2026 in Nigeria

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2026 Timeline of Nigerian history

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Events in the year 2026 in Nigeria .

Events

January

• 2 January – A CASC Rainbow of the Nigerian Air Force crashes into a forest after a technical failure in Kontagora, Niger State. ^[1]
• 3 January –
  • A boat carrying 52 passengers capsizes along the Yobe River in Yobe State, killing 25 people and leaving 14 missing. ^[2]
  • At least 50 people are killed in an attack by gunmen on the village of Kasuwan-Daji in Borgu, Niger State. ^{[3] [4]}
• 4 January – At least nine soldiers are killed and several others injured when their convoy hits a landmine and is ambushed near Bindundul, Borno State; the attack is attributed to Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants. ^[5]
• 9 January – A bus crashes in Bauchi State, killing nine people and injuring 10 others. ^[6]
• 12 January – Schools in northern Nigeria begin reopening after a months-long closure following the Papiri kidnapping in November 2025. ^[7]
• 17 January – Nigeria finishes third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. ^[8]

Scheduled

• 20 June – 2026 Ekiti State gubernatorial election ^[9]
• 8 August – 2026 Osun State gubernatorial election ^[10]

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Nigeria

Source: ^[11]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 20–21 March – Eid al-Fitr
• 4 April – Good Friday
• 6 April – Easter Sunday
• 7 April – Easter Monday
• 1 May – International Workers' Day
• 27 – 28 May – Eid al-kabir
• 12 June – Democracy Day
• 14 August – Milad un-Nabi
• 1 October – Independence Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Art and entertainment

• List of Nigerian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

Deaths

• 12 January – Oba C. D. Akran, 89, politician and traditional ruler. ^[12]

References

1. "BREAKING: Military Combat Drone Crashes In Kontagora Forest In Niger State". Sahara Reporters. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
2. "Boat capsizes in Nigeria's Yobe state, leaving 25 dead and 14 missing". AP News. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
3. "Gunmen raid village in northern Nigeria, killing at least 30 people and abducting others". AP News. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
4. "Nigeria: Death toll rises to 50 in Niger state market attack". Africanews. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
5. Kingimi, Ahmed (5 January 2026). "At least nine soldiers killed in ambush attack in Nigeria's Borno state, sources say". Reuters. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
6. "Nine dead, 10 injured as bus crashes on Kano–Maiduguri Expressway". Daily Post. January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
7. Kingimi, Ahmed (12 January 2026). "Nigeria reopens some schools in the north, defying threats of kidnap". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
8. Gleeson, Mark (17 January 2026). "Nigeria edge Egypt on penalties for third place at Cup of Nations". Reuters. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
9. Abiodun Nejo (8 December 2025). "Ekiti 2026: Political parties lock horns after gov primaries". The Punch . Retrieved 8 December 2025.
10. Sobowale, Adetutu l (30 May 2025). "INEC sets dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship elections". The Punch . Retrieved 8 December 2025.
11. "Nigeria Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
12. "Akran of Badagry dies at 89". Vanguard. 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.

External links

• Online calendar
• Nigeria Public Holidays 2026