Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the NOP NIGERIA roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 25th April, 2026.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to shut their businesses temporarily and avoid confrontations following a surge in xenophobic attacks across parts of the country.
The advisory follows growing anti-foreigner protests, where demonstrators have targeted foreign-owned businesses and demanded the expulsion of non-nationals.
In a statement on Friday, the commission said protests in cities such as East London, Cape Town, Durban and parts of KwaZulu-Natal have turned violent, leading to looting, destruction of property and injuries.
Tension heightened after a viral video showed a Nigerian trader being confronted by a group of South African men who ordered him to pack his goods and leave the country.
The development has triggered fear among Nigerians and other foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, many of whom depend on small businesses for their livelihood.
According to NiDCOM, intelligence from the Nigerian consulate indicates that more protests are expected in Gauteng province between April 27 and 29.
The commission said the demonstrations are aimed at pressuring the South African government over the presence of foreign nationals.
The commission advised Nigerians to avoid engaging with protest groups, steer clear of crowded areas and monitor local media for updates.
It also urged business owners to close their shops on April 27, which marks Freedom Day in South Africa, and consider staying closed on April 28 and 29, as foreign-owned businesses are often targeted during unrest.
NiDCOM said it is working closely with the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg, led by Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche, to ensure the safety of Nigerians.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the peculiar allowances, welfare benefits and exit packages for civil servants in Nigeria.
NOP NIGERIA reports that this was confirmed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday.
Walson-Jack said the increment affects workers under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS).
According to her, the allowances have been structured to reflect across all grade levels, leading to better earnings for senior and junior officers.
The head of service said almost all allowances in the Public Service Rules have been revised.
According to her, one key reform is the approval of 100 percent Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), which is for civil servants attending approved training programmes irrespective of whether travel is involved or not.
She said, “Even if you are based in Abuja and attend training within Abuja, you are entitled to full DTA.”
Apart from salary-related adjustments, Walson-Jack disclosed that the federal government has also introduced an exit benefit scheme for retiring civil servants under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The scheme, which provides 100 per cent of a retiree’s full emoluments as an exit package, in addition to their pension, takes effect from January 1, 2026.
She explained that the move is part of efforts to enhance dignity in retirement. She maintained that no public servant should leave service without adequate financial support.
President Bola Tinubu held a private meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and some members of the Green Chamber at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the discussion took place shortly after the President and the lawmakers observed the Jumat prayer together at the mosque inside the State House.
The meeting was brief and was not included in the President’s official schedule for the day.
Sources at the Villa confirmed to Punch that Abbas arrived with a few lawmakers, including the Chief Whip of the House, Usman Kumo, who represents Akko Federal Constituency in Gombe State under the All Progressives Congress.
However, the details of what was discussed were not made known, as those who spoke said they were not aware of the issues raised during the meeting.
President Bola Tinubu has officially sworn in Dr Muttaqha Darma as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development in a ceremony held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the event took place inside the President’s Conference Room shortly before 4:00 p.m., where Darma took the oath of office and assumed his new role in the federal cabinet.
Before his appointment, Darma served as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. His nomination was earlier forwarded to the Senate and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Lawmakers approved him after a screening exercise conducted on Thursday.
During the screening process, Darma assured lawmakers that he would work with the National Assembly to tackle Nigeria’s housing shortage, which affects a large number of citizens.
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has expressed doubt about the resignation of Finance Minister, Wale Edun, from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
NOP NIGERIA recalls that the Presidency had said Edun voluntarily submitted his resignation letter on his 70th birthday, citing health challenges, and subsequently paid a valedictory visit to Tinubu at the Villa before stepping down.
However, Dalung, during an interview with Trust TV on Friday, said he had known Edun personally and could vouch for his character.
According to Dalung, Edun is a man of integrity who was fundamentally ill-suited to the political environment around Tinubu, stressing that his exit was inevitable because his values could not survive the arrangement in place.
He said, “Wale Edun is somebody who has integrity. He’s a misfit into a political arrangement like the one we have in place.
“I think he tolerated it to the extent that his integrity was going to break and he had to throw in the towel.”
Dalung said he would go along with the health grounds explanation since it was the official media statement, but knows that the situation surrounding the resignation was different.
He stated, “What we know is more than what they are trying to tell Nigerians.
“Nobody is as close to Wale Edun as to Bola Tinubu. He has been with Tinubu for a very long time. And if he could be handled in this manner, there’s nobody jumping around Tinubu.”
Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Usman Austin Okai, has raised concerns about media hostilities between supporters of former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Okai, in a statement issued on Friday, warned that the ongoing media war is a dangerous distraction and a dire threat to the ADC coalition.
He stressed that it could jeopardise efforts to resolve the party’s leadership tussle currently before the courts.
Okai urged Atiku and Peter Obi to be more decisive in defining a “mode of operation” for their supporters, ensuring their energy is directed toward common goals rather than internal bickering.
He emphasised that the primary focus of the coalition should remain the judicial process aimed at rescuing the David Mark-led faction of the ADC.
Okai warned that while supporters are busy attacking each other on social media, political opponents are watching and ready to exploit cracks in the alliance.
