President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on voters, security agencies, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct themselves in an orderly manner during Saturday’s polls in the Federal Capital Territory and the states of Kano and Rivers.

The President issued the call in a statement on Friday. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, signed the press release detailing the President’s appeal.

INEC will conduct elections in the six area councils of the FCT and bye-elections in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State constituencies of Rivers State, and in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.

President Tinubu urged all eligible voters to come out and vote without fear, emphasising that the democratic process thrives best in an atmosphere of calm, tolerance, and mutual respect.

He appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to shun violence, inflammatory statements, and actions that undermine the credibility of the process.

He cautioned against any form of high-handedness, intimidation, or actions that could disenfranchise voters or erode public trust, stressing that security personnel are present to protect lives, property, and the sanctity of the ballot.

President Tinubu appealed to the Commission to take all necessary measures to bolster voters’ confidence by ensuring timely accreditation, smooth voting processes, accurate collation, and prompt transmission of results, in line with the 2026 Electoral Act.

Onanuga quoted the President as assuring Nigerians of continued government support for institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections.

“Fellow Nigerians, I assure you that the Federal Government under my administration will continue to support institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections,” President Tinubu said.

“To all residents of the FCT, Kano and Rivers, I commend your civic consciousness. I am confident that these elections will reflect the will of the people and further strengthen our democratic journey as a nation,” the President added.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria has recorded a significant increase in birth registration over the past two years, with 14 million children officially registered.

UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

Abdelatef described birth registration as the first right of every child, noting that it ensures children are counted, recognised, and legally identified. She said the progress recorded in Nigeria within two years is remarkable.

“Birth registration is the first right of every child to be counted and recognised. I have served in many places, but I have not seen this level of progress achieved within two years,” she said.

She added that the birth registration system is being digitalised at health facilities nationwide to improve efficiency and access.

According to her, a bill currently before the National Assembly is also expected to strengthen the process, attributing the progress to strong national leadership.

Abdelatef commended the First Lady for her leadership and commitment to initiatives that impact children and families across the country.

She also referenced her participation at events hosted by the First Lady, including the launch of a food bank and engagements linked to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In her remarks, Tinubu acknowledged UNICEF’s longstanding support to Nigeria, emphasising that birth registration must continue until every Nigerian child is documented.

“Every child counts,” she said, stressing that legal identity and nationality are essential for integrating children into health and social services.

The First Lady said she was encouraged by the progress recorded but noted that more work remains to be done.

“We have to keep at it and make sure that every child is counted. It is not just about birth registration alone; we are also looking at birth certificates,” she said.

Tinubu also highlighted the importance of accurate population data, noting that Nigeria has not conducted a census in many years. She said focusing on registering children would help the government better plan for health, education, and other social services.

While expressing satisfaction with improvements in birth registration, the First Lady raised concerns over the high rates of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality in the country.
“Nigeria has a huge population.

When it comes to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and child and maternal mortality, the numbers are still high, and that is worrisome,” she said.

She, however, assured that the current administration is taking steps to address these challenges and position the country for a better future.

Tinubu thanked UNICEF for its continued partnership and pledged further collaboration, noting that the organisation has consistently provided reliable data to support government planning and policy implementation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the merger between Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited, clearing the way for the two banks to begin integration.

The move follows a Court-Ordered Meeting and a joint statement released by the banks on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The merger has also received the backing of shareholders, and all remaining steps are mainly procedural.

Once the court gives its final approval, the combined bank will join other institutions that have met the CBN’s new N200 billion capital requirement for national banking operations. The merger ensures the enlarged bank will maintain the necessary capital levels under the apex bank’s recapitalisation framework.

This merger comes as part of the CBN’s wider recapitalisation programme, which sets higher capital thresholds for banks depending on their licence type. National banks are required to have a minimum of N200 billion, while international banks must maintain N500 billion.

The programme is designed to strengthen the banking sector, improve financial stability, and ensure institutions can withstand challenges such as inflation, exchange rate swings, and tighter liquidity conditions.

Analysts say the combined bank will have a stronger balance sheet and greater resilience in Nigeria’s unpredictable economy. Providus Bank contributes digital banking and corporate services expertise, while Unity Bank brings an established retail and SME banking network.

Together, the merger is expected to increase market reach, deepen customer engagement, and improve service across both retail and SME segments.