Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 1st November, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

President Bola Tinubu has signed off on a 15 per cent import tariff on petrol and diesel, a move the Presidency says is aimed at driving local refining, creating jobs, and reducing Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on imported fuel.

In a statement on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, described the decision as “a bridge, not a burden”, explaining that the new tariff policy is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s energy independence and encourage investment in domestic refining.

“It’s no longer news that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel, a bold and strategic move aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape,” Dare wrote on his official X handle.

He said the policy addresses the country’s long-term overreliance on imported petroleum products, which has drained foreign exchange and stifled local opportunities.

Dare explained that the policy would make imported products less competitive, giving an advantage to local refiners such as Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt Refinery, and other modular plants across the country.

The Federal Government has launched a ₦10 million Tax Reform Challenge for Nigerian students as part of efforts to raise awareness and deepen understanding of the country’s new tax reform laws.

The initiative, announced on Friday by the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, seeks to engage young Nigerians in shaping the nation’s evolving fiscal framework through creative and research-driven content.

Oyedele, in a post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), described the programme as “big news for Nigerian students,” noting that it aims to inspire innovation and dialogue around Nigeria’s new tax policies.

“This challenge is designed to raise awareness, promote tax education, and inspire constructive youth-led dialogue on Nigeria’s tax reform,” Oyedele stated.

According to the committee chairman, the challenge is open to undergraduates in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, as well as graduates currently serving under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or awaiting mobilisation.

Participants are required to read Nigeria’s new tax laws and create an article, video, podcast, radio programme, or social media post published between July 1 and December 31, 2025.

He explained that submissions would be judged based on how “educative, engaging, and fact-based” they are, adding that critical perspectives on the reforms are also welcome.

“Entries that are critical of the reform are welcome,” Oyedele said. “Don’t just watch history. Shape it, Read. Create. Educate. Grow.”

The ₦10 million award pool, according to the organisers, includes ₦5 million for the first prize, ₦3 million for the second, and ₦2 million for the third.

In addition, the top 10 finalists from each geopolitical zone will receive consolation prizes such as gadgets, internship placements, employment opportunities, and recognition as Tax Reform Youth Ambassadors.

Oyedele emphasised that the initiative will help build a generation of tax-literate Nigerians capable of contributing meaningfully to national development through civic participation.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from going ahead with its planned national convention.

Naija News understands that the convention, slated for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, is expected to produce new national officers for the opposition party.

However, three PDP members, Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah George (South-South PDP Secretary) filed a suit, alleging a breach of the party’s constitution in the convention’s preparation.

In their suit, the plaintiffs argued that the planned convention violated the PDP constitution and due process, urging the court to restrain the party’s leadership and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from proceeding with the exercise.

The plaintiffs asked the court to stop the planned convention, arguing that the party failed to comply with its own constitution, the 1999 Constitution, and the Electoral Act in the build-up to the convention.

Their lawyer told the court that “no congress was conducted in 14 states,” insisting that the issue before the court is whether the defendants violated the law and that it cannot be dismissed as an internal party matter.

In a judgment on Friday, the court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, ordered the PDP to put its plans for the convention on hold, citing a breach of rules.

He directed the PDP to go back and put its house in order, and also to send the statutory 21-day notice before proceeding with the proposed convention.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed disappointment over the court ruling, which ordered the suspension of its planned National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PDP stated that the ruling by Justice Kolawole Omotosho constitutes an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

It added that the court order does not stop the party from continuing the plans and processes towards hosting a successful convention.

Naija News recalls that Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, stopped the PDP from going ahead with its planned national convention scheduled for November 15-16.

The court ordered the PDP to put its plans for the convention on hold, citing a breach of rules.

Justice Omotosho directed the PDP to go back and put its house in order, and also to send the statutory 21-day notice before proceeding with the proposed convention.

The court order follows a suit initiated by three PDP members, Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah George (South-South PDP Secretary), alleging a breach of the party’s constitution in the convention’s preparation.

However, in a swift reaction through a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP vowed to appeal the court order.

It added that the ruling contravenes the existing Supreme Court order, which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, will formally defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, marking one of the most dramatic political realignments in the South-South region since 2023.

According to information obtained by TheCable, President Bola Tinubu, APC governors, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are expected to officially receive Diri into the ruling party at a ceremony in Abuja.

Sources close to the development revealed that Diri, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 15, has been engaged in weeks of discreet negotiations with key APC figures to finalise his defection plan.

A top APC insider told TheCable that the delay in Diri’s formal announcement was “to ensure seamless integration of the PDP bloc into the APC’s Bayelsa structure” and to “avoid internal friction” ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The source said, “The governor wanted everything to be well-aligned before declaring openly. Both parties have been negotiating the sharing formula to ensure mutual understanding and avoid post-defection conflicts.”

Diri’s planned defection represents a significant political breakthrough for the APC in the oil-rich South-South zone, traditionally a stronghold of the opposition PDP.

The PDP has suffered a series of high-profile defections in recent months, weakening its presence both at the national and state levels.

Apart from Diri, at least three other governors, Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Peter Mbah (Enugu) have crossed over to the APC in the past year.