Okai further argued that the insults and divisions being sown today will create deep-seated bitterness that cannot be easily healed when the coalition eventually needs to present a united front for the general elections.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, over an alleged multi-billion naira fraud.
The businessman is alleged to be at the centre of an investigation of the alleged diversion and misappropriation of funds estimated at ₦36.5 billion and $30 million, said to have been obtained from Polaris Bank Plc through companies linked to him.
According to The Cable, Ayeni was picked up in Abuja on Thursday and is currently in EFCC custody as investigations continue.
Sources quoted regarding the development said the funds, secured as loans for specific projects, were diverted to other accounts and used for other purposes.
NOP NIGERIA understands that the loans, originally meant for financing marine security, electricity distribution contract, estate development, were allegedly channelled into the acquisition of telecom assets linked to NITEL/MTEL through a NATCOM account.
The anti-graft agency is also investigating about 12 companies linked to Ayeni, which were allegedly used to obtain the loans from Polaris Bank.
Ayeni is expected to be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest when contacted but refused to provide further details.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned the alleged money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, until May 6 for continuation of the hearing.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to allow defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN), to continue cross-examining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s 12th prosecution witness, Abdullahi Jamilu.
During proceedings, the witness told the court he made only one statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on May 10, 2022.
Under cross-examination, he admitted that certain transactions and company names were not included in Exhibit 46, which contained his initial statement.
He also confirmed that he was not the author of Exhibit 13 presented in court. Earlier, the court dismissed an objection by the defence against the prosecution’s attempt to re-present Exhibit 46.
Justice Nwite ruled that the objection was speculative and misconceived.
The witness recalled giving similar testimony in a related case before another judge of the Federal High Court.
He confirmed that the defendants in that matter included Ali Bello, Abah Adaudu, Yakuba Siyaka Adabenege, and Iyadi Sadat.
Jamilu, a Bureau De Change operator, told the court that he relied on colleagues to facilitate dollar transactions when his accounts could not handle them directly.
He said the payments were made to the American International School Abuja on the instructions of Abah Adaudu.
He added that after completing the transfers, he forwarded the receipts to Adaudu.
During the hearing, the defence tendered additional documents, which were admitted as Exhibit 47 without objection.
The witness acknowledged that the transactions referenced in the exhibits were consistent with those he had earlier testified about.
The witness, however, pointed out discrepancies in some documents. He said, “I just noticed that P13 and P14 are not part of the documents I tendered as part of the payment I made for the school fees.”
Following the proceedings, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to May 6 and May 7 for continuation of cross-examination.
Controversial media personality, Daddy Freeze, has berated Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, over his comment regarding On Air Personality, Roby Ekpo’s crashed marriage with Mayowa Lambe.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Roby’s recent interview with Daddy Freeze on the ‘Honest Punch’ podcast sparked massive public backlash, prompting broadcaster Do2dtun to defend him by insisting that prioritising mental health and speaking out is far better than suffering in silence.
However, Yul Edochie disagreed with Do2dtun, faulting Roby Ekpo over his emotional approach regarding his crashed marriage.
Yul Edochie stressed that Ekpo’s tears is totally unacceptable and suggested that he should find five attractive replacements and get them all pregnant simultaneously.
He said, “My brother, Do2 speaking out is ok. Crying is totally unacceptable. Rather than cry for a woman, replace her with 5 new hot women, impregnate all of them at once (sic)”.
Reacting to Yul’s remark, Daddy Freeze in a video via his Instagram page, questioned the intelligence of the movie star.
Daddy Freeze explained that Roby’s publicly discussed lack of sexual stamina makes it physically impossible for him to handle several women, noting that only a highly active man performing multiple times daily could ever achieve that.
He said, “I am seeing all sorts of comments like Roby, why are you crying. Yul Edochie said he should marry his second wife and get all of them pregnant on the same day. Shey Roby wey dey knack like Tyson wan impregnate seven women on the same day? This Yul e be like say you no too get sense like that. Shey na man wey dey impregnate twice a week wan knack seven women. Person wey one impregnate seven women dey knack 2 or 3 times a day (sic)”.
Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal remain convinced they can win the Premier League title despite slipping behind Manchester City in the race.
NOP NIGERIA reports that City moved to the summit with a 1-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday, leaving the Gunners level on points but trailing on goals scored. Arsenal can reclaim top spot if they avoid defeat against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Less than a fortnight ago, Arsenal were strong favourites to end their long wait for the title after opening a nine-point lead. Defeats to AFC Bournemouth and City have since shifted control of the race.
The north London side have seen promising title bids unravel in recent seasons, but Arteta says belief remains high following last weekend’s 2-1 loss at City.
“Win tomorrow, game one win and then we’ll be much closer. I have belief in our players and our people and what we want to achieve,”he told reporters on Friday.
“The energy raised and the belief raised. The clarity in what we have to do it cannot be better. Five games to go. Tomorrow game one, all in, let’s go for it.
“Two big competitions to play for and everything to play for. If somebody had told us at the beginning of the season we would have taken it. We are so excited.”
