Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines with our advocacy calls for Monday, 24 March, 2025.

1. ‘Another explosion rocks gas facility in Rivers State’ –  Vanguard

Barely a week after a major explosion occurred on the Trans-Niger pipeline in Bodo, Gokana local government area of Rivers State, another explosion has reportedly occurred at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru LGA of the state.

Our Take: As explosions and militant threats continue to jeopardise lives and Nigeria’s economy, President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State raises urgent questions about its effectiveness in addressing the escalating crisis. We call on President Tinubu to take concrete steps to tackle the root causes of unrest, rather than deepening tensions through political interventions.

2. ‘Pupils sit on bare floor, teachers on window in Abuja school’ – Daily Trust

Parents of the pupils at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Jijimgba, a community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have started withdrawing their wards from the school over lack of teachers and dilapidated classrooms.

Our Take: How long will children in the FCT continue to suffer such neglect, and what immediate steps will the Education Secretariat take to ensure a conducive learning environment for every child? The deplorable state of LEA Primary School in Jijimgba, is a glaring failure of the FCT Education Secretariat to uphold the right to quality basic education. We call on the Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo to urgently address this crisis.

3. ‘U.S Aid withdrawal: Drug shortages, uncertainty squeeze HIV/AIDS, TB clinics nationwide’ – The Guardian

Barring an urgent intervention by the federal government, millions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) patients may be in for hard times over gross shortage of essential drugs and consumables nationwide.

Our Take: The Nigerian government, particularly the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, should urgently address the looming crisis in HIV/AIDS and TB treatment. Given the severe impact of the U.S. aid withdrawal, the government should prioritise alternative funding mechanisms, strengthen local pharmaceutical production, and engage international partners to prevent disruptions in lifesaving treatments. Failure to act swiftly risks reversing progress in public health and endangering millions of vulnerable Nigerians.