Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 16th October, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 16th October, 2025

The headline inflation rate in Nigeria has dropped to 18.02% according to data released on Wednesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Naija News reports that the headline dropped from the August 2025 inflation rate of 20.12% to 18.02% in September.

The decrease marks the 6th consecutive month of decline since April 2025 and the first time in three years that the nation’s inflation rate fell below 20 percent.

The NBS data showed that the month-on-month headline inflation rate in September 2025 was 0.72% while the food inflation rate was -1.57% on a month-on-month basis.

The report explained that the significant decline in the annual food inflation figure is due to the change in the base year.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has disagreed with the notion that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to politically capture the southeast region.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, the former Anambra State Governor said only the people can decide who to vote for, not the party.

He insisted that nobody is capturing anywhere as Nigeria is not practicing military rule where people are captured.

According to Obi, politicians are expected to convince people to vote for them, and not coerce citizens to support any particular political party.

The Labour Party chieftain who criticized the current wave of defections to the APC, however, dismissed fears of Nigeria sliding into a one-party state.

He also stressed that parties don’t win elections based on the number of Governors it has, saying no political party can “capture” any region simply because a governor defects to it.

Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Diri, who announced this on Wednesday at the exco chamber in the Bayelsa State Government House, did not state the political party that he will be moving to.

His decision was backed by 23 members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker.

According to a post on Facebook by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor resigned from the PDP with the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, along with all the PDP members in the state legislature.

It was also reported that the governor has submitted his resignation letter to the party.

All members of the State Executive Council have resigned alongside the governor.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has vowed never to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that Fayose’s comment comes amid a wave of defections rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with several top members, including governors and lawmakers, recently joining the APC.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Fayose said he does not hide his support for President Bola Tinubu but will never join the APC.

He described Tinubu as a respected national leader, especially from the South-West, but maintained that his loyalty to PDP remains unchanged.

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has accused some Nigerian pilots of operating under the influence of Indian hemp and not properly monitored by regulatory agencies.

Naija News reports that the former Governor of Abia State made this known during Wednesday’s Senate plenary, accusing relevant aviation authorities of negligence.

Kalu claimed that most pilots are very careless and unfit to fly, stressing that he had witnessed their inadequacy on many occasions.

He further alleged that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and other agencies have failed to conduct proper checks on pilots, including on-the-spot drug tests and health assessments.

Kalu urged the aviation authorities to take urgent steps to ensure stricter monitoring of pilots.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as the only opposition figure remaining in Nigeria.

Fayose praised Obi for maintaining traction despite not being in government.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said all other opposition voices in the country, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are only filling the gap and have become irrelevant as people no longer listen to them.

Fayose, who made the claim on Wednesday during a Channels Television interview, however, maintained that despite his recognition of Obi, the 2027 presidential election would still be won by President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as no opposition figure or structure is capable of defeating him at the polls.

Speaking on the opposition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), the former Ekiti State Governor insisted that the party is no threat to the APC, saying that the opposition party is “going nowhere.”

Nigerian actor Idowu Adeyemi, popularly known as Yhemolee, has raised concerns about the growing trend of online begging on social media platforms.

Naija News reports that in a post on Instagram, he pointed out that social media, once meant for connection and interaction, is increasingly used by individuals to solicit money from strangers.

Yhemolee explained that many users have become skilled in asking for financial help online, making little distinction between street beggars and those begging on the internet.

The key difference, he noted, is that online beggars have access to internet data.

He described a common scenario where social media posts, instead of receiving comments or engagement, are flooded with account numbers from people requesting financial support.

Yhemolee expressed frustration over individuals who have perfected the art of online begging and urged for such solicitations to be excluded from his posts.

Reality TV star, Phyna has broken silence on the altercation with an unidentified lady at a hotel in Abuja.

Naija News reports that the incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over ₦200,000, which began inside her hotel room and escalated into the hotel lobby.

The viral video showed Phyna being attacked by an unidentified woman, with bystanders intervening to separate them.

Police officers were also present to de-escalate the situation.

In a post on her Instagram page on Wednesday evening, the former Big Brother Naija housemate clarified that she was attacked from behind while leaving the hotel.

She added that some video clips of the incident were edited to misrepresent the events.

Phyna also revealed that the person involved in the fight has not regained consciousness, urging fans to pray for her recovery.

She described the situation as being twisted by the viral footage, which made it appear as though she was the one beaten.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suspended three referees from officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following a string of contentious decisions in recent matches.

The affected officials: Mohammed B. Tuta, Ben Japhet, and Ikechukwu Taiwo, were sanctioned by the Referee Development Committee after their performances in Matchday 8 fixtures sparked outrage among fans and clubs.

In a statement signed by the committee’s secretary, Ameenu Mohammed, the NFF said Tuta and Japhet’s handling of the Kano Pillars vs Shooting Stars game “fell short of professional standards.”

Naija News reports that the fixture at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was disrupted by violent scenes from spectators angered by the officiating.

Referee Ikechukwu Taiwo, who officiated the Nasarawa United vs Rangers encounter, was also suspended for what the committee described as an “unjustified penalty” awarded during the match.

All three referees have been placed on indefinite suspension and will undergo further review and retraining. The committee reaffirmed its stance on discipline and fair play, warning that “any referee found compromising match standards will face severe consequences.”

Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has vowed to give everything to help his country qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they prepare to face Nigeria in the African playoffs semi-final on November 13.

The former Arsenal and FC Barcelona striker, who played a crucial role in Gabon’s campaign, helped the Panthers finish second in Group F behind Côte d’Ivoire to secure a playoff spot. Nigeria, meanwhile, booked their place after an emphatic 4-0 win over the Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday evening.

Speaking with The Standard, Aubameyang said he and his teammates are fully focused on earning Gabon’s first-ever World Cup ticket.