Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 24th September, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 24th September, 2025

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has announced that her 65th birthday fundraiser towards the completion of the National Library realized ₦20.7billion.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu stated this while having lunch with the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu explained that the birthday account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund will remain open till December 2025 to receive more donations from willing Nigerians towards the completion of the project.

Oluremi Tinubu also debunked claims that her 65th birthday anniversary fundraiser is politically motivated.

She pointed out that as a teacher, as well as the impact library had on her life while growing up, she was motivated to call for the donations towards the building of the National Library.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday regained access to her office at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, declaring that she would not apologise for what she described as her stand against injustice.

Speaking with journalists shortly after an official of the Sergeant-at-Arms unsealed her office, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was cautious about making extensive comments because some issues were still pending.

The lawmaker expressed concern about reports suggesting that a motion may be raised to compel her to apologise as part of conditions for her resumption.

The Kogi senator maintained that her suspension was unjust and vowed not to bow to pressure.

She further thanked her constituents, family and colleagues who stood by her throughout the suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country despite its current difficulties.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has reduced the benchmark interest rate to 27 per cent, down from 27.5 per cent in July, in its latest effort to stabilise the economy.

Naija News reports that the Committee also announced fresh adjustments to banks’ cash reserve obligations.

The MPC cites continued disinflation and a positive outlook for the economy for the latest review.

The decision was taken at the Committee’s 302nd meeting held on September 22 and 23, 2025, with all 12 members voting in favour of the adjustment.

In line with the new policy stance, the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for commercial banks was reduced to 45 per cent, while that of merchant banks was retained at 16 per cent.

The MPC also introduced a 75 per cent CRR on non-TSA public sector deposits, a move the apex bank said was aimed at tightening controls around idle public funds.

Meanwhile, the liquidity ratio was left unchanged at 30 per cent.

Oil marketers in Nigeria have rejected the call by billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, for them to sell off their investments in the nation’s oil sector.

Speaking on Tuesday, during Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, stated that Otedola’s statement was insensitive and not properly thought out.

Naija News recalls that Otedola had claimed that fraudulent fuel subsidy activities occurred during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He asserted that the fraudulent subsidy claims were tied to depot licenses, noting that the policy rewarded neither transparency nor innovation, but encouraged rent-seeking and corruption.

Specifically, Otedola took on the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), a group of oil marketers that has been engaged in a running battle with the Dangote Refinery in recent days.

Otedola, going down memory lane, recalled that he founded DAPPMAN 23 years ago, specifically in 2002, with a clear mission to challenge the dominance of major marketers and provide independent depot owners with a fair platform to thrive.

He, however, stated that the original players have left and those presently in the association are clinging to assets that have lost value.

Responding to the claims from Otedola, Gillis-Harry, said the businessman can not speak for the organization.

He added that as a former member of DAPPMAN, Otedola should have a better understanding of the kind of investments the oil marketers had made and should not have uttered such insensitive statements.

The PETROAN boss noted that the fact that Otedola was lucky to have quickly and easily disposed his own assets and moved on does not give him any right to tell others to scrap investments they gave several millions to set up.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fired back at the Presidency over its recent assertion that President Bola Tinubu has no plans to extend his tenure beyond 2031.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the remarks as presumptuous and patently undemocratic.

According to the party, Tinubu’s mandate ends in 2027, and Nigerians will not wish to extend his tenure by a single day.

The ADC pointed out that given the spate of banditry and killings raging across the country, the widespread hunger and suffering, the punitive taxes, the flagrant abuse of power at a scale never seen before, the President should be preparing to leave in 2027.

The party said that any plan to stay in office beyond that date would indeed be a confirmation that this government is incapable of reading the room.

The opposition party called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to start preparing to go and stop plotting to stay.

Three soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been sentenced to jail after they were found guilty of illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.

Naija News reports that the three soldiers were found guilty by a special court-martial of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State, which was presided over by acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Brigadier General Ugochukwu Unachukwu.

The soldiers, Sergeant Raphael Ameh, Sergeant Ejiga Musa, and Lance Corporal Patrick Ocheje, were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Delivering judgment, the president of the court-martial, Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, however, handed a 15-year jail term to Corporal Omitoye Rufus.

The soldiers were found guilty of connivance with police officers and terrorists in illegal arms dealing by the special court-martial of the Nigerian Army, which sat at the Officers’ Mess of the Theatre Command Headquarters in Maiduguri.

Naija News reports that the soldiers were convicted of offences ranging from theft and unlawful dealing in ammunition to aiding the enemy, all punishable under the Armed Forces Act.

Ameh, who served as an armourer at the 7 Division Garrison, was found to have conspired with a deceased colleague to steal ammunition from the division’s armoury.

He worked with police officers to conceal weapons in bags of beans and smuggle them to Enugu and Ebonyi for criminals.

Abdullahi revealed that bank records linked Ameh to over 100 suspicious transactions between July 2022 and June 2024.

Afrobeats superstar, Tiwa Savage, has dismissed speculation linking her romantically with her colleague, Ayo Balogun, better known as Wizkid.

Naija News recalls that the Nigerian singer recently spoke about a past relationship with a celebrity that was kept hidden from the public.

She revealed during an interview on The JMatt Show that the man, who was also in the spotlight, demanded that their relationship remain private.

Her comments sparked widespread speculations, with many Nigerians suggesting she was referring to Wizkid, given the long-standing rumours of a romance between the duo.

However, in another interview with TheBreakfast Club, Tiwa Savage debunked the claims, stressing that she loves and respects Wizkid, but he was not the celebrity in question.

She said, “Shoutout to wizkid. I love and respect him but he isn’t the one I was referring to. I said the person was a public figure, but it’s not him.”

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has been officially accepted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, the body behind the prestigious Grammy Awards.

This development means the Nigerian hitmaker will now participate in the nomination and final ballot processes for the 2026 GRAMMYs, placing him among music professionals who directly influence the outcome of the world’s biggest music award.

The Recording Academy confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday, sharing a video featuring Davido alongside other new members.

Naija News reports that Recording Academy voting members: review the ballot, listen, and vote early, starting October 3.

Davido joins an expanding list of global talents whose input will help shape the Academy’s decisions in recognising excellence in music.

Arsenal have been dealt a setback with Noni Madueke expected to spend at least six weeks on the sidelines after injuring his knee in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

Noni Madueke, a 23-year-old England international, who arrived from Chelsea during the summer transfer window, was withdrawn at half-time after feeling discomfort early in the game. Although initial scans suggest he has avoided a dreaded ACL injury, further tests are needed to confirm the full extent of the damage.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie with Port Vale, Mikel Arteta admitted the winger could be out for several weeks.

Pressed on whether the layoff would be weeks rather than months, Arteta was cautiously optimistic. He said, “We hope so. Like I said, we need to scan him again to see the extent of the injury but it doesn’t look too bad.”

Medical staff are still waiting for swelling around the knee to settle before giving a definitive diagnosis, but the current expectation is that Madueke will be unavailable until November at the earliest.

Former Liverpool defender and now Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher, has cast doubt on Chelsea’s chances of lifting the Premier League title anytime soon.

Carragher argues that the club’s current squad lacks the quality and balance needed to challenge at the very top.

The former player made it clear that his criticism was not aimed at head coach Enzo Maresca, who he described as having done “a brilliant job” since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Despite his praise, Carragher was blunt about the club’s shortcomings, particularly in recruitment over the last three and a half years.