Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 19th November, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 19th November, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a two-nation visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola.

Naija News reports that this was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

President Tinubu’s first stop is Johannesburg, where he will attend the 20th summit of the G20 Leaders. After the summit, he will proceed to Angola for the AU-EU summit.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African leader who also serves as the current President of the G20 group, invited his Nigerian counterpart to participate in this year’s edition.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil had, during his Presidency of the group in 2024, equally invited President Tinubu to Rio de Janeiro.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expelled Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State among others.

Naija News reports that the faction has also dissolved the party executives in Oyo, Bauchi, Ekiti, Zamfara, Edo and Lagos.

These decisions were taken at the 103 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held in the party national secretariat in Abuja today.

Others expelled include former Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja and others, for anti Party activities.

Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, who presented the memo for the expulsion, said it was as result of the affected party members’ disregard for court judgements, an action he said put the party in disrepute.

NEC meeting’s Communique was read by the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, on Tuesday announced that the nation’s foreign reserves have surpassed $46 billion, marking the highest level recorded since 2018.

Naija News reports that Cardoso, represented by the Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi, disclosed the figures at the 20th Anniversary of the Monetary Policy Department in Abuja.

The CBN Governor described the achievement, recorded on November 14, 2025, as a significant turning point in the Bank’s policy reforms.

“Foreign reserves have risen to $46.7 billion… supported by sustained inflows and renewed investor participation across various asset classes,” he said.

He noted that the current reserve level provides 10.3 months of import cover, surpassing international adequacy benchmarks.

The CBN attributed the sharp rise to improved oil receipts, stronger portfolio inflows and ongoing reforms that have stabilised the foreign exchange market.

Cardoso said the naira had continued to strengthen in recent weeks, adding that the spread between the official and Bureau-de-Change windows had narrowed to below two per cent, signalling restored market confidence.

Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has indefinitely postponed his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State as a national tragedy requiring sober reflection rather than political celebration.

Governor Kefas said the decision was taken out of respect for the victims and their families, stressing that moments of national insecurity demand unity, not partisan activity.

“In a moment when Nigeria is once again confronted with the reality of insecurity, solidarity and compassion must rise above politics,” he said.

Kefas, who noted that his administration places a premium on security, education, and safeguarding vulnerable groups, said it would be “morally right and nationally responsible” to step back from major political engagements until the crisis is addressed.

He added that the safety of citizens must take precedence over political movements.

Forty-four lawmakers from the northern and southern regions of Nigeria, serving in the National Assembly, have written a two-page letter and resolution to President Bola Tinubu, calling for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Naija News reports that the lawmakers in the letter urged the President to invoke his constitutional powers to release Kanu from detention and to convene an all-inclusive political roundtable involving all stakeholders to address the country’s challenges and find a lasting solution through a political process.

The lawmakers, under the aegis of “Concerned Federal Lawmakers,” further called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, as soon as practicable, to exercise his constitutional authority to discontinue the prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu.

The lawmakers emphasised that discontinuing the prosecution and initiating a constructive dialogue is necessary to address the matter through a political window and achieve a lasting solution.

Two schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, have escaped from their captors, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

Hussaini Aliyu of the Danko-Wasagu Council told the BBC that the girls managed to slip away while the armed kidnappers were leading them into the bush.

“The girls are back and are safe,” he said, adding that one of them sustained a leg injury during the escape and required medical attention.

At least 25 students and a teacher were seized during Monday’s dawn attack. The gunmen, described locally as bandits, stormed the boarding school around 4 a.m., shooting sporadically.

A teacher was killed while trying to shield the girls, while a security guard later died in the hospital from gunshot wounds. The fallen guard’s family has been left devastated.

The guard who was killed had both a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter enrolled at the school; both are among those abducted.

Nollywood actress, Etinosa Idemudia, has opened up about being a two-minute girl while sharing her opinion on trending sex talk on social media.

Naija News reports that Etinosa responded to the 𝕏 conversation after a user complained about men “lasting too long.”

Etinosa, who did not hold back words, said 15 minutes of thrusting is “too long” and jokingly asked if anyone is “digging for gold.”

According to the movie star, she is a “two-minutes girl” and loses interest once she reaches her peak, adding that anything after that feels unnecessary.

Nigerian lawmaker representing Delta North at the National Assembly, Ned Nwoko, has dismissed claims of seeking to reconcile with his estranged wife cum Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels.

Naija News reports that this comes after Regina claimed that Nwoko was sending his family to plead for reconciliation while continuously calling her out online.

Regina Daniels’ claim was also corroborated by a post made by her colleague, Doris Ogala, on her Instagram page.

However, Ned Nwoko, in a statement through his communication lead, dismissed claims of chatting with Regina, insisting that he does not want her back in his house.

Nwoko also claimed that Regina’s allegations of drugs and sex against him are false and can never be substantiated.

The Senator attributed Regina Daniels’ series of social media posts to the continuous influence of hard drugs.

According to him, his last WhatsApp conversation with the movie star contains his expression of frustration and ultimatum of return to rehabilitation or he will no longer fund her lifestyle.

However, Regina, after the message, became violent and berserk, destroying cars and properties.

Nwoko also referenced a video Regina posted online, which captured him using the bathroom, stressing that he was shocked the clip was posted on social media.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing a growing list of fitness worries after three of his defenders picked up knocks during the international break.

Arsenal will return to club duty this week with concerns surrounding Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber.

The Premier League table-toppers had gone into the break with one of the strongest defensive records in Europe, holding eight straight clean sheets across all competitions before drawing 2-2 with Sunderland.

They meet Tottenham on Sunday in the north London derby, followed by a Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich.

Gabriel was the first major setback. The Brazilian centre back, who has formed a solid partnership with William Saliba, left Saturday’s friendly against Senegal with a thigh issue.

He did not travel to France for Brazil’s game against Tunisia on Tuesday after scans confirmed the injury.

The 27-year-old has played a key role in a back line that has conceded only five goals in 11 league matches, and he has added two goals of his own this season.

Calafiori, who has been Arteta’s main option at left back, also withdrew from international duty. The Italian defender reported to the national team for qualifiers against Moldova and Norway but trained on his own because of a hip problem and did not appear in either game.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has admitted that even a season full of goals might not be enough to win football’s top individual prize, the Ballon d’Or.

Speaking to the UK Mirror, the England captain stressed the importance of winning major trophies like the Champions League and the World Cup.

“I could score 100 goals this season but if I don’t win the Champions League or the World Cup, you’re probably not going to win the Ballon d’Or,” Harry Kane said. “It’s the same with Haaland, with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies.”

Kane, 32, is having one of the best starts to a season in his career. He has already scored 13 goals in the Bundesliga and five in the Champions League, making him one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.

Despite his personal form, Kane knows trophies play a crucial role in individual recognition. Last season he scored 44 goals in 45 games for Bayern Munich and led England to the Euro 2024 final, but still finished 13th in the Ballon d’Or voting.

Looking ahead, Kane is confident about Bayern Munich’s chances in Europe and England’s prospects at the 2026 World Cup.