Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of major Nigerian newspaper headlines for today, Friday, 25th April, 2025.
1. What VP Shettima, Oborevwori, Okpebholo, Other Governors Discussed During NEC Meeting
The National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved that Nigeria needs to move away from outdated livestock rearing methods and embrace modern ranching practices.
This was the key outcome from Thursday’s meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The gathering took place against a backdrop of escalating violence in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Kwara.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori — who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — attended the meeting alongside governors like Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River.
Deputy governors from several other states also participated in the deliberations.
Addressing journalists afterward, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri said the council underlined the urgent need to reform livestock management in the country.
2. Oborevwori, Okowa’s Defection Sad And Unfortunate, 2027 Is APC vs Nigeria – Damagum
Umar Damagum, Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has voiced disappointment over the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC.
Damagum said it was surprising given Delta’s longstanding loyalty to the PDP.
Naturenex reports this was the first time Damagum addressed the defections publicly, speaking at the presentation of a certificate of return to the party’s governorship candidate for Anambra’s upcoming November 8 election, Ambassador Jude Ezenwafor.
Damagum nonetheless expressed optimism, stating that PDP would prevail in the 2027 elections because they were about Nigerians versus the APC.
He emphasized that the number of governors wouldn’t determine the election’s outcome, citing Peter Obi’s strong showing in 2023 despite lacking gubernatorial backing.
Damagum accused President Bola Tinubu of resorting to coercion, intimidation, and persuasion to draw PDP members into the APC fold, while noting the toll of government policies on ordinary citizens.
3. Again, Rivers Sole Administrator Shuns Reps Interactive Session
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, again failed to honor an invitation to appear before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State oversight.
The session, scheduled for 3:00 pm Thursday, was meant to discuss governance in the state following the March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu, which saw Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the legislature suspended.
The committee, led by House Leader Professor Julius Ihonvbere, convened in his absence and later went into a closed-door meeting.
When pressed by journalists about Ibas’s absence, Ihonvbere simply said, “no comment.”
4. $1 Billion Scam: EFCC To Arrest Six CBEX Promoters
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of six individuals connected to the defunct cryptocurrency scheme CBEX, accused of scamming Nigerians of $1 billion.
Naturenex reports that Justice Emeka Nwite issued the warrant on Thursday after the EFCC filed an ex parte motion against Adefowora Abiodun Olanipekun, Emmanuel Oku, and four others.
The EFCC alleges they operated through ST Technologies, luring unsuspecting Nigerians into the fraudulent venture.
Spokesperson Dele Oyewale reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to recovering funds and working with Interpol on the matter.
During Thursday’s session, EFCC counsel Fadila Yusuf confirmed plans to prosecute the suspects under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
5. NiMeT Workers Call Off Strike After FG Intervention
Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) have ended their strike after government mediation.
Naturenex reports that the strike, which started at midnight on Tuesday over issues such as the national minimum wage, unpaid allowances, and neglected training programs, severely disrupted flights across Nigeria.
While some airlines like XEJET, Aero Contractors, and Ibom Air operated unaffected, others including Air Peace suspended services due to the work stoppage.
Following discussions in Abuja with Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, the industrial action was officially called off.
6. NEC Defers Discussion On State Police Due To Time Constraints
The National Economic Council (NEC) postponed its scheduled talks on state police due to time limitations during Thursday’s extended meeting at the State House in Abuja.
Naturenex gathered that while the proposal was on the agenda, other lengthy discussions prevented it from being addressed.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri confirmed this, citing the packed schedule as the reason. The deferral comes amid growing national calls for decentralizing police control.
7. Damagum Obeys Governors, Appoints Koshoedo As PDP’s Acting National Secretary
PDP Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum has appointed Setonji Koshoedo as the party’s Acting National Secretary.
Naturenex reports the PDP Governors Forum met in Ibadan, directing the move following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye leadership tussle.
An internal party memo dated April 23, 2025, confirmed Koshoedo’s appointment and instructed staff to channel all party correspondence through him.
It stated: “I am directed by the Acting National Chairman to inform all staff that Hon. (Arch) Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary (DNS), is now the Acting National Secretary of our great party till further notice. In line of the above, all party correspondences should be channeled to Hon. (Arch) Setonji Koshoedo. You are kindly requested to accord him all the necessary support and cooperate as the Acting National Secretary of our great party. This is for your information and guidance please.”
8. ‘See How He Paid Me Back’ – Kwam1 Expresses Anger Over Kollington’s Failure To Reciprocate Kind Gesture
Popular Fuji star King Wasiu Ayinde, known as Kwam1, has publicly criticized his older colleague Ayinla Kollington for failing to return a kind gesture.
Naturenex recalls Kwam1’s mother passed on January 18, 2025, and was buried the same day in line with Islamic rites.
Speaking on Agbaletu Radio with Bamidele Adeyanju, Kwam1 reminisced how he covered Kollington’s expenses when his mother died and rallied notable personalities for the burial, expressing hurt at the lack of reciprocity.
9. ‘What You People Are Doing Is Not Relationship’ – Erigga Knocks Nigerian Women
Nigerian rapper Erigga, whose real name is Erhiga Agarivbie, has criticized Nigerian women for allegedly prioritizing financial gain over romance in relationships.
Naturenex reports Erigga shared his views on 𝕏 on Thursday, April 14, 2025, claiming, “Nigerian women are not deep. They date for survival, not romance. Thus, an intentional man means rich. Romance means monetary gesture. Love means footing their bills. What you people are doing in Nigeria, is not relationship.”
10. Yaya Toure Says Mikel Obi Ought To Win 2013 CAF African Player Of The Year Award
Ivory Coast football legend Yaya Toure has said Nigerian ex-international John Mikel Obi should have won the 2013 CAF African Player of the Year award.
During an episode of Mikel Obi’s podcast, both icons reminisced about their careers and Mikel’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON victory.
Toure remarked, “You deserve it, Obi, to be honest. The season was perfect… you were instrumental.” Mikel also jokingly recalled hearing rumors about the award outcome before it was officially announced.
That concludes today’s Nigerian newspaper headlines. For more updates, visit Naturenex. See you tomorrow.
