Nigeria News Digest: Aug 29, 2025

Atiku calls for amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act to enforce BVAS accreditation, electronic result transmission, and eliminate manual discretion at polling units and the national collation centre, and ensure transparency in the electoral process.

Adeyanju says his opposition to Obi does not equate to APC support, citing intimidation of those who backed Tinubu in the last election as the main reason for his stance against Obi.

Two APC support groups in Nasarawa State are urging the party to earmark the 2027 governorship slot for the Nasarawa Local Government Area, citing strategic importance and the presence of highly qualified local candidates.

Edo APC chairman Jarret Tenebe confirmed that the party has not allocated any local government chairmanship tickets for the 2026 election, asking members to disregard unverified claims and trust the state working committee.

A Rivers state high court dismissed an ex‑partie application seeking to halt the August 30 local government elections, ruling against a petition that cited legal interpretations of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law and the constitution.

Edo APC Chairman Emperor Jarrett Tenebe announced that the party will hold free and fair primaries for the 2026 local government election, rejecting automatic ticket allocation and emphasizing the role of the state working committee to conduct primaries following electoral guidelines.

LASIEC urged Lagos residents to take advantage of INEC’s continuous voter registration programme to register or update their voter information, emphasising the importance of the Permanent Voter’s Card for democratic participation.

Recent by‑elections across Nigeria, especially in Kaduna State, have reinforced support for Governor Uba Sani, with many observers suggesting that his continued success could secure him a second term in 2027.

Two Borno tricycle riders, Mohammed Bukar and Ibrahim Mohammed, were sentenced to five years in prison for forming a WhatsApp protest group that mobilised Keke Napep riders against the state government, as ordered by the Borno High Court.

Three internet fraudsters were arrested on charges of impersonation and financial theft across Facebook, TikTok and Telegram, with court proceedings citing violations of the Cybercrime Act. The case highlights the growing enforcement of online security laws in Nigeria.

The Delta State Police Command has taken self‑proclaimed human rights activist WongBox into custody and will arraign him soon. The arrest follows allegations of the activist's involvement in extremist activities within the state.

A 42‑year‑old pastor, Samson Ajayi, was remanded in Akure correctional centre after prosecutors alleged he sexually abused his 17‑year‑old daughter for over four years between March 2021 and August 2025, following a complaint from the mother.

Security forces arrested suspected kidnapping kingpin Yusuf Muhamed in Orokam, Benue State, amid a surge in abductions along the Orokam axis, after a curfew and tactical squad deployment by the police.

Senator Lawal Adamu Usman of the PDP has requested the ICC issue an arrest warrant against Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, accusing him of unlawfully detaining a PDP candidate during a by‑election and violating democratic principles.

Police in Akwa Ibom arrested a suspected cult leader and three vandals targeting public and private assets, following intelligence-led operations in Uyo and Ikono local government areas.

A Lagos painter was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a seven-year-old boy in Ketu Alapere, with the case transferred to a specialized police unit for investigation.

Rivers State police arrested 33 individuals for crimes including kidnapping and cultism, recovering explosives, firearms, and vehicles during raids across the state.

The Nigerian government increased passport application fees to N100,000 for a 5-year pass and N200,000 for a 10-year pass, effective September 1, 2025, emphasizing quality and integrity.

SNEPCo’s managing director called for bold investments in off-grid energy solutions to address Nigeria’s energy deficit, highlighting potential market opportunities in solar and clean technology.

Authorities clarified misinformation about Nigeria’s 2025 tax reforms, noting that small enterprises with annual turnover under ₦100 million will be exempt from certain taxes.

The Nigerian Correctional Service spent over N14 billion in eight months to feed pre-trial inmates, prompting calls for oversight to ensure efficient use of resources.

The federal government pledged to integrate tax professionals into civil service frameworks, aiming to strengthen fiscal governance and tax reforms.

Nigerian capital market leaders endorsed President Tinubu’s economic reforms, urging firms to list on the NGX to boost market growth and confidence.

A second round of polio vaccination campaigns began in Nigeria’s North-West region, targeting areas at risk from an outbreak of a transmissible vaccine-derived strain.

Kwara State’s Wellbeing Foundation Africa installed hygiene wash stations in 320 public schools, aiming to improve hygiene education for thousands of students.