Civil rights activist and journalist, Agba Jalingo, has accused officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service of engaging in corrupt practices by selling cell spaces to wealthy inmates for as much as ₦300,000.

Jalingo made the allegation during a two-day Investigative and Accountability Journalism Masterclass organised by the Agba Jalingo Foundation in Calabar, Cross River State.

He said, “I am saying emphatically that some prison officials across the country sell cell spaces to richer inmates. Some charge ₦250,000, ₦300,000 or more. I know this because I spent time there and saw how it works.”

The journalist, who was previously detained at the Afokang Federal Correctional Centre in Calabar, described his incarceration as a “revelation” of the deep-seated corruption that thrives within Nigeria’s prison system.

According to him, the practice of trading cell spaces is only one example of a much broader pattern of exploitation and injustice.

Jalingo said, “Many inmates are languishing in jail not because they are guilty but because they cannot afford legal representation or the bribes demanded by officials. The system is structured in a way that punishes the poor and rewards those who can pay.”

He said his personal experience inspired his ongoing advocacy for prison reform and justice for wrongly convicted inmates.

Jalingo also expressed gratitude to the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, for granting amnesty to 54 inmates of the Afokang facility, following his appeal for leniency towards prisoners who had demonstrated good conduct.

The National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has claimed that he personally spent over N756 million to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 election campaign.

In a viral video that surfaced on social media, the Lagos transport boss and long-time ally of Tinubu said the funds were sourced entirely from his personal pocket without any financial backing from Abuja.

MC Oluomo said, “I spent ₦756 million of my own money during the campaign. Nobody from Abuja gave me a dime. I paid for hotels and took care of everyone working day and night for Asiwaju’s victory.”

Recounting the financial commitments he made during the presidential campaign, MC Oluomo revealed that he booked 140 hotel rooms at ₦45,000 per night for four months, while also covering the daily stipends and logistics for Nollywood actors, actresses, and other supporters who joined the campaign trail.

According to him, the expenditures were necessary to ensure smooth coordination and effective mobilisation for Tinubu’s victory across Lagos and other states.

“I took care of accommodation, feeding, and transportation for all the campaign teams, including entertainers and volunteers who came to support us,” he said.

MC Oluomo reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu, saying his commitment to the president’s political success remains unwavering.

He declared that preparations are already underway for the 2027 general elections, promising to dedicate even greater resources to ensure Tinubu’s re-election.

Grammy award-winning singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has claimed that the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti is the only African artist greater than him.

Naija News reports that ‘Last Last’ crooner’s bold claim during a recent livestream with popular Australian streamer, Playboymax.

While describing Fela as king, Burna Boy boasted, “He [Fala Kuti] is the king. He is the only one [African artist] who is greater than me. He is the only one.”

While Burna Boy is currently one of the biggest artists in Africa, the hierarchy of the greatest African artists in history remains a debate.

Super Falcons striker Esther Okoronkwo has voiced her confidence that Nigeria can win an 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown when the continental showpiece takes place in 2026.

Naija News reports that the Nigerian women’s national team, Africa’s most successful side, secured qualification for the tournament earlier this week after seeing off the Amazons of the Benin Republic with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

The result extended the Super Falcons of Nigeria’s remarkable record of always qualifying for the tournament and showed their determination to keep their dominance on the continent alive.

The Justine Madugu-led side, which won the last edition of the competition, will head into next year’s championship with one clear goal: to retain the title. The 2026 WAFCON will also double as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, giving the Falcons even more incentive to deliver a strong performance.

Okoronkwo, who has become an influential figure in the team’s attack, said the entire squad is motivated to achieve greatness again.

Speaking to Channels Television, she said: “Yes. With Nigeria, everything is possible for sure. We’re not going there to not want to win or just go there for vibes. We want to win the 11th [WAFCON title] for sure.”

The Premier League has confirmed that the traditional Boxing Day fixture list will be drastically reduced in 2025, to only one match.

Naija News reports that the Manchester United vs Newcastle United match is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 26, 2025.

The latest development marks a historic shift in English football’s festive calendar, which for more than a century has been synonymous with a full round of games on Boxing Day, a date cherished by fans, families, and broadcasters across the world.

According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday, the reduction comes as a result of fixture congestion linked to the expansion of European club competitions.

In a statement announcing the decision, the Premier League said it regretted the reduced schedule but explained that it was “bound by calendar constraints” brought about by the reshaped global football calendar.

The league noted that the domestic season has effectively been shortened, now spanning 33 weekends, despite maintaining its standard 380-match structure since 1995.

With Boxing Day falling on a Friday in 2025, the league confirmed that seven fixtures will take place the following day, Saturday, December 27, while two more will be played on Sunday, December 28.

The Premier League also listed Sunderland vs Leeds United and Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur as part of the weekend’s lineup, before Matchweek 19 kicks off with six games on Tuesday, December 30.

Despite the disappointment, the Premier League assured fans that the 2026 Boxing Day schedule will return to a fuller lineup, as the date will fall on a Saturday, allowing for a more traditional round of fixtures.