Nigeria News Digest: September 4, 2025

The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) announced the timetable and activity schedule for the 2026 local‑government elections, setting 1 September 2026 as the latest possible election day. The release complies with Section 33(1) of the PLASIEC Law, which requires notice no later than 360 days before the election. PLASIEC’s chief confirmed that all listed activities will be carried out as stipulated by the law.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported receiving 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties. Simultaneously, INEC confirmed that 2,656,437 registered voters in Anambra State will elect a new governor in November. The commission will publish the list of newly registered parties for public review between 8 and 20 July 2025.

INEC announced that 2,802,790 citizens are now eligible to vote in Anambra's upcoming governorship election, up from 2,656,437 following continuous voter registration. Idemili North leads the list with 246,318 registered voters. Updated figures by local government area are available on INEC’s website.

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) will conduct by‑elections in 63 of 192 wards across 15 local government areas to fill seats vacated after the December 2024 suspension of 18 council chairmen. The elections cover specific wards in Esan South‑East, Esan North‑East, Esan West, Igueben and Esan Central. Acting chairmen have been appointed to manage the councils until the by‑elections.

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed former Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa’s claim that he delivered one million votes for President Tinubu in 2023. APC officials said Marafa has no electoral track record and that Tinubu’s support came through party structures. The party highlighted its recent victory in Kaura Namoda South to demonstrate continued grassroots strength.

Local government workers in Ekiti State, represented by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, pledged N10 million to Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re‑election campaign. Chairman Alaba Abejide said the donation reflected gratitude for Oyebanji’s reforms and would help mobilise support across the 16 local councils. The cheque was presented at the governor’s office in Ado‑Ekiti.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo accused southeast political leaders of undermining voter registration efforts in Nigeria. The organization blamed Anambra State officials for failing to mobilise citizens, urging governors, chairmen and civil groups to register voters before the August 31, 2026 deadline. Ohanaeze warned that the lack of participation would weaken the Igbo electorate’s future political influence.

Corps member Ushie Rita Uguamaye petitioned President Tinubu to reverse an unlawful extension of her National Youth Service (NYSC) service year. Through counsel, Uguamaye alleged that the extension denied her fair hearing rights and constituted abuse of power. The appeal follows her earlier unresponsive petition to the NYSC director‑general.

A dispute over President Buhari’s authority to suspend Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State escalated when the president failed to act. The conflict involved former governor Nyesom Wike, who opposed a proposed impeachment. The situation highlighted limitations in executive powers under emergency provisions, sparking debate over the balance between federal and state authority.

Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa faces a standoff with 18 local government chairmen over the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds. Councils claim they receive only ₦4 million monthly despite multi‑million allocations and demand full financial autonomy granted by a July 2024 Supreme Court ruling. The state government denies political motives, while the Association for Good Governance Advocacy urges President Tinubu to enforce autonomy for all 774 councils.

Former PDP candidate Kehinde Akinde resigned from the party after expressing dismay with the PDP’s national, state and local leadership. He cited internal injustices and loss of confidence, while several party members defected to the APC. Akinde’s departure reflects growing dissatisfaction within the PDP ranks.

The North Central APC chairmen declared the party fully prepared for the 2027 general elections and dismissed the African Democratic Congress as a worn‑out vehicle. They pledged to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and address insecurity in the region, affirming confidence in the Tinubu‑led administration’s policies.

Dennis Tamarakuro, also known as Keisha Reynolds, was arraigned in Abuja on charges of defrauding $71,795 through a fake investor scheme via Bybit. After pleading guilty, he received a one‑year prison sentence or a ₦1 million fine. The case was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission under cybercrime provisions.

Auto‑mechanic Jimoh Akeem was convicted of stealing 17 yam tubers worth ₦35,000 and sentenced to three years in jail. The offence, committed near Africa Primary School in Osogbo on 25 July 2025, was confirmed in the court’s charge sheet, with the defendant having no legal representation.

The Department of State Services charged 75‑year‑old Nanbol Tali and others with illegal firearms trade and killings in Plateau and Benue states. Tali faced four counts of trading unlicensed AK‑47 rifles worth ₦3 million; others were charged with possession of pistols and involvement in village killings. The cases involve alleged reprisal attacks and property destruction.

