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The police in Rivers State have announced movement restrictions ahead of the bye-elections scheduled for Ahoada East and Khana State House of Assembly Constituencies on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

In a press release issued ahead of the polls, the Police said the restriction is part of measures put in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election process across the affected local government areas.

According to the statement, movement within and around Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, the day of the election.

The Police also disclosed that there will be a massive deployment of security personnel across the two LGAs to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Officers are expected to be stationed at strategic locations, polling units, and major roads to deter violence, electoral malpractice, and other criminal activities before, during, and after the exercise.

Residents have been urged to comply strictly with the movement restriction and avoid unnecessary gatherings, particularly around polling units.

The Police further advised members of the public to refrain from carrying weapons or suspicious items and to promptly report any activity capable of disrupting the electoral process.

READ ALSO: Police Impose 12-Hour Movement Restriction For FCT Council Elections

The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, called on political parties, candidates, and their supporters to shun violence and adhere strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act and other laws guiding elections.

He warned that anyone found violating the restriction order or engaging in acts capable of disturbing the peace will be arrested and prosecuted.

The Police Commissioner also appealed to parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against being used as instruments of violence or disorder during the election.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed 318 cases of Lassa fever and 70 deaths across the country since the beginning of 2026.

NCDC Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a press briefing on Friday.

He said a total of 1,469 suspected cases have been recorded, giving a case fatality rate of 22 per cent.

According to Idris, five states – Edo, Ondo, Taraba, Bauchi, and Ebonyi – account for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. Ten local government areas make up 68 per cent of infections.

To contain the outbreak, Idris stated that the NCDC has deployed the National Rapid Response Team to eight reporting states (Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Edo, Plateau, Benue, Jigawa, and Plateau).

He noted that the agency is also working with state governments to strengthen surveillance, case management, and community engagement.

READ ALSO: NCDC Confirms 165 Lassa Fever Cases, 31 Deaths In Five Weeks

“Protecting healthcare workers is a key priority,” Dr Idris said, noting that 15 healthcare workers have been infected so far this year. Low risk perception and poor infection control in some facilities are contributing factors.

The NCDC highlighted challenges, including inadequate contact tracing, delayed care-seeking, and limited state funding for prevention activities, which can increase the risk of infections and fatalities.

Idris emphasised the role of state governments in active case search, community risk communication, and strict enforcement of infection prevention and control practices.

He also warned against misinformation and rumours, such as the recent false outbreak report at the Kwara State NYSC camp, which can hinder containment efforts.

Idris urged Nigerians to practice environmental hygiene, store food safely, control rodents, and seek prompt medical attention to help reduce the spread of Lassa fever.

The National Assembly has criticised the Federal Government over what it described as lip service to the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry, two years after the establishment of a dedicated ministry for the sector.

The rebuke came on Friday during a budget defence session between a joint committee on Livestock Development and the Ministry of Livestock Development.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, told lawmakers that despite Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential, about 65 per cent of animals consumed annually in the country are imported.

He warned that the trend persists even though Nigeria has the capacity to generate an estimated ₦3.2 billion from red meat exports.

Maiha disclosed that out of the ₦70 billion approved as take-off funds for the ministry in 2024, only ₦20 billion has been released, asserting that none of the ₦10 billion appropriated as capital allocation for the 2025 fiscal year had been disbursed.

READ ALSO: NEC Sets Up Committee To Fast Track Implementation Of Livestock Development

The revelations drew sharp reactions from members of the committee, led by Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South), who expressed disbelief over the funding shortfalls.

Lawmakers called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to ensure adequate financing of the ministry, in line with the administration’s economic diversification agenda.

Senate Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), described the poor funding as contradictory to the purpose for which the ministry was created.

“The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development in 2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the nation’s economy. It is therefore surprising and disappointing that we are now paying lip service to the livestock sector. It is inherently contradictory to create a ministry and then fail to fund it,” Monguno said.

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP/Bauchi Central) suggested possible sabotage as the reason for the lack of capital releases, indicating that this situation might not align with the President’s intentions.

“This is a ministry that must be supported and properly funded by the Federal Government. I suspect sabotage regarding the zero capital allocation because Mr President meant well for livestock development. He urged the committee’s leadership to urgently meet with the President to address the issue,” Ningi stated.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated ₦1.585 trillion from 51 companies under its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme.

Disclosing this in a statement on Thirsday, NCS National Public Relations Officer, Dr Abdullahi Maiwada, said the programme accounted for 21.77 per cent of the service’s revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025.

According to him, the amount generated after certification was a significant increase from ₦1.222 trillion recorded before the companies were admitted into the programme, reflecting a revenue growth of 29.68 per cent as at October 27, 2025.

“The NCS wishes to inform the public of the significant revenue and trade facilitation milestone achieved under the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, with revenue increasing from N1.22tn before certification to N1.58tn after certification, reflecting a growth of N362bn (29.68 per cent) for the 51 AEO-certified entities as of 27 October 2025,” Maiwada stated.

Maiwada explained that, according to the AEO Monitoring and Evaluation Report, the programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85 per cent, with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.

READ ALSO: Customs Clarify Forex Rate, Disown ₦1,451/$1 Figure

He emphasised that the evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

PRESS RELEASE

AEO PROGRAMME RECORDS ₦362.79 BILLION REVENUE GROWTH AS SERVICE COMMENDS VOLUNTARY REMITTANCES, SUSPENDS DEFAULTING OPERATOR

1.The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wishes to inform the public of the significant revenue and trade facilitation milestone achieved… pic.twitter.com/HFcTTC6DAG

Customs duties paid rose by 85.66 per cent, driven by enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.

Maiwada noted that the programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent, with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.

He emphasised that the evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

The PRO pointed out that in the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75 per cent time saving.