Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 17th September, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja from Paris following the conclusion of his work vacation.
Naija News reports that he arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday evening.
He was received by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, among others.
Recall that the President ended his vacation earlier than scheduled, cutting short the 10 working days he was expected to spend in France and the United Kingdom in order to return to Abuja and resume official duties.
The President is expected to continue with his official engagements in the coming days after his return.
The presidency has dismissed fears that the government is accumulating debts and instead declared that “Nigeria is actually under-borrowing.”
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Matters, Tope Fasua, made the submission during a Channels Television interview on Tuesday, in which he reacted to fears that Nigeria’s international debts were on the rise and getting out of hand.
He argued that, contrary to widespread fears, national debts have been on the decrease since the advent of the Tinubu administration and at 39 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria is actually under-borrowing.
He added that states are also able to pay their debts, and there is nothing to be worried about.
The presidential aide argued further that the government is only taking loans for developmental projects and not for wastage or embezzlement.
Despite his argument, Fasua added that the federal government is open to constructive criticism.
The outgoing Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has defended the state of emergency declared in the state, saying it was the only viable option to restore peace and stability.
Naija News understands that President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, imposed emergency rule following a prolonged political impasse and heightened insecurity in the state.
Speaking on Tuesday at a public lecture themed “Good Governance and Democratic Dividends”, delivered by Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kanmike (SAN) at Government House, Port Harcourt, Ibas said the intervention was necessary to rebuild confidence and restore democratic order.
Reflecting on his administration’s six-month stewardship, Ibas said the decision to declare emergency rule was forced on the state by political breakdown and insecurity.
He highlighted the peaceful conduct of the August 30 local government elections as one of the most significant achievements under his watch.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has initiated a five-count legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, and included some social media companies in the case involving human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.
Naija News reports that social media platforms 𝕏 (Twitter), Meta (Facebook), were listed as defendants over Sowore’s post against President Bola Tinubu.
The criminal charge dated Sept. 16, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar.
The charge sheet states that Sowore is alleged to have used his official 𝕏 account and his Facebook page on August 25 and 26, 2025, to post comments labelling President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accusing him of dishonesty regarding corruption during an official visit to Brazil.
Court documents sighted on Tuesday revealed that the charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2015, were instituted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant, with Sowore, 𝕏 Inc., and Meta Inc. listed as defendants.
The DSS alleged that the posts were false, defamatory, and capable of inciting public disorder, thereby violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections of the Criminal Code Act.
A notorious commander of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), identified as Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, popularly known as Gentle de Yahoo, has been arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army.
The wanted ESN Commander was captured by troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade in a joint operation with sister security agencies at his hideout in Aku-Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement by the Nigerian Army, which also detailed other activities of the troops.
Naija News understands that during the operation, a cache of arms and items, including one English pistol, 120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 25 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, a cartridge, six mobile phones, military and police uniforms, as well as a German flag, were recovered from the IPOB hideout.
Troops also uncovered a workshop used for dismantling stolen vehicles for resale and destroyed 10 motorcycles found at the scene.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has clarified that its zoning arrangement will not bar aspirants from other regions from seeking the party’s presidential ticket in 2027.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, explained that while zoning remains a vital instrument of equity, it cannot supersede the Nigerian Constitution.
“Even if we zone our presidential candidate to the South, it will not stop anybody from any part of the country from showing interest. We cannot do things that will contradict the Constitution of Nigeria, which is the grand norm,” Ajibade stated.
The mother of celebrity chef Hilda Baci has stated that she was very doubtful when her daughter told her that she planned on cooking the biggest pot of Jollof Rice.
Speaking virtually during Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD online morning service on Tuesday, Bassey, who owns Calabar Pot restaurant in Gudu, Abuja, recalled how her daughter told her she wanted to cook a six-metre-wide pot of rice, using 250 bags of basmati.
She said her daughter’s new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice was achieved through prayer, fasting and God’s mercy, declaring, “What God cannot do does not exist.”
According to her, they immediately embarked on fasting and prayer, seeking God’s hand over the attempt.
Baci’s mother admitted she feared the giant pot might collapse under the weight of rice, meat and oil.
Nigerian female sensational singer, Tiwa Savage, has opened up about her desire to have more children.
Naija News reports that the Afrobeat musician, in a recent interview with US podcaster, Joe Budden, said she is done freezing her eggs.
The single mother also spoke of her preference for male children and the steps she took to ensure that dream remains a possibility.
She said, “I want more children, boys. I have actually done egg freezing. I am just preparing. Like I said, I am not young. I am thinking about my age and want to get my eggs while they are still very healthy.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been handed a timely boost in their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld FIFA’s decision to dock six points from Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player.
The saga revolves around striker Emilio Nsue, who scored the decisive goals in Equatorial Guinea’s 1-0 wins over Namibia and Liberia last November.
Despite representing the nation for more than ten years, FIFA ruled that Nsue had not received the necessary clearance to switch international allegiance from Spain, where he had previously played at the youth level.
The governing body subsequently overturned both results, awarding 3-0 victories to Equatorial Guinea’s opponents.
Equatorial Guinea had appealed the decision, but CAS dismissed their challenge, a ruling that dramatically reshapes Group H standings. The country drops from second place with 16 points to fifth with 10, while Namibia rises to second with 15 points, keeping their continental play-off hopes alive.
For Nigeria, the implications are huge. In Group C, South Africa tops with 17 points, followed by Benin on 14 and Nigeria on 11. With the Equatorial Guinea ruling, the Eagles stay in the hunt for one of the four best runners-up slots across Africa, which would grant them a place in the inter-confederation play-offs.
The Super Eagles’ chances could improve even further depending on FIFA’s ongoing investigation into South Africa.
Arsenal got their UEFA Champions League campaign off to the perfect start on Tuesday night with a 2-0 victory away at Athletic Club, while Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise stunned PSV Eindhoven with an impressive 3-1 triumph in the Netherlands.
At the iconic San Mamés, Mikel Arteta’s men had to battle through a physical contest before substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard made the difference in the closing stages of the Champions League game.
Meanwhile, in Eindhoven, Union Saint-Gilloise pulled off one of the night’s biggest results with a 3-1 victory against PSV at the Philips Stadium.
Nigerian forward Peter Akinpelu opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 9th minute, before Anouar Ait El Hadj doubled the lead in the 39th.
PSV tried to rally, but Kevin Mac Allister’s 81st-minute strike effectively killed off the contest before Ruben van Bommel grabbed a late consolation for the Dutch side in stoppage time.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.