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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 27th January, 2025
1. Tinubu Departs For Tanzania To Attend Africa Energy Summit
President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja on Saturday for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he will participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit scheduled for January 27-28, 2025.
The summit, hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, brings together African leaders, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and civil society organizations to address the continent’s pressing energy challenges.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu will join other African heads of state to strategize on achieving universal energy access, promoting renewable energy solutions, and mobilizing private sector investment.
Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu will deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the summit, reaffirming its commitment to energy access and its leadership role in advancing Africa’s energy sector.
2. Tinubu Mourns Victims Of Enugu Tanker Explosion, Issues Directive To Traffic Control Agencies
President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the government and the people of Enugu State over the fuel tanker explosion, which resulted in the loss of lives on Saturday.
Naija News reported that a petrol tanker fell at Ugwu Onyeama in Enugu North, Enugu State, on Saturday, killing about 15 persons.
In a statement through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu called for caution and adherence to safety measures among road users, particularly fuel tanker operators.
President Tinubu also directed traffic control agencies to enforce extra measures to prevent recurring fuel tanker explosions across the country.
3. DHQ Confirms Killing Of 22 Soldiers, Several Terrorist Commanders In Borno
An encounter between operatives of the Nigerian Military and terrorists in Borno State has resulted in the death of 22 soldiers and over 70 insurgents.
This was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba.
The encounter between the insurgents and the military occurred in a notorious terrorist stronghold in Borno State known as the Timbuktu Triangle.
Naija News reports the operation, which was carried out by troops of Operation Hadin Kai, began on January 16, 2025, and has focused on dismantling terrorist enclaves in the region, according to the DHQ.
The statement by Buba confirmed the killing of three high-ranking commanders of the insurgents: the Terrorist Special Forces Commander, Talha; the Operations Commander, Mallam Umar; and the Brigade Commander, Abu Yazeed, during the encounter.
The DHQ spokesperson said the military successfully repelled various lethal tactics, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide bombers, and drones deployed by the terrorists.
He also confirmed the loss of 22 soldiers in the process and pleaded with the media to exercise restraint in publishing their names pending when their families would be officially notified.
4. ‘Was I The One Who Engineered The Coup?’ – Bauchi Gov, Foreign Affairs Minister Clash
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, have exchanged accusations over their performance in office, with both officials criticizing each other’s effectiveness in fulfilling their duties.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Mohammed accused Tuggar of mishandling Nigeria’s diplomatic affairs, particularly in relation to the federal government’s response to military coups in neighboring countries and delays in appointing ambassadors.
The governor also expressed dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration, especially regarding ongoing tax reform bills in the National Assembly.
In a swift rebuttal in an interview with BBC Hausa, Tuggar accused Governor Mohammed of mismanaging Bauchi State funds, alleging that the governor allocated plots of land to friends, allies, and family members.
The minister also dismissed the governor’s criticism of his handling of military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, pointing out that these events occurred before his tenure as minister and before Tinubu’s presidency.
5. 25 Dead In Niger Mining Explosion, Suspect On The Run
At least 25 people have been confirmed dead after a devastating explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, on Sunday.
The explosion, which occurred in the early hours as miners resumed work, also left several others injured. Victims with varying degrees of injuries have been transported to hospitals in New Bussa for treatment, while many remain missing, including women and children.
The cause of the explosion has not been officially determined, but local sources believe it may have been triggered by explosives stored improperly near the mining site.
According to reports, a man identified as Yushau, who is based in New Bussa, allegedly stored the explosives in his uncle’s house, which also served as a shop in Sabon Pegi.
The devices reportedly detonated, causing the disaster. Yushau is currently on the run.
The explosion destroyed numerous residential buildings and shops in the village, reducing them to rubble. Residents continue to search for more bodies, fearing that victims may still be buried under the debris.
Illegal mining activities have been reported in the area for a long time, raising concerns about safety practices and regulatory oversight.
