Here’s a roundup of major Nigerian newspaper headlines, bringing you the top stories shaping conversations nationwide.

1. ‘Tinubu raises 2025 budget to N54.2 trillion’ – Daily Trust

President Bola Tinubu has sought the upward review of the proposed 2025 Appropriation Bill from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion.

Our take: It is February, yet the 2025 budget, meant to kick off on 01 January, is still crawling through legislative hurdles. Nigerians can’t afford these delays. We call on the National Assembly to ensure that at the end of the day, the budget is able to provide real solutions to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

2. ‘Transporters, NLC chapters, TUC reject highway tolling’ – Punch

Transporters and labour unions on Wednesday condemned the reintroduction of highway tolls, stating that it would further worsen the hardship in the country.

Our Take: If the plan is to squeeze Nigerians even more, then highway tolling is a masterstroke. Higher transport costs will hike food and goods prices, deepening economic hardship. We urge the the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to rethink this move in order not to worsen the hardship citizens are going through.

3.’Five years on: Poor funding, capacity hobble Amotekun’s mandate in southwest’ – The Guardian

Concerns are mounting regarding the Western Nigeria Security Network’s capacity to curtail the influx of terrorists into forests and major towns in the southwest.

Our Take: Five years on, Amotekun remains underfunded, yet budgets were allocated. State governments must account for these funds and ensure the outfit gets the resources it needs, make security a priority, and commit to real funding of the network.