Nigeria News Digest: August 27, 2025

Lagos State’s electoral commission denied claims of unpaid wages for ad hoc staff following the July 12 local government elections, reaffirming its commitment to honoring their contributions.

APC members in Edo State criticized their party chairman for suggesting automatic ticket allocations to supporters of a former governor, emphasizing governance decisions rest with the state leader.

New APC national chairman Yilwatda revealed President Tinubu instructed him to collaborate with former party leader Ganduje to strengthen APC unity and progress.

A Nigerian think tank warned against the rise of military populism in West Africa, linking it to regional instability and authoritarianism following recent coups in several nations.

The APC in Oyo State urged INEC to address challenges in voter registration, urging citizens to register at official centers and avoid misinformation.

Osun State sued the federal government for withholding statutory local government funds since March 2025, seeking court intervention to restore allocations.

Osun State’s Supreme Court case against the federal government centers on restoring withheld local government funds, citing constitutional mandates for democratic governance.

Deputy Speaker Kalu called for increased Igbo participation in nationwide voter registration, stressing its importance for marginalized communities.

Atiku urged Nigerians to respect a Supreme Court decision invalidating Imo’s governor’s election, highlighting the rule of law as essential for national unity.

An Ogun nurse dismissed for exposing corruption was reinstated and awarded N5 million in damages, marking a rare judicial victory for whistleblowers in Nigeria.

A Nigerian monarch was jailed in the U.S. for fraud, including the seizure of his property and $96,000 in funds related to a financial scheme targeting residents.

The EFCC arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters in Taraba during a raid on August 27, 2027, following credible intelligence on their cybercrime activities.

Amnesty International has condemned the relentless harassment of activist Sowore, calling for the immediate dropping of charges including terrorism financing and money laundering.

The Kaduna PDP has demanded the release of its detained members, accusing the state government of an orchestrated clampdown and warning of potential mass protests.

The EFCC denied violating the rights of Atiku's son-in-law, Abdullahi Bashir Haske, stating they haven't been served with court processes.

The DSS is seeking court approval for confessional statements from terror suspects accused of spying on US and Israeli interests in Nigeria for individuals linked to Iran.

Lawyer Akinnola criticized the move to freeze SaharaReporters' accounts, comparing it to past regimes and questioning the IGP's actions against Sowore.

Nigerian Olusegun Baiyewu was convicted in Puerto Rico for laundering millions from romance scams and fraud targeting elderly victims.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria urged the suspension of a 4% levy on imports until December to allow an impact review and stakeholder consultations.

FCMB Group reported a 23% increase in profit before tax, driven by improved net interest income and asset yields.

Traders in Aba are resisting a ₦3.1bn levy by Governor Otti, fearing it could harm the local economy and his political future.

Nigeria's industrialization ranking is underperforming, with calls for improved power supply and transport systems to boost competitiveness.

PenCom is considering increasing investment limits for infrastructure and equity to align with long-term pension goals and diversify assets.

The NGX Group reported that President Tinubu's reforms have tripled transaction volumes and values in the capital market within two years.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants, positioning the state among the highest‑paying in Nigeria, while the Imo Labour Congress hailed the increase as a victory for the workforce.

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service issued a best‑judgment tax assessment for former Kogi Senator Godwin Olusegun Melaye covering 2023‑2024 after he failed to respond to a notice, warning that recovery proceedings will commence without further notice.

SBM Intelligence reported that kidnappers demanded over N48 billion in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025, but victims paid only N2.57 billion, and the increase in naira payments has not been matched by a rise in the dollar equivalent.

NDLEA in Kwara seized large quantities of cannabis during two early‑morning raids and arrested four suspects, working with local leaders to curb drug abuse.

Bauchi police arrested five men accused of luring and raping a 10‑year‑old girl, with evidence that the victim had been targeted since childhood.

NDLEA in Adamawa seized 589.6 kg of illicit drugs, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and urging citizens to aid the fight against drug trafficking.

Eight hunters were killed in a clash with bandits in Niger State while attempting to stop cattle theft.

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority officials reported that an elderly passenger who threatened to slap a flight attendant over a seat change was removed from an unnamed flight, following a similar recent incident involving a forced removal on an Ibom Air service.

The WHO/EPI‑WIN webinar introduced the Integrated Outbreak Analytics (IOA) toolkit, offering bilingual guidelines, SOPs, case studies and training materials for outbreak response, with contributions from UNICEF, WHO, DRC health officials, MSF Epicentre and the National University of Singapore.

