Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025
1. Tinubu Reverses Appointments, Recalls NTA DG, ED
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the recall of Mr Salihu Abdullahi Dembos, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Naija News reports that Dembos briefly vacated the post following some management changes in the agency.
Dembos was appointed DG of the TV network by President Tinubu in October 2023. He will now return to complete his three-year tenure.
The President similarly directed the recall of Mr Ayo Adewuyi, the Executive Director of News, to complete his three-year tenure, which ends in 2027.
2. El-Rufai: DHQ Speaks On Paying Money To Terrorists
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied allegations that it is involved in paying bandits and terrorists monthly allowances or sending food to them in the name of a non-kinetic battle against insurgency.
The denial was made on Tuesday by the Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, during an interview on Channels Television Sunrise Daily.
According to him, the Armed Forces of Nigeria do not support financial payment to bandits terrorising different states across the country, adding that experience has shown that such a method is not helpful.
Naija News reports that Onumajuru, however, confirmed that the military has a Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process, which supports ex-combatants in transitioning from armed groups to civilian life after they lay down their weapons and go through profiling in detail.
He clarified that the DDR process, which is anchored around Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe State and Zamfara State for the North-East and North-West regions, respectively, admits only those who are found not to be culpable in terrorism.
The clarification follows an earlier claim by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who alleged that the federal government and the Kaduna State government are involved in empowering bandits and terrorists by paying them monthly allowances and sending them food.
The claim had earlier been denied by the Kaduna State government and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), respectively.
3. Tinubu Dismisses Fears Over Trump’s Tariffs
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration will not be intimidated by the trade policy direction of United States President Donald Trump, insisting that Nigeria’s growing non-oil revenue will serve as a buffer against external shocks.
Naija News reports that Tinubu made this known when he received a delegation from The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The President maintained that the sweeping tariffs announced by the Trump administration would not derail Nigeria’s economic progress.
Tinubu pointed to Nigeria’s improved fiscal outlook, noting that the country had already met its 2025 revenue target by August.
According to him, reforms in the foreign exchange market have also stabilised the naira, which has appreciated from ₦1,900 to about ₦1,450 to the dollar since his government unified the exchange rates in May 2023.
Trump, now in his second term, has imposed a 10 per cent baseline tariff on nearly all imports into the U.S., with additional country-specific levies ranging from 11 to 50 per cent.
Under the new regime, Nigerian exports have been hit with a 15 per cent tariff, up from 14 per cent announced in April. The measure took effect on August 7.
4. ‘Faction Of Fools’ – Bauchi Gov Fires Wike, Fayose, Ortom, Others
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has lambasted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his loyalists for threatening the planned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention.
Naija News reports that Wike and his allies had raised a counter force against the party’s national convention, scheduled to hold in Ibadan on November 15-16.
The leaders under the platform of Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP in Abuja on Monday night, demanded fresh congresses in Ebonyi, Anambra, and Ekiti states to address what they described as outstanding disputes.
The communique of the meeting, read by former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, stressed that fairness, inclusivity, and respect for judicial decisions must guide the party’s conduct ahead of its national convention.
They warned that disregarding their resolutions could render the planned convention invalid and amount to disenfranchising genuine members.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP, Bala Mohammed dared Wike to form a faction to disrupt scheduled activities of the opposition party.
The Bauchi State Governor, who spoke during the inauguration of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, declared that the Ibadan convention is sacrosanct.
5. Over 10,000 Lives Have Been Lost In Northern States Under Tinubu’s Watch – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that over 10,000 Nigerians in the Northern states have lost their lives since the advent of the Bola Tinubu presidency two years ago.
He lamented that there has been a resurgence of killings in several North-central states, including Kwara, Niger, Plateau and Benue.
Atiku, who made the allegation in a personally signed press release made available to Naija News on Tuesday, claimed that the federal government has ignored the renewed killings.
He added that the development equals a monumental failure on the part of the Tinubu government in its basic responsibility of securing the lives and property of citizens.
The former Vice President also alleged that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has remained silent, leaving the victims to suffer neglect while they focus on politics.
He therefore called on security agencies to rise to the occasion and be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties.
