Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the NOP NIGERIA roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 31st March, 2026.
Hundreds of angry residents in Plateau State on Monday morning defied the state-imposed curfew and flooded the streets to protest the deadly Palm Sunday attack that claimed several lives in Jos North Local Government Area.
The protest took place at Anguwan Rukuba, the community where the attack occurred on Sunday evening.
Videos from the protest circulating on social media showed residents chanting and demanding urgent government action over the recurring killings in the area.
Some of the demonstrators expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to prevent repeated attacks in the state.
One of the residents participating in the protest said the curfew imposed by the government was not a solution to the persistent security challenges.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced an update on the ongoing process of securing acceptance, also known as agréments, for the newly appointed Ambassadors-designate.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the process is progressing steadily, with agreements already received from ten countries.
They include: United Kingdom, France, United States of America, Ireland, Qatar, Republic of Benin, Ethiopia and Djibouti, Senegal, as well as Sierra Leone.
Other responses are still being awaited.
This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Spokesperson of the Ministry, Kimibie Ebienfa.
Ebienfa disclosed that the date for the Induction Ceremony will be announced in due course, as soon as it is finalised and confirmed by the Presidency.
Former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
NOP NIGERIA reports that the former presidential candidate received his party membership card on Monday in Kano.
Kwankwaso registered as a member at Gidan Kwankwasiyya, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano.
The event drew prominent political figures, including David Mark, Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Dino Melaye, and John Odigie-Oyegun.
Prominent leaders of the ADC had earlier arrived at the residence of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the official defection of the former Kano State Governor to the party.
NOP NIGERIA recalls that Kwankwaso had officially resigned from the NNPP. He made this known in a statement released on Sunday, which he personally signed.
In the message, he explained that his decision followed recent changes in the country’s political direction, which he believes now require him to move on a different path.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki from accessing the party’s national secretariat.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, following a suit filed by PDP members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In the judgment, the court directed security agencies to provide protection for the faction aligned with Wike to access and operate from the party’s national headquarters.
The agencies listed in the order include the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Abdulmalik held that the PDP national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, which produced the Turaki-led faction, was conducted in violation of existing court orders.
According to the judge, the exercise was therefore invalid.
Former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Yusuf Usman, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of carrying out selective justice.
Usman, speaking in a recent interview with Symfoni’s Naija Unfiltered, claimed there is bias in the arrest patterns of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies under President Bola Tinubu.
He said that he has observed that the EFCC avoid arresting politicians from a certain ethnic group.
He also referenced individuals from different states and backgrounds in relation to public cases, noting that his comments were not based on the merits of those cases.
Usman further spoke about alleged geographical considerations in enforcement, suggesting that some areas appear less affected in his view.
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has declared that it is awaiting the verdict of the Supreme Court on the leadership tussle in the party.
This position was announced in a statement on Monday by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
According to the statement, they have become aware of disturbing activities over the last 48 hours regarding the leadership tussle in the party, and hope the Supreme Court will expedite action on the matter, which is already before it.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the statement was issued in the wake of the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to update the records on its website and recognize the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which emerged from the party’s factional National Convention on Sunday.
A check on the INEC website on Monday revealed that Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu were listed as the PDP National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
Ememobong further described the Sunday National Convention held by the PDP faction loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a pre-Easter jamboree.
He argued that the convention was held in contempt of an Appeal Court order.
Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has vowed never to greet her colleague Funke Akindele again after an incident that happened at a public event.
NOP NIGERIA reports that her reaction followed a viral video showing a tense moment between both actresses at a movie premiere hosted by Iyabo Ojo.
The event took place on Sunday, where Funke was seated at the same table with Iyabo and Mercy Aigbe when Toyin approached them to greet.
Iyabo and Mercy responded to Toyin, but Funke turned her face away and did not acknowledge her presence, creating an awkward scene.
Toyin appeared embarrassed and quietly left the table.
Veteran Nollywood actress, Opeyemi Aiyeola, has called out her colleagues over the silence regarding the terrorist attack on Christians on Palm Sunday in Jos, Plateau State and support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Aiyeola, in a video shared on her Instagram page, urged her colleagues not to let money, influence, and affluence cloud their conscience.
The movie star questioned why her colleagues in the movie industry are not speaking up about the recent terrorist attack in Jos.
Aiyeola further appealed to her colleagues who still support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), amid the escalating insecurity in the country, to reconsider their stance in light of their generation’s future.
Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Victor Osimhen delayed his discharge from hospital after arm surgery because he wanted extended care to hasten his comeback for Galatasaray.
The claim was made by Turkish journalist Haluk Yürekli, who said Victor Osimhen personally asked the club to keep him under medical supervision beyond the planned discharge date.
“Victor Osimhen underwent surgery last Monday morning. The public was informed that Osimhen would be discharged the following day,” Yürekli said as quoted by Habersarikirmizi.
“However, Osimhen made a request to the administrators, saying, ‘I don’t want to be discharged; I want my care to continue here so I can return sooner.’
“A security guard was stationed outside his room, and even his immediate family wasn’t allowed in. He was discharged this afternoon.”
Thomas Tuchel insists he holds no anger towards his players after a wave of withdrawals disrupted Three Lions of England’s team preparations ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with Japan at Wembley Stadium.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, John Stones and Adam Wharton have all pulled out since Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Fikayo Tomori and Aaron Ramsdale also withdrew from the squad.
The camp is England’s final gathering before the deadline for naming squads for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on 30 May.
He added: “It’s the reality of end of the season and the end of March; the reality of having players in European matches and more than just one competition with all the cups going on.”
