Nigeria Today Wednesday 18 March 2026 

President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu are at Windsor Castle today, Wednesday 18 March 2026, guests of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla — making Nigeria the first African nation to receive a state visit at Windsor, and the first Nigerian president to make a formal state visit to Britain in 37 years, since General Ibrahim Babangida’s 1989 visit to Buckingham Palace. The couple were welcomed by Prince William and Princess Catherine on arrival, before being received by the King for a private audience. The day’s programme includes a carriage procession through Windsor, a military parade on the castle’s manicured lawns, an exchange of gifts, viewing of a special Royal Collection exhibition featuring Nigerian artefacts, and tonight’s centrepiece: a state banquet in St George’s Hall attended by politicians, celebrities, and dignitaries with links to Nigeria.

The visit carries significant economic weight. President Tinubu will witness the signing of a £746 million financing deal between UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Federal Ministry of Finance, earmarked for the refurbishment of the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and Tin Can Island Port Complex. Tinubu also attends the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, a showcase of Nigeria’s arts and culture that aims to reframe the global narrative about Nigeria’s creative output. On Thursday, he meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where multiple MoUs on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation will be signed. First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian pastor, will preach at Lambeth Palace — the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury — and meet Church of England representatives. President Tinubu is fasting for Ramadan, which ends this week, and there will accordingly be no traditional lunch with the King; instead, the state banquet tonight takes the place of the midday engagement.

The CAF Appeal Board ruled on Tuesday that Senegal forfeited the 2025 AFCON Final under Article 84 of competition regulations, for their players’ decision to walk off the pitch in the closing minutes of their January 18 final against hosts Morocco in Rabat. The result — originally a 1-0 Senegal win in extra time — has been officially recorded as a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco. This makes Morocco the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions — their first AFCON title since 1976 — while Senegal are stripped of what would have been their second continental crown after their landmark 2021 triumph.

The chaos of that January night unfolded in the final seconds of regulation time: referee Jean-Jacques Ndala disallowed a Senegal goal for a foul that replays showed was minimal, then awarded Morocco a penalty via VAR after Brahim Diaz went down in the box. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to leave the pitch in protest. Captain Sadio Mané eventually persuaded his teammates to return after a 15-minute stoppage. Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, the game went to extra time, and Pape Gueye scored to give Senegal what they believed was the title. Morocco immediately filed an appeal. The CAF Disciplinary Board initially imposed fines exceeding $1 million on both teams but allowed the result to stand — but Morocco refused to accept the decision and escalated to the Appeal Board, which has now overturned the ruling entirely. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has rejected the ruling and indicated it will appeal further, likely to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

At least 18 people have been killed and several others wounded in a fierce gunfight between suspected bandits and members of the Community Watch Corps (CWC) in Falale village, Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The clash, which occurred late Monday night, lasted over one hour before the bandits eventually withdrew. Local community leaders told reporters the violence was triggered when village youth stopped a lone bandit walking into the community with a herd of cattle and a rifle. When he ran away, his fellow bandits launched a retaliatory assault on the community. The incident is particularly alarming because Jibia LGA had enjoyed over a year of relative calm following a truce brokered between local government authorities and bandit leaders in the area. That arrangement has now collapsed.

The Katsina State Government has appealed for calm and confirmed that security reinforcements have been deployed to the area. The attack follows a broader pattern of escalating insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West — a region simultaneously grappling with banditry, kidnapping, and the creeping expansion of ISWAP from the North-East, exacerbated now by the Maiduguri bombings of Monday night. The Guardian Nigeria and Punch both confirm the death toll was at least 18, with the Guardian citing 15 on initial reports and Punch later revising to 18. The true figure may be higher as assessments continue.

The official death toll stands at 23, with 108 people wounded — though eyewitness accounts suggest the true number of casualties may be higher. Survivors of Monday night’s triple suicide bombing across Monday Market, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital gate, Post Office area, and the Kaleri neighbourhood have been speaking to journalists, describing scenes reminiscent of the worst years of Boko Haram’s campaign: bodies on pavements outside the hospital, volunteers frantically calling for blood donors, markets shuttered and streets deserted. Borno police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso confirmed the toll in an official statement that blamed the attacks on suspected suicide bombers. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attacks as “barbaric,” linking the surge in attacks to intensifying military operations in Sambisa Forest. The Nigerian military has confirmed an increased threat assessment for suicide attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP during the closing days of Ramadan. MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) is supporting overwhelmed hospital facilities. The National Blood Service Commission has issued an emergency call for blood donations. Heavy military patrols continue throughout Maiduguri. Tinubu, from the UK, called the attacks “the final desperate and frantic attempts of terrorists increasingly under pressure from our security forces.”

The Federal Government has officially declared Thursday 19 March and Friday 20 March 2026 as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr, which signifies the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who urged Nigerians to celebrate responsibly and extend kindness to the less privileged. Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, has designated Wednesday 18 March — the 29th day of Ramadan 1447AH — as the nationwide moon sighting day. Muslims across Nigeria have been urged to look for the new crescent moon on Wednesday evening and report any credible sighting promptly. With the moon crescent expected to be sighted tonight, Eid prayers are anticipated Thursday morning across Nigeria’s mosques. The Minister extended warm Eid greetings and called on Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the country’s peace, unity, and prosperity.

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State was officially sworn in for a second four-year term on Tuesday at the newly renovated Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, in a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of progressive governance in the state under APGA. The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor took the oaths of allegiance and office at 11:50am, accompanied by his wife Dr. Nonye Soludo and new deputy governor Dr. Onyeka Ibezim. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented the Federal Government at the event, praising Soludo for offering Tinubu’s administration “specialist insight, candour, and patriotic counsel.” Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, the Ooni of Ife, and governors from multiple states were among the distinguished guests. Soludo won his November 2025 re-election with a landslide 422,664 votes — sweeping all 21 local government areas. In his inaugural address, he declared his first term was for “foundation-laying,” citing the Ekwulobia flyover, the new Government House, the end of the “sit-at-home” disruption, and restored normalcy across schools and markets. He described Anambra as “one of the safest states in Nigeria” and promised to accelerate development across security, health, education, and infrastructure in his second term. Controversially, Soludo also told the crowd that an Igbo presidency in 2027 was unlikely to happen and extolled President Tinubu, urging Ndigbo not to “waste their votes.”

President Tinubu has directed all political appointees in his administration who intend to contest in the 2027 general elections to resign their positions on or before 31 March 2026. The directive, conveyed through a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, is in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the INEC timetable for party primaries. The order covers ministers, ministers of state, special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, personal aides, directors-general and CEOs of federal agencies, parastatals, commissions, and government-owned enterprises. All affected officials must submit their resignation letters through the Office of the SGF before the March 31 deadline. Tinubu said the directive is designed to “ensure full compliance with electoral laws, uphold transparency in the political process, and promote a level playing field for all aspirants.” With reports suggesting at least four serving ministers are already eyeing governorship and legislative seats in 2027, the directive is expected to trigger a significant cabinet reshuffle in the coming days.