The Niger State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that dynamites caused the explosion.
6. ‘You Are A Big Fool If You Say Ifa Is Nothing’ – Obasanjo Addresses Christians, Muslims In Nigeria
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that he will emphatically address anyone who says Ifa is nothing as a fool.
The former leader stressed the importance of safeguarding African cultural heritages during a gathering on Sunday, asserting that these traditions should not be threatened with extinction.
Obasanjo highlighted the need to protect Yoruba culture, describing it as “authentic.”
According to him, before Christianity and Islam was the Yoruba’s Ifa Orunmila, meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved.”
Naija News reports that Obasanjo made these remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State while celebrating the 50th birthday of renowned female talking drummer Olamuyiwa Aralola, known as Ara, at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
The former president noted that hosting Ara for this special occasion was a purposeful gesture to honour her contributions to the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly in talking drums, an art form traditionally associated with men.
7. NSC Embarks On Stadium Renovation In Bauchi, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has announced that renovation works have commenced at national stadiums across the country to boost the sports sector.
Naija News reports that the NSC Chairman decried the state of national stadiums across the country. He noted that almost all the national stadiums have had no major renovation work for a long time, leading to the decay of edifice infrastructures.
In a statement on Sunday, the Dikko stated this in a statement on Sunday, following his routine tour of the national stadiums across the country on Thursday.
Dikko stated that NSC is dedicated to revolutionizing the national sports sector to enhance athlete performance and increase revenue generation in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s administration policy.
He disclosed that while Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, and Ibadan (Liberty Stadium) were already receiving attention, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu was already in control of the state’s government.
8. Tax Reform Bills Will Make States Live Up To Their Duties – Sunday Dare
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has said the Tax Reform Bills would make state governments sit up.
Naija News reports that Dare stated this on Sunday while reacting to internally generated revenue (IGR) generated from six geo-political zones of the country and each of the zones from the federal government.
The data was cumulative, including what each state of the federation contributed in internally generated revenue and what was shared among states.
In his reaction, on his X handle, Dare stated that the Tax Reform Bills aim to correct injustice and promote fairness.
“Facts don’t Lie. This Government will always put the facts on the table for all Nigerians. President Tinubu is an unrepentant progressive and you can add nationalist to that. The Tax Reform Bills he is championing is rooted in the deep conviction that the Federal Government and the Sub-nationals have responsibilities and must live up to them. He is baking a bigger cake but wants equity, fairness and justice,” he wrote.
9. NDLEA Intercepts UK-bound Illicit Drug Consignment, Recovers Opioids, Weapons In Lagos, Kwara Raids
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a shipment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in a duvet and prepared for export to the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
This was disclosed by NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement to Naija News on Sunday.
Two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, were apprehended on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, in connection with the consignment, which contained six parcels of the psychoactive substance weighing 3.5 kilograms.
During interrogation, Austin Balogun, the principal agent, admitted receiving ₦700,000 for the shipment, most of which he claimed was spent on export handling fees and securing an apartment.
10. ‘Unlawful, Unfair, And Unreasonable’ – Court Asked To Stop Tinubu Govt, MTN, Glo, Others From Implementing 50% Telecom Tariff Hike
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the recent 50% hike in telecom tariffs.
SERAP argued that the increase, which raises call rates to ₦16.5 per minute (from ₦11), 1GB of data to ₦431.25 (from ₦287.5), and SMS charges to ₦6 (from ₦4), is “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable.”
Filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025, SERAP is challenging the NCC’s decision, describing it as a breach of citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information under Nigerian and international laws.
Naija News reports that SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized that the tariff hike is a violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, the Nigerian Constitution, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantee equal access to communication services.
In its suit, SERAP outlined the economic challenges facing Nigerians, including high poverty levels, cost of living crisis, rising inflation, and procedural breaches.
SERAP argued that the tariff increase disproportionately affects economically vulnerable Nigerians and undermines equal access to communication services.
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