 per cent in December 2025, defying earlier projections that it could rise to 19 per cent.

The food inflation rate represents the first single-digit figure in 128 months and the lowest since August 2011, when it stood at 8.66 per cent. Data showed a sharp year-on-year decline from 29.63 per cent in January 2025 to 8.89 per cent in January 2026  a drop of 20.73 percentage points. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation contracted by 6.02 per cent, compared to a 0.36 per cent decline recorded in December.

The bureau attributed the slowdown to falling prices of key staples such as yam, eggs, green peas, groundnut oil, soybeans, palm oil, maize, guinea corn, beans, beef, melon, and cassava.

On a 12-month average basis, food inflation moderated to 20.29 per cent in January 2026 from 38.47 per cent a year earlier. This follows a prolonged surge between 2022 and 2024, when food inflation peaked at 40.87 per cent in June 2024 before gradually easing through 2025.

Headline inflation showed a similar trend. The January rate of 15.10 per cent was 12.51 percentage points lower than the 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, making it the lowest level since November 2020. Month-on-month, the headline rate stood at negative 2.88 per cent, indicating a general decline in average prices during the month. The Consumer Price Index fell to 127.4 in January from 131.2 in December.

Urban inflation declined to 15.36 per cent year-on-year, while rural inflation eased to 14.44 per cent. Core inflation, which excludes agricultural produce and energy, also dropped to 17.72 per cent from 25.27 per cent a year earlier.

State-by-state data revealed disparities. Benue recorded the highest year-on-year headline inflation rate at 22.48 per cent, followed by Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory. Ebonyi, Katsina, and Imo posted the lowest rates.

Despite the improved figures, members of the Organised Private Sector urged caution, noting that prices remain high. The National Vice President of the National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists, Kuti-George, attributed the marginal improvement to increased agricultural output and relative exchange rate stability, currently around N1,350 to the dollar.

However, the Director-General of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Eke Ubiji, argued that the easing inflation rate has not translated into meaningful relief for consumers, stressing that the cost of living remains elevated.

Overall, while the January data points to a broad moderation in price pressures—largely driven by declining food costs stakeholders maintain that market prices remain high, and the economic impact of previous inflation spikes is still being felt.