Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 1st October, 2025

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

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, declared that Nigeria is better than it was ten years ago, stressing that the worst is over.

Speaking at the commissioning of projects during his one-day working visit to Imo State, President Tinubu said Nigeria has achieved a great milestone as it celebrates its 65th independence anniversary on October 1.

Naija News reports that he also commended the nation’s founding fathers for making sacrifices that strengthened the unity of the country.

The President assured Nigerians that they would soon start enjoying the full benefits of various reforms implemented by the government and urged those speaking ill of the country to refrain from doing so.

The former southeast spokesman of President Bola Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has declared that there is no court ruling barring former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential race.

He argued that the certified true copy of the court judgment, declared Jonathan eligible to contest the presidency in Nigeria again and had set aside any issue of constitutional term limits.

He warned President Tinubu not to be deceived into embarking on a wild goose legal chase over Jonathan’s qualification to contest future elections.

Onoh warned President Tinubu not to be carried away by the sycophancy of those around him, warning that just as his wife had cried out about previous betrayals, many people who appear to be supporters may betray him in the 2027 election.

Naija News reports the statement comes on the heels of a warning from the presidency contained in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga on Monday against Jonathan’s rumoured interest in the 2027 election and individuals within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are reportedly encouraging him to contest the 2027 presidency on the party’s platform.

Onoh, who spoke with newsmen in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, however, disagreed with the submission by the Presidency on Jonathan’s eligibility. He further submitted that only Nigerians can decide who would be their leader.

He urged the Tinubu administration to focus on issues of national importance and refrain from interfering in the electoral rights of any opponent.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the 65th Independence Anniversary parade, describing it as another example of the disconnect between the presidency and ordinary Nigerians.

Naija News reported earlier that the Federal Government, on Monday, announced the cancellation of the parade, earlier scheduled for October 1 in Abuja, while noting that other anniversary activities would still go ahead.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the cancellation robbed the country of an important symbolic moment that should not be taken for granted.

Abdullahi expressed shock at the timing of the decision, questioning the explanation that the move was tied to the economic situation.

The ADC spokesman also linked the decision to a wider pattern of President Bola Tinubu’s absence from key national ceremonies.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has confirmed that electricity generation on the national grid has dropped to 3,200 megawatts (MW) following disruptions caused by the ongoing industrial action of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

NISO said the strike action triggered widespread gas shortages across power plants, cutting down available generation from over 4,300MW.

In a statement on Tuesday, the agency explained that it had rolled out contingency measures to prevent the grid from collapsing.

These included ramping up power generation from major hydro stations, which contributed over 400MW to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

The agency added that it had deployed reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.

According to NISO, the situation has forced the adoption of selective load shedding in some areas as a last resort to avert a nationwide blackout.

The federal government of Nigeria has declared that commercial sex workers would start paying tax on income earned from the services they render based on tax reforms set to be introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

This position was announced by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, who made the statement in a now-viral video from a tax education session by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos.

He explained that the law backing the new tax reforms set to go into effect in the year 2026, requires taxes to be paid for any service or product as long as payment is made for such, stressing that the law on taxation doesn’t ask if the business itself is legitimate or not, but makes income taxable as long as payment is made for a product or service.

Naija News reports that the chairman of the presidential committee, however, clarified that upkeep money sent to dependants or relatives as gifts is not taxable, describing such transfers as “non-exchange transactions,” and explaining that the sender is expected to have paid tax on such money.

Fresh details which emerged online have revealed how the negligence of the Nigerian police led to the death of the ARISE News anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu.

Naija News reports that Sommie, as she is fondly called, died during an armed robbery at her residence in Katampe, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.

According to Sahara Reporters, a family friend, Kaanayo Nwachukwu, who spoke on the incident, dismissed initial reports suggesting that the armed robbers directly attacked the 29-year-old broadcaster.

Nwachukwu stated that the armed robbers stormed the six-flat apartment complex where Sommie lived, moving from one apartment to another and dispossessing residents of their belongings.

Nwachukwu said Sommie, terrified by the commotion from adjoining flats, attempted to escape before the robbers reached her apartment.

He said the deceased jumped out of her window, sustaining severe injuries from the fall, stressing that when police eventually arrived minutes later, Sommie was still alive.

Nwachukwu described the tragedy as avoidable, calling it a failure of the Nigerian system.

Veteran Nigerian Fuji musician, Adewale Ayuba, has dismissed the purported divorce and paternity dispute with his wife, Azuka Ego.

Naija News reports that this comes after a YouTube channel, in a recent publication, claimed Ayuba had discovered his wife’s infidelity via a secret DNA test.

The report alleged that Ayuba divorced Azuka Ego following a paternity dispute.

However, in a statement issued by Bonsue Fuji Entertainment, Ayuba described the report as baseless and malicious.

Ayuba vowed to take legal action against the blogger, stressing that he would not allow his integrity to be attacked without consequence.

While stating that he remains happily married to Azuka Ego, Ayuba noted that their children’s paternity has never been questioned.

Popular Nigerian singer, Seyi Shay, has faulted the narrative that men are not essential, describing it as bullshit.

Naija News reports that Seyi, in a recent episode of ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast, emphasised the importance of a father figure in the upbringing of the girl child.

The music star claimed that many women who had a father figure in their lives growing up are more stable and have access to better education and morals than those who didn’t.

Seyi Shay noted that the narrative that men are not important is an agenda for further division in homes and contributes to more broken homes.

The 39-year-old singer said she is grateful that she didn’t have a daughter in her 20s, stressing that she now has the experience and capacity to raise a child more effectively.

She explained that with her experience, she would be able to guide her daughter so as not to make the same mistakes she had made regarding men, friendships, and other endeavours.

Arsenal defender William Saliba has pledged his long-term future to the club after signing a new five-year contract, saying he believes Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff can help him reach the very top of world football.

William Saliba, 24, whose previous deal was due to run until June 2027, had been linked with a move to Real Madrid. But he made it clear that his development under Arteta was a decisive factor in his decision to extend his stay in north London.

Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in 2019 but spent time on loan at Nice and Marseille before breaking into Arteta’s first team in 2022. Since then, he has made 105 Premier League appearances, scoring six goals and providing two assists, quickly becoming one of the cornerstones of the Gunners’ defence.

Saliba’s commitment follows fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, who signed a new contract earlier this year keeping him at the Emirates until 2029. His extension comes just days after Arsenal’s dramatic late win at Newcastle, which lifted the Gunners to second in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool.

Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has questioned the timing of FIFA’s decision to dock South Africa three points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, even though the ruling has lifted his side to the top of Group C.

Naija News reports that FIFA awarded Lesotho three points and three goals after it was confirmed that Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible player in their qualifier on March 21.

The sanction has dramatically reshaped the group standings, leaving Benin Republic and South Africa tied on 14 points, Rohr’s men lead on goal difference.

While the development strengthens Benin’s qualification chances, Rohr was quick to express frustration over the delay in justice.

Rohr stressed that the race is far from over, with two crucial fixtures still to come.