NAFDAC shut down an illegal herbal medicine facility in Kaduna, which operated without licenses and produced unapproved products.

Osun State enrolled 1,200 inmates into a state health insurance scheme, expanding healthcare access to correctional facilities across the state.

Nigerian doctors trained 20,000 individuals in CPR and life support to combat the rising number of cardiac arrests in the country.

The Federal Government plans to incorporate informal vocational training hubs, such as Panteka centers, into the national skills qualification framework to boost workforce development.

Lagos State reported 8,692 domestic and sexual violence cases in one year, with ongoing efforts to raise awareness.

An Amotekun patrol vehicle caught fire while in motion, with support from local agencies.

Airlines' refusal to train young pilots and engineers raises concerns about industry continuity.

The proposed E-Governance Bill could boost Nigeria's GDP by 21% by 2030.

Nigeria's data center market is projected to grow from $278m to $671m by 2030.

GTCO increased GTBank's paid-up capital to N504bn to meet recapitalization requirements.

FirstBank reached a milestone with its digital loan disbursement, promoting financial inclusion.

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, partnering with ISACA, held the Code4Africa Privacy Hackathon during the 17th annual ISACA conference in Abuja, where student teams presented innovative data‑privacy solutions and were awarded for advancing protection in the digital ecosystem.

Young entrepreneur Olasunkanmi Owoyemi is reshaping Nigeria’s cocoa trade through his Sunbeth agribusiness, aiming to modernize the industry, boost farmer incomes, and replace the historic silence of harvest seasons with a confident, sustainable agricultural future.

Farmers in Benue State have urged Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Speaker Berger Alfred Emberga, and ALGON chairman Vitalis Terhile Neji to enforce the Anti‑Open Grazing Prohibition Law after fresh killings and farmland destruction by suspected Fulani herders armed with AK‑47s in Gwer West.

Analysts criticize General Musa’s silence on the farmer‑herder crisis, arguing that his statements enable narratives framing all North‑Central attacks as religious persecution while ignoring the underlying agrarian disputes that fuel reprisals in the region.

A sensitisation workshop in Abuja brought together Federal Ministry of Health officials and National Biotechnology Research staff, where Director Olubunmi Aribeana and Dr. Rose Gidado explained biotechnology, biosafety protocols and the role of genetically modified organisms in enhancing Nigeria’s food security without endangering consumers.

At the 2025 All Africa Music Awards, Burna Boy, Davido, Shallipopi and Juma Jux led the nominations, while South African DJ Maphorisa matched them with five nods including Album of the Year, and Shallipopi secured four categories such as Song of the Year.

France and Nigeria deepened their animation partnership as the French embassy facilitated technical workshops and co‑produced the feature film ‘The Passport of Mallam Ilia,’ while Nigerian animators Duru Joseph Azubuike and Chekwube Okonkwo received immersive training in Paris.

Speculation surrounds rapper Falz’s rumored marriage announcement, with some suggesting it may be staged for a music‑video release; the artist has not confirmed any recent romantic relationship, fueling further public curiosity.

Nigerian comedian Obia Uchechukwu Divine, known as Funnyurch, will debut his first home‑grown comedy special at Terra Kulture, following a UK‑recorded mini‑special that earned a Best Mini Comedy Special nomination at the Brampton International Nollywood Film Festival.

Ice Prince expressed regret that he never resolved his misunderstanding with late South African rapper AKA, saying he wishes they could have spoken before AKA’s death and acknowledging the lingering pain from the unresolved rift.

Ahmadiyya Muslim leaders, invoking Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad’s teachings, issued a communique after lectures and prayers urging world leaders to prioritize dialogue, justice and human dignity, warning that neglect could lead to heightened tensions and a potential World War III.

The Mawlid discussion emphasizes modest, sincere remembrance focused on the Prophet’s character rather than lavish ceremonies, urging believers to avoid bid‘ah by ensuring intentions and content align with tradition and prevent practices that stray from established Islamic teachings.

Christian youths from Benue, Southern Bauchi, Southern Kaduna and Plateau called for a review of the security framework to strengthen community policing, urging politicians to stop politicising the ongoing crisis that has caused casualties and displacement, said spokesman Jethro Doyum Moor at a press briefing in Jos.