Good morning, Nigeria. Here is a roundup of the nation’s major newspaper headlines for Thursday, August 21, 2025.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Presidency has dismissed claims that Nigeria’s delegation was inactive at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). A viral image of an empty booth labeled “Nigeria” had sparked criticism online, but Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga described it as a “total misrepresentation.” He explained that President Bola Tinubu’s team is focused on strategic bilateral and multilateral meetings to secure concrete gains for key sectors like power, industry, and agriculture, rather than attending the trade exhibition segment of the event.

President Bola Tinubu has officially abolished the controversial 5% excise duty on mobile voice and data services. Nigerian Communications Commission chief Aminu Maida confirmed the tax removal during a briefing in Abuja, explaining that the decision aims to ease pressure on consumers and support growth in the digital economy.

In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed that former governor Oba Rasidi Ladoja will be crowned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on September 26, 2025. Makinde disclosed this during a visit to Ladoja’s residence in Bodija, Ibadan, where preparations for the coronation were discussed.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using security agencies to intimidate voters during the Zamfara State bye-election for the Kaura Namoda South Constituency. PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba alleged that armed personnel disrupted the poll, brutalized voters, and carted away ballot boxes on “orders from above.”

The Federal Government says more than 13.5 million social media accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have been shut down for spreading harmful content and breaching Nigeria’s Code of Practice. The 2024 compliance report indicated that nearly 59 million offensive posts were removed in line with new digital content regulations jointly enforced by the NCC, NITDA, and NBC.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected proposed salary increases for political office holders, criticizing the plan as insensitive to Nigerians battling inflation, high fuel costs, and low wages. Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi argued that approving such a review by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission shows how disconnected government officials are from public realities.

Singer Naira Marley has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of his former signee, Mohbad, calling it “premeditated.” In an emotional video, Marley insisted on his innocence while addressing long-standing allegations linking him and music promoter Sam Larry to the tragedy that sparked nationwide protests in 2023.

Musician Brymo has urged superstars like Davido and Burna Boy to stop remixing songs from emerging artistes. He argued that this practice undermines the originality of younger talents and prevents them from gaining a foothold in the industry, urging big names to “let others grow on their own.”

Arsenal’s injury woes have deepened as midfielder Kai Havertz has been sidelined with a knee injury, further thinning Mikel Arteta’s attacking options. With Gabriel Jesus still recovering from an ACL injury, new signing Viktor Gyökeres is expected to shoulder the team’s striking responsibilities in the early weeks of the Premier League season.

Brazilian goalkeeper Fábio has broken the all-time record for competitive appearances in men’s football after playing his 1,391st career match for Fluminense in their Copa Sudamericana victory over América de Cali. The 44-year-old surpassed England legend Peter Shilton’s long-standing milestone, cementing his place in football history.