Buoyed By Strong Corporate Earnings, Nigerian Stock Market Gains N24.4tn in Two Months Kayode Tokede
Nigeria’s equities market extended its bullish run in the first two months of 2026,
adding N24.4 trillion in value as investors rotated out of low-yield federal government bonds into stocks, buoyed by improving macroeconomic
fundamentals and strong corporate earnings. At the close of trading on Friday, total market capitalisation on the Nigerian Exchange stood
at N123.76 trillion, up 24.5 per cent from the N99.38 trillion recorded at the beginning of the year. The market had earlier climbed to a peak of
N125 trillion on February 20 before moderating slightly. Analysis showed that January accounted for N6.8 trillion of the increase, lifting capitalisation to
N106.15 trillion, while February delivered a more pronounced gain of N17.61 trillion, pushing Continued on page 5
Tinubu: Tension over Subsidy Removal Has Reduced, Says Better Days Lie Ahead… Page 5 Sunday, March 1, 2026 Vol 31. No 11284
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Atiku Breaks Silence on Fintiri’s Defection, Says It’s Evidence of Pressure, Intimidation Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar,
has described the wave of defections by governors from the opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as evidence of pressure and intimidation
and not a sign of strength of the ruling party. Reacting to the defection of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) to the APC, Atiku said political realignments were not new. Fintiri defected from the PDP on Friday, in a political move that altered the balance
of power in the North-east state and carried implications for Atiku. “I have taken this decision after wide consultations and in the best interest of the
development of our dear state,” the governor said, adding that members of his cabinet and other PDP
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Iranian Ayatollah Khamenei, 40 Leaders Dead in US, Israel Airstrikes, Says Trump Iran hits Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, others in retaliatory attacks Airspace closed, airlines halt flights FG issues advisory to Nigerians in Iran, Gulf states UN Security Council begins emergency meeting Crude oil prices expected to skyrocket
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, yesterday confirmed that the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and 40 top military
and civilian leaders were killed in the airstrikes launched by the US and Israel against Iran. Trump also announced that the members of the Iran’s Islamic Continued on page 5
US Military Support Not Threat to Nigeria’s Sovereignty, DHQ Clarifies...Page6
•The 86-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in his compound