Nigerian police arrested 32 individuals, including three alleged kingpins and a prison escapee, across several neighborhoods in Minna and surrounding areas to deter criminal networks.

Kano authorities have charged a 28-year-old man with defrauding a woman using fraudulent charms, promising education and business opportunities to extract money before being apprehended.

Kano police arrested three men accused of impersonating security officers and deceiving a victim out of over N1 million, with suspects from Sokoto, Daura, and Katsina linked to the scheme.

A court in Anambra remanded a 33-year-old barber over allegations of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in his shop, with the victim sent there by her aunt.

Economic analyst Kelvin Emmanuel criticized Nigeria for failing to address inflation, exchange rates, and interest rates, which undermine the effectiveness of federal and CBN reforms.

Nigeria reported N7.6 trillion in non-oil revenue in the first eight months of 2025, surpassing oil earnings for the first time amid weaker global crude prices.

International Breweries Plc reported an 88% revenue surge to N488.96bn in 2024, driven by expanded distribution, innovation, and investor praise for strategic management.

Nigeria aims to boost gas output to 10 billion cubic feet daily by 2030, leveraging government-industry collaboration to expand infrastructure and align with the Renewed Hope economic agenda.

Investor confidence in Nigeria’s long-dated Treasury Bills grows despite lingering concerns over foreign exchange stability and policy shifts in the fixed-income market.

The Nigerian government plans a 5% petrol tax starting 2026, allocating funds to climate projects, sparking debate over balancing environmental goals with public affordability.

The APC government and opposition clashed over claims Nigeria met its 2025 revenue target, with critics emphasizing the policy’s lack of tangible benefits for citizens.

Lassa fever reported 857 cases and 160 deaths in 2025 as Nigeria sees fewer infections but higher fatalities, raising concerns about clinical care and prevention efforts.

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong has sponsored a Suicide Prevention Bill aimed at decriminalizing attempted suicide and enhancing mental health support in Nigeria. The bill, which passed its first reading in February, seeks to provide a framework for suicide prevention and address the nation's high youth suicide rate.

Governor Uba Sani has approved the implementation of the 2024 Consolidated Health Salary Structure and hazard allowance for Kaduna health workers, effective September 2025. This move is expected to boost morale and improve service delivery in public health facilities.

The Ondo State Government has launched an initiative to combat fake and counterfeit drugs, while also intensifying efforts to reduce malaria burden through distribution of insecticide-treated nets and community support.

The Federal Government has launched the second phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, aiming to train 41,307 unskilled and unemployed Nigerians across the country's electoral wards, as part of President Tinubu's commitment to job creation and poverty alleviation.

JAMB's attempts to address underage candidates taking university entrance exams have led to criticism of overregulation, with the agency requiring students to spend at least five years in primary school before proceeding to secondary education.

Stanbic IBTC has opened applications for its 2024/2025 university scholarship, offering N160 million in funding to Nigerian undergraduates who participated in the 2024 UTME, with a deadline of September 16, 2025.

A 26-year-old school gateman in Ibadan has been arrested for allegedly defiling a four-year-old pupil, raising concerns about the need for stricter screening of school staff and enhanced protection measures for children.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency reported 8,692 cases between August 2024 and July 2025, including domestic violence, defilement, and sexual harassment, with the government aiming to increase awareness and reporting through a toll-free hotline.

A 20-year-old woman in Kebbi State has been arrested for attempting to murder her newborn baby, who was rescued by a farmer. The incident has drawn attention to the need for support for vulnerable mothers and infants.

A Delta woman has been arrested for stabbing her lover to death, highlighting the ongoing issue of gender-based violence in Nigeria.

A family of three died in a car crash in Abuja following an altercation with louts, raising concerns about road safety and the need for effective policing to prevent such incidents.

Tragic accidents on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway have claimed 10 lives and injured 10 others, involving a Howo truck, a Toyota Corolla, a Foton bus, and a Daihatsu Hijet mini-bus.

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has donated three 32-seater buses to nursing colleges and unveiled plans for a medical village to enhance healthcare training and access in the state.

The historic Awolowo House in Ikeja has been demolished to make way for the Awolowo Technology Mall, a modern facility that will more than double the original 4,800 sqm of commercial space to over 9,000 sqm. Managed by Wemabod, a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company, the mall aims to attract global ICT firms and reinforce Lagos’s status as a leading technology hub.

