Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Bola Tinubu requested approval from the National Assembly for twenty-four billion dollars in fresh foreign loans, alongside a two billion dollar local bond and a seven hundred and fifty-eight billion naira pension bond. If approved, Nigeria's national debt could exceed one hundred and eighty-two trillion naira by 2026. President Bola Tinubu explained the funds would support critical infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture. However, financial experts and opposition leaders sharply criticized the plan. Johnson Chukwu of Cowry Assets Management Limited and Muda Yusuf of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise warned that excessive debt servicing costs would overwhelm capital spending and called for private partnerships. Financial analyst Marcel Okeke, alongside civic advocates Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Debo Adeniran, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and Vahyala Kwaga, condemned the plan over poor transparency and risks of hitting debt thresholds. Politically, the Peoples Democratic Party, represented by Debo Ologunagba, alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his adviser Paul Ibe, slammed the request as irresponsible and called for its rejection. In contrast, economics professor Segun Ajibola supported the pension bond portion, noting that clearing outstanding liabilities for senior citizens is long overdue due to rising inflation.

Northern Nigerian political leaders and socio-cultural groups are fiercely divided following comments by the ruling party national chairman demanding that the northern region wait until the year 2031 before seeking the presidency, with figures like the Arewa Consultative Forum and former governor Nasir El-Rufai arguing that voters cannot be forced to support President Bola Tinubu for a second term. Critics of the administration contend that severe economic hardships and controversial government reforms have severely damaged the president's popularity in the north, creating a growing consensus among regional stakeholders and masses to find alternative political leadership ahead of the upcoming general elections. Conversely, defenders of the administration and party officials have dismissed these claims as self-serving and egoistic, pointing out that the northern region holds prominent positions within the current democratic government and arguing that the region does not speak with a single, unified voice on partisan politics given its complex historical voting patterns.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, criticized the factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanimu Turaki, for urging United States President Donald Trump to intervene in Nigeria’s political issues. Wike accused Turaki of threatening national security and ignoring court rulings, calling the request a display of impunity. This critique followed a tumultuous situation at the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat, which was sealed by police due to clashes between rival factions. Wike emphasized that instead of blaming external parties like Trump, Turaki should be held accountable for not adhering to court judgments, pointing out the lack of investigation into serious claims, such as genocide against Christians. The police action came after conflicting notices for a National Executive Committee meeting led to chaos, with each faction claiming legitimacy, escalating tensions further.