Welcome to Monday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, where we scan the papers and then gently remind power that citizens are still awake.
1. The Guardian: Tinubu’s Reforms Saved 27 States From Collapse, Says Minister
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms have pulled 27 states back from the edge of collapse, He painted a picture of states that once could not meet basic obligations but are now, thanks to ‘clear plans’ and reforms, earning almost three times their former revenue and supposedly clearing arrears and building infrastructure
Our Take: If 27 states are now richer, citizens must demand answers directly from governors, commissioners of finance, and state assemblies. Governors must publish FAAC allocations, show how the money is spent, clear salary arrears, name real project timelines, and bring spreadsheets, not speeches. Commissioners should drop big grammar and give figures, and lawmakers should stop clapping and start questioning, because because economic miracles without evidence usually end as motivational talks, not improved living conditions.
2. Punch: DHQ faces heat as military personnel bypass airport checks
The Nigerian military is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, this time over a spate of airport security breaches where serving officers reportedly tried to sneak firearms onto commercial flights. According to investigations by The Punch, service pistols and rifles are increasingly turning up in passenger cabins, raising eyebrows in the aviation industry and causing senior military officials to break into nervous sweats.
Our Take: If serving officers cannot keep their firearms off passenger planes, the Nigerian military and aviation authorities must be made to explain themselves publicly and promptly. Citizens deserve assurance that airport security is not just a welcome mat for bullets, and that ICAO rules are not optional reading material for the armed forces.
3. Punch: Travels: Presidency spends N34bn on forex in two years
Punch reports that over two years, the Presidency reportedly spent a whopping N34.39 billion on foreign exchange for international travel and ‘related obligations’, according to data from GovSpend. Most of the splurge, N29.35 billion happened in 2024, with a steep drop to N5.04 billion in 2025, leaving Nigerians to wonder if the President, Vice President, First Lady, and their aides were suddenly satisfied with fewer first-class seats or if someone finally reminded them that the naira works harder at home.
Our Take: If N34.39 billion went into foreign exchange for presidential travel and ‘related obligations’, then Nigerians should demand more than air miles and photo ops. The Presidency, the Office of the Chief of Staff, and the National Assembly must publish trip-by-trip breakdowns of who travelled, why, how much was spent, and what the country gained in return. In an era of belt-tightening sermons, citizens are entitled to ask why the belt seems looser in the skies and whether these journeys delivered investments or just jet lag.