PodFest Naija, Nigeria’s inaugural podcast and storytelling festival, will be held on 10 October 2025 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, exploring how narratives shape culture, inspire innovation and foster collaboration. Backed by sponsors such as Coca‑Cola and Sterling Bank and supported by multiple media partners, the one‑day event is positioned to become a landmark cultural gathering.

Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has introduced the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non‑Traditional Consumer Lending Regulation 2025, targeting all unsecured digital loans. The rules impose strict registration, transparency, data‑privacy and fair‑interest requirements and authorize penalties of up to N100 million for abusive practices such as harassment and anti‑competitive behaviour.

Nigeria’s ICT sector is projected to overtake oil as the country’s top revenue earner by 2027, rising from its current 16‑18 % share of GDP to about 21 % within two years, according to the Minister of Communications. Growth is driven by initiatives like the 90,000 km Project Bridge fibre backbone, the world‑largest 3MTT digital‑skills programme, and a forthcoming Digital Economy Bill, while Lagos alone has attracted over US$6 billion in tech investment between 2019 and 2024.

T2 Mobile has signed a multi‑million‑dollar agreement with India’s Knot Solutions to upgrade its Business and Operations Support Systems, a key step in the carrier’s four‑phase transformation from traditional telecom to a broader platform offering voice, data, digital financial services, cloud and lifestyle products. The partnership aims to restore competitiveness and drive customer‑focused innovation in Nigeria’s telecom market.

The Nigerian Institute of Management has partnered with Leadership newspaper to promote technology‑driven innovation, aligning with its upcoming national conference in Abuja (7‑9 September) themed “Leveraging Technology for Innovation, Creativity and Productivity.” The collaboration will provide extensive media coverage and support the Institute’s goal of enhancing management through digital tools.

At the 17th Lagos Makeup Fair, skincare brand Nuban Cares unveiled Nigeria’s first AI‑powered Skin Decoder, a user‑friendly tool that delivers instant, personalized skin analyses and product suggestions, marking a significant step toward data‑driven beauty experiences for both professionals and consumers.

The Kwara State government has teamed up with the nonprofit Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative to establish Code Clubs in schools, targeting learners aged 8 to 16 and offering training in coding, robotics, problem‑solving and safe digital practices, with support from the Raspberry Pi Foundation.

The BATN Foundation, together with Cato Foods & Agroallied Global Concepts and the Osun State government, launched the Enterprise Development for Smallholder Cassava Farmers project, aimed at increasing cassava production by training farmers in climate‑smart agronomy, enterprise management and linking them to markets to meet growing industrial demand.

In coordinated operations across Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Borno states, the Nigerian Army recovered 158 cattle, disrupted several criminal activities and secured the surrender of a female family member of ISWAP/JAS terrorists, highlighting an intensified security push against armed groups and livestock rustling.

British International Investment has committed a $7.5 million debt investment to Babban Gona, a Nigerian agri‑tech platform, to enhance food security and climate‑resilient practices among smallholder farmers in the north, reflecting a deepening UK‑Nigeria partnership in agricultural development.

Ekiti’s state council approved more than N1.5 billion for agricultural development, including funding for aviation staff quarters at the state’s international cargo airport, N70 million to capitalise the Fountain Agricultural Marketing Agency for agro‑chemical procurement, and over N1 billion for a broiler production scheme that will build six 2,000‑capacity poultry pens and support youth‑led poultry clusters under a public‑private partnership.

Femi Kuti revealed that he left his father Fela’s band to escape the shadow that constrained his personal relationships and career choices, allowing him to forge his own artistic identity by blending Afrobeat with modern global sounds.

YouTuber Mr. Beast responded to a tweet from Nigerian artist Ifure Usen, offering to purchase a sketch the creator had made of him after sharing an AI‑generated image, highlighting a cross‑platform interaction between the global influencer and a local art creator.

The internationally acclaimed musical 'Fela and the Kalakuta Queens,' created by Bolanle Austen-Peters, returns to Lagos this December. Celebrated as Nigeria's highest-grossing theater production, the show highlights the story of Fela's bold female allies, the Kalakuta Queens, and has toured global cities. Austen-Peters, dubbed the Queen of Nigerian Theatre, has brought African narratives to international stages through this groundbreaking work.