Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 8th October, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 8th October, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.

Naija News recalls that President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023.

In a statement on Tuesday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that Nnaji resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.

The statement added: “Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

“President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday asked the House of Representatives to approve plans to raise a total of $2.347 billion from the international capital market to partly fund the 2025 budget deficit and refinance Nigeria’s maturing Eurobonds.

In a separate request, the President also sought clearance to issue a $500 million debut sovereign Sukuk to support critical infrastructure projects.

Naija News gathered that the requests were contained in a letter read on the floor of the Green Chamber by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu said the requests were made pursuant to Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2003, stressing that they were necessary to give effect to the borrowing provisions already approved in the 2025 Appropriation Act.

The President stated that part of the capital to be raised would be used to refinance the $1.118 billion Eurobond issued in 2018, which is due on November 21, 2025.

He warned that the refinancing plan was to “avoid default” and ensure Nigeria adhered to international best practices in debt capital markets.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s departure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the expiration of his second term in office.

Naija News reports that Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.

In a statement on Tuesday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu thanked Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.

In recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation, President Tinubu bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

He also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the case between the Osun State government and the federal government of Nigeria over the withholding of local government funds due to the state.

Naija News reports that the state government dragged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to court for withholding its local government funds.

In a ruling, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who led a seven-member panel of Supreme Court Justices, reserved judgment for a date to be communicated to the parties involved in the case.

The decision was taken after the Supreme Court heard arguments from the parties in the suit.

In the suit, the Attorney General of Osun State is seeking an order of the apex court directing the AGF to immediately release the statutory allocations to chairmen and councillors of the 30 Local Government Areas of the state.

However, in opposing the suit, counsel for the AGF, Akin Olujimi, urged the apex court to dismiss the case on grounds that the plaintiff lacked the legal authority to bring the case before the Supreme Court to invoke the original jurisdiction.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said that ongoing legal disputes involving Winhomes Estate will not derail government projects or discourage Nigerians in the diaspora from investing in the country’s infrastructure and real estate sectors.

Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Umahi maintained that while there were pending court cases related to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, they do not affect its progress or the government’s reputation for transparency.

The minister expressed concern over what he described as misleading media narratives that could discourage genuine investors from the diaspora.

He emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to supporting Nigerians abroad who want to invest in the country.

President Bola Tinubu has withheld his assent to two bills recently passed by the National Assembly, citing fiscal concerns, legal inconsistencies, and potential conflicts with existing government policies.

The development was made public during plenary on Tuesday, when the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read separate letters from the President explaining the reasons for declining assent to both proposed legislations.

The affected bills are the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Repeal and Re-enactment Bill and the National Library Trust Fund Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

While commending the intention behind the NITT Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, Tinubu described some of its provisions as “flawed” and potentially damaging to fiscal discipline and good governance.

A major area of concern was the proposed clause mandating the institute to collect one per cent of all import and export freight charges to fund its operations, a provision the President said would impose undue financial pressure on businesses, and contradict Nigeria’s current tax reform framework.

Nigerian singer Oludipe David, popularly known as Spyro, has recalled how his father was strict with him and often resorted to negative utterances while correcting him, which had a lasting impact on his childhood.

Naija News reports that Spyro, in a candid interview with veteran media personality, Frank Edoho, also opened up about his struggle with the fear of failure.

The ‘Who Is Your Guy’ crooner stated that his father made him internalise fear and began accepting that he was a failure at some point.

According to him, he had thought that he would die poor, but he was able to overcome his fear of failure after developing a personal relationship with God.

He also shared that he was on the verge of giving up on music and had already ventured into interior design before his breakthrough song ‘Who Is Your Guy’ went viral in 2022.

Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has revealed that she was unimpressed when she first heard the song ‘Dorobucci.’

According to her, Mavin record boss, Don Jazzy was playing the unfinished track of the song in the hotel where they were staying.

Speaking in an interview on NotJustOk, Savage stated that she felt the song was ‘crap.’

However, the mother of one stated that when she eventually returned and heard the completed version of “Dorobucci,” she was stunned by how much it had evolved.

She recalled a similar experience with her hit Eminado, which she also initially doubted.

The Super Eagles’ camp in Polokwane, South Africa, came alive on Tuesday with the arrival of 18 players ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

The team settled into camp on Monday and held their first official training session earlier this evening as preparations intensify for Friday’s crucial encounter at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa. The kick-off for the encounter is 5 p.m.

Among those already in camp are captain William Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, and Alex Iwobi. Others include Samuel Chukwueze, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Tolu Arokodare, Stanley Nwabali, Adebayo Adeleye, Amas Obasogie, Benjamin Frederick, and Chrisantus Uche.

Six more players are still expected to join the squad before the team’s final training sessions begin on Wednesday.

Spanish icon, Jordi Alba has announced that he will retire from professional football at the end of the current MLS season with Inter Miami, bringing to an end one of the most remarkable careers of his generation.

Jordi Alba, 36, shared the news on social media, saying the time had come to close a defining chapter in his life.

Alba went on to thank the clubs and supporters who defined his journey.

A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Alba’s name became synonymous with consistency, speed, and creativity on the left flank. After an impressive spell at Valencia, he returned to Barcelona in 2012 and went on to form one of the most feared partnerships in world football with Lionel Messi. Their telepathic connection produced countless goals and unforgettable moments over more than a decade.