Good morning Nigeria!
Welcome to today’s Nigerian Newspaper Headlines Review — Thursday, 23 October 2025
1. Daily Post — “New INEC chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to assume office Thursday”.
Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan is scheduled to formally assume office as INEC chairman today, following his nomination and confirmation; the commission will begin transitional arrangements for leadership hand-over.
The formal assumption of a new INEC chair shifts attention to institutional continuity ahead of the next electoral cycle. Early signals — acting appointments, administrative memos and any immediate policy pronouncements — will reveal whether the commission intends managerial continuity or reforms. Journalists should monitor comments from political parties and civil-society election observers for reactions to the hand-over.
2. PUNCH — “Debate over coup rumours; defence HQ denies planned coup story”.
Punch ran coverage interrogating social media rumours of a planned coup and published the Defence Headquarters’ categorical denial while analysing why such stories spread.
Coup rumours, even when debunked, damage public confidence and inflame political tensions. The story is a reminder that security communication must be timely and authoritative; reporters should record both the official denial and independent assessments from security analysts to give readers context.
3. Vanguard — (Politics & security roundups include: alleged negotiator Mamu loses fresh bail bid; regional security alerts).
Vanguard’s pages highlight court developments (Mamu’s bail bid), regional security advisories and opinion pieces reflecting on the Amupitan appointment.
Vanguard’s multiple reports today show the interplay of court action and security narratives. Editors should follow the Mamu hearing for its terrorism-law implications and verify judicial documents when summarising rulings to avoid error.
4. THISDAY — “ASUU suspends warning strike after ongoing negotiations with FG”.
ThisDay reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended a planned warning strike to give government negotiations a one-month window to conclude outstanding issues.
Suspension of strike action restores short-term academic calm but leaves long-term policy questions unresolved (funding, salaries, university autonomy). Coverage should track negotiation milestones and monitor whether the suspension holds or becomes a temporary reprieve.
5. The Guardian — “Nigeria won’t accept any deportees from U.S., Tuggar insists”.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar told counterparts that Nigeria will no longer accept deportees from the United States, framing the policy as non-negotiable in bilateral talks.
The position has diplomatic and human-rights consequences — it impacts repatriation arrangements and migrant welfare. Reporters should seek comments from the U.S. mission and international migration bodies to show how the policy affects travellers, migrants and bilateral relations.
6. The Sun — “FG to invest $220m on job creation”.
The Sun reports a federal plan to invest $220 million into youth employment and job-creation programmes, aimed at reducing unemployment and stimulating entrepreneurship.
Funding announcements matter, but the key test is delivery: allocation mechanisms, procurement transparency and measurable outcomes (jobs created, training slots). Coverage should request implementation timelines and monitoring frameworks to hold the programme accountable.
7. Daily Trust — “4 governors, emirs to grace Kaduna Int’l Polo finale”.
Daily Trust reports dignitaries — including four state governors and first-class emirs — will attend the Kaduna International Polo Tournament finale, a major social and tourism event.
Events like the polo finale boost local economies through hospitality and attract national attention to state tourism agendas. Local reporting should include security arrangements, expected economic uplift and any public-private partnerships supporting the event.
8. Daily Independent — “Still on Lagos–Calabar highway” (investigative/feature coverage).
Daily Independent ran a feature examining developments and issues along the Lagos–Calabar highway corridor — from safety and maintenance to economic opportunities.
Long-route infrastructure pieces highlight transport bottlenecks and regional economic linkages. Pair such features with official statements from the ministry of works and contractor timelines to give readers actionable updates on travel, trade, and safety improvements.
9. Blueprint — (Business & policy briefs — economy and investment commentary ).
Blueprint’s coverage focuses on investor signals and policy briefs (including commentary on macro stability and sector performance).
Analysis (4–5 lines): Blueprint’s business lens helps readers understand how policy shifts affect markets. Use its reporting to inform balanced business stories — include data points (FDI flows, inflation, sector growth) and independent analyst commentary for depth.
10. Tribune — (Court docket and local governance stories — e.g., legal calendars & security briefs).
Tribune’s reporting today includes court schedules and local governance updates, particularly around legal steps in high-profile matters and region-level security reporting.
Court motions and local governance stories set the agenda for accountability journalism. When covering legal proceedings, summarise the legal standard and possible next steps so readers understand implications and timelines.