African health ministers adopted the Regional Rehabilitation Strategy 2025‑2035 in Lusaka, targeting national rehab plans and budgets in 60% of countries and integration of rehab services into 60% of primary health facilities, while urging reforms, funding, workforce training and data collection.

A cholera outbreak that began around 10 August 2025 in Zamfara’s Gumi and Bukkuyum LGAs has killed at least seven people and hospitalised nearly 200, with residents blaming Governor Lawal’s government for an inadequate response.

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Nigeria Customs Service handed over three trucks of expired pharmaceuticals, valued at N3.7 billion, to NAFDAC in Lagos under a memorandum of understanding, emphasizing its role in preventing counterfeit and unsafe drugs from entering the market.

An investigation reveals Nigeria is becoming a dumping ground for EU‑banned agrochemicals; local users, unaware of the hazards, report health problems, environmental damage and reduced crop yields from these prohibited pesticides.

A train on the Abuja‑Kaduna line derailed, injuring seven people and prompting the safe evacuation of 618 passengers and staff; all services on the route have been temporarily suspended pending site recovery and safety clearance.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) dismissed online rumours of a staff recruitment drive, labeling the claims fraudulent and urging the public to ignore the misinformation and rely on official communications.

The Nigerian Air Force has launched its 2025 recruitment drive for Direct Short Service Commission 34, offering free applications from Aug 27 to Oct 7 and targeting specialists in engineering, medical services and cybersecurity.

The Adamawa Civil Service Commission denied fraud allegations, insisting no unqualified names were added to the recruitment process, and urged applicants to ignore rumours and prepare for interviews scheduled to begin on Aug 28.

Dangote Cement’s leadership urged multi‑sector collaboration to curb youth unemployment, citing training schemes, internships and community projects that empower young Nigerians in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Abia Governor Alex Otti called for a structured system to help Nigerian returnees abroad, noting that many overseas Nigerians wish to return but lack confidence on where to start.

In late August, 162 Nigerian citizens, including women and children, were voluntarily returned from Libya via Misrata International Airport with assistance from the DCIM and IOM.

Experts urged Nigeria’s federal government to deploy satellite‑based water‑quality monitoring to safeguard its critical lakes from environmental degradation.

NRC Managing Director accepted responsibility for the Abuja‑Kaduna derailment, suspended services on the route and pledged a thorough investigation to prevent future incidents.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation suspended Abuja-Kaduna train operations after a derailment near Kaduna. NRC officials and safety investigators are investigating the cause of the incident.

President Tinubu directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation to implement urgent measures to prevent future train accidents following the Abuja-Kaduna derailment.

Nigeria implemented a temporary ban on raw shea nut exports to promote local value addition, aiming to generate $300 million annually and boost the $9 billion global market.

Tinubu approved a six-month raw shea export ban to enhance domestic processing, create jobs, and position Nigeria to capture a significant share of the global shea market.

The Federal Government formed an investigation panel to identify the cause of the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment and improve rail safety nationwide.

The SEC authorized Zigma-Alpha Asset Management to operate as a fund and portfolio manager, leveraging FinTech for advanced investment solutions and risk management.

Nigeria’s energy experts urged manufacturers to adopt ISO 50001 standards to reduce costs, cut energy use, and lower industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

African startups are advised to focus on context-specific AI tools for agriculture, healthcare, and finance rather than pursuing general-purpose models.

President Tinubu pledged to protect investors during meetings with NGX and SEC leaders abroad, underscoring reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s financial sector.

The Minister of Women Affairs launched the Women Agro Value Expansion Initiative to empower 10 million women, promoting food security and inclusive economic growth.

Ondo State deployed military officers to secure farmlands and farmers, aiming to restore confidence and boost food production after recent herder attacks.

Taylor Swift confirmed her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, thanking the team’s organization and welcoming herself to the “Chiefs Kingdom” community, while the franchise issued congratulatory messages on social media.

Junda Morris, founder and CEO of JMK Production, has been named president of the West Africa Fashion Council’s U.S. branch, where she will steer initiatives to broaden manufacturing and distribution for West African designers, strengthen diaspora ties, and launch youth mentorship and scholarship programs.

TikTok for Artists provides Nigerian musicians with daily‑updated dashboards and comprehensive analytics that reveal music performance, audience demographics and fan engagement, giving artists, labels and managers transparent data to promote tracks and drive revenue both on the platform and beyond.