Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 19th March, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the IDOMA VOICE News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 19th March 2025

1. President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months. The move follows months of escalating political turmoil, including the controversial dissolution of the state legislature and increasing unrest despite multiple interventions.

2. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land title of the PDP’s national secretariat in Abuja, citing the party’s failure to pay ground rent since 2006. A letter from the FCT Administration confirmed the revocation, stating that PDP violated the Land Use Act. The government has taken possession of the property until outstanding payments are cleared.

3. President Tinubu, in his nationwide address, strongly condemned Governor Fubara for the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The governor had reportedly ordered the demolition amid a deepening political crisis that included an impeachment attempt against him. The President insisted that instead of tearing down the legislative complex, Fubara should have restored order in the state.

4. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has refuted claims that the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has an agenda to Islamize Nigeria. The Council’s Deputy National Legal Adviser, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, described the allegations as baseless and urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading social media reports.

5. The House of Representatives has approved four major tax reform bills aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s tax system. The bills, originally proposed by President Tinubu in 2024, address critical areas such as revenue collection, tax dispute resolution, and the establishment of new tax institutions. The bills now await Senate approval before they can be signed into law.

6. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have reiterated that they are not enforcing the Monday sit-at-home protests in the South-East, insisting that the demonstrations are a result of public outrage over the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group stated that only Kanu’s unconditional release would end the protests, which have disrupted economic activities in the region.

7. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Tinubu’s decision to impose a state of emergency in Rivers, calling it a “disgraceful” political maneuver. Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of creating chaos in Rivers State and then using the crisis as an excuse to assume control of the state government.

8. Another explosion has been reported at an oil facility in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, following a similar incident just hours earlier. The affected site is a major petroleum hub transporting oil from companies like Seplat, Agip, and Shell. The cause of the explosions remains unclear, but authorities are investigating possible sabotage.

9. Nigerian singer Timaya has raised concerns over the destruction of farmlands by herdsmen in his home state of Bayelsa. In a post on social media, the artist pleaded with the government to intervene, stating that the destruction of agricultural land is threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. He urged herders to adopt proper ranching methods instead of allowing cattle to graze freely on farmlands.

10. Controversial crossdresser Bobrisky has claimed that top Nigerian politicians, including ministers and senators, were focused on his case during his legal troubles with the EFCC in 2024. In a video, he expressed surprise at the level of attention he received from government officials. He also hinted at revealing the names of Nigerian celebrities he had relationships with, promising to expose “fake” people in the entertainment industry.