Top 10 Stories From Nigerian Newspapers Today — Thursday, August 21 2025

Below are the top stories from Nigerian Newspapers today — Thursday, August 21 2025.

Top 10 Stories from Nigerian Newspapers today — Thursday, August 21 2025

• The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has added Mele Kyari, former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to its watch-list amid an ongoing investigation into the $7.2 billion refineries turnaround maintenance project. Sources reveal that the probe into NNPCL’s operations during Kyari’s tenure advanced significantly last month following the arrest of some of his close associates.

• On Wednesday, Nigerian officials faced criticism on social media for leaving the country’s exhibition booth unattended at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan—despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presence at the summit.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the sudden passing of Ambassador Taofik Obasanjo Coker, Nigeria’s Consul General in Buea, Cameroon. According to a statement from the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Ambassador Coker died on Saturday, August 16, following a brief illness.

• The Anambra State Government has dismissed eight vigilante members involved in the assault of Miss Edema Jennifer Elohor, a serving female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area. Ken Emeakayi, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, confirmed the dismissal in Awka on Wednesday.

• Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has approved the creation of two new Area Commands and the upgrade of five police stations to Divisions in Benue State. The Benue State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer DSP Udeme Edet, explained that the structural changes were necessary to address ongoing security challenges in the region.

• Veteran actor Fabian Adibe, renowned for his role in the NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel Things Fall Apart, has passed away. Adibe, who celebrated his 82nd birthday in February 2025, died peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday.

• Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has tentatively scheduled the coronation of Oba Rasidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan for September 26. The date was decided following a meeting between the governor and the former governor at the monarch’s Ondo Street residence in Bodija.

• A tragic accident along Nwanwu Junction, Igbeagu on the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja highway claimed three lives on Wednesday. Eyewitnesses reported that a cement mixer truck lost its brakes while descending from Nwezenyi, causing the crash.

• The Ondo State Police Command announced the arrest of over 200 suspected criminals across the state within the last two months. The suspects face allegations ranging from kidnapping, murder, rape, armed robbery, cultism, car and motorcycle theft, to fraudulent property conversion.

• At the unveiling of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) Investopedia in Abuja, NGF Chairman AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq highlighted that despite Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy with vast human and natural resources, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows over the past decade have averaged just USD 2 billion annually—less than 0.5 percent of GDP. Investopedia serves as a comprehensive guide to investment opportunities across the country’s 36 states.