6. FG, National Assembly Endorse WAEC’s Full Switch To CBT By 2026
The Federal Government and the National Assembly have thrown their weight behind the plan by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to fully migrate from paper-based testing to Computer-Based Test (CBT) by 2026.
Speaking at a sensitisation meeting with lawmakers and stakeholders in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, said the nationwide adoption of CBT would strengthen Nigeria’s student assessment system and transform the education sector.
The minister stressed that the new system would drastically curb examination malpractice and safeguard the credibility of the WAEC examination process.
Alausa added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to education as the surest tool for national development.
On his part, the Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, said WAEC began the transition with private candidates in 2024 and had already recorded significant progress.
He disclosed that mock sessions and online practice platforms would be introduced nationwide to help candidates familiarise themselves with the new system.
7. P-square Break Up Not Ordinary, It’s Spiritual – Bracket
Nigerian musician Obumneme Ali, popularly known as Smash from the music group Bracket, has spoken about the long-running dispute between twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square.
Speaking on the AFRIMMA Podcast alongside his bandmate Vast, Smash explained that he believes the clash between the two brothers goes beyond ordinary issues.
Naija News reports that he revealed that in his view, the conflict is spiritual in nature.
According to him, Paul once admitted to him that their fallout with each other was not normal.
Smash added that while he shares a closer bond with Paul, he also visits Peter regularly and often speaks with him.
He expressed sadness over the situation, noting how united the brothers once were and how deeply they both loved their music brand, which also included their elder brother Jude.
The singer recalled how strong their relationship used to be and said it was painful to see how much things have changed for the duo who were once inseparable.
8. ‘She Attacked Me With A Cutlass’ – Veteran Actor, Baba Lanko Speaks On Violent Marriage To ‘Mama No Network’
Veteran Nollywood actor, Adeola Shoremi, better known as Baba Lanko, has made a shocking revelation about his failed marriage to his comic colleague, Atinuke Kazeem, popularly called ‘Mama No Network’.
Naija News recalls that the duo got married in 2014 in a star-studded wedding, where Fuji legend, Pasuma performed, but their marriage crashed in 2015.
In a recent interview with ‘Feel Right News’, Baba Lanko described his ex-wife as a devil, alleging that the marriage was marred by constant violence.
The actor also said that his ex-wife once attacked him with a cutlass and left him with permanent scars.
Speaking about his current marriage, Baba Lanko said ‘Mama No Network’ indirectly introduced him to his current wife.
According to the thespian, his ex-wife brought an apprentice to learn theatre arts under him, and the young lady later became his wife.
9. Favour Ofili Blames AFN, NOC Negligence For Switching Allegiance To Turkey
World record holder in the women’s 150m, Favour Ofili, has officially announced her decision to switch her sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, citing repeated administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) as the driving force behind her move.
Favour Ofili’s confirmation comes nearly three months after rumours of her switch first emerged. The 22-year-old sprinter had long been regarded as one of the country’s brightest track talents, but frustrations over missed opportunities appear to have tipped the scales.
“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible,” she wrote on Instagram.
She explained her decision bluntly, placing the blame squarely on Nigeria’s sporting bodies.
Ofili’s troubles with Nigerian athletics date back to Tokyo 2020, where she was among 10 athletes barred from competing for missing out-of-competition tests. In Paris 2024, the saga continued when officials failed to register her for the women’s 100m, denying her the chance to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
10. Super Eagles Camp In Uyo Welcomes 15 Players Ahead Of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
The Super Eagles’ camp has expanded to 15 players as Nigeria steps up preparations for its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa.
Eleven Super Eagles players arrived on Tuesday, joining four others who checked in on Monday.
According to team media officer Promise Efoghe, the new arrivals are Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Moses Simon, Chidozie Awaziem, Adebayo Adeleye, Benjamin Fredericks, Wilfred Ndidi, and Frank Onyeka.
They join William Troost-Ekong, Amas Obasogie, Felix Agu, and Raphael Onyedika who are already in camp.
The remaining eight players expected include goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali; defender Bruno Onyemaechi; and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Christantus Uche, and Tolu Arokodare.
The Super Eagles will host Rwanda on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, before travelling to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on Monday.
Currently, Nigeria sits third in Group C with two points from two matches, behind South Africa and Rwanda, who both have four points.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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