We are back with Thursday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, where we call government’s attention to the concerns and needs of the people.

1. Punch: Blackouts: N300bn power lifeline for hospitals, varsities hits snag

More than N300bn was set aside to keep Nigeria’s teaching hospitals and federal universities powered, but months into 2025, the lights have not come on because the money has not left the budget. What was announced as a bold energy lifeline for critical institutions has stalled at the very first hurdle, fund release, leaving hospitals and campuses to continue relying on generators while a fully funded plan exists only on paper.

Our Take: If N300 billion can exist beautifully on paper while hospitals grope through surgeries by torchlight and universities run generators like side hustles, then citizens should demand a public timeline for fund release, transparent tracking of disbursements, and accountability for every delay that keeps critical institutions in the dark.

2. The Guardian: How botched broadband plans ruin e-transmission of election results

Nigeria’s push for real-time electronic transmission of election results is running into a hard digital wall, as thousands of communities still lack the broadband access needed to make the reform work. Despite the recent legislative push for instant result uploads, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data show that 4,834 areas remain unserved or underserved, exposing how years of missed broadband targets have left the country’s digital infrastructure trailing far behind its electoral ambitions.

Our Take: For real-time electronic transmission of election results to be a reality, we as citizens should insist on a published, funded, and time-bound plan to close broadband gaps in the 4,834 unserved communities, security guarantees for telecom investment in rural areas, and transparent progress reports before the next election cycle.

3. Vanguard: Makoko Demolitions: Fate of 1,000 Schoolchildren Hangs in the Balance 

Community leaders and school owners in Makoko, Lagos State, are revealing that no fewer than 1,000 children have been driven out of their schools due to the recent demolition exercises in some parts of the state. So, right now, apart from leaving thousands of people homeless, the demolition is also affecting demolition.

Our Take: As bulldozers redraw the map of Makoko, citizens should demand that any demolition plan comes with a relocation and schooling plan in the same breath. There should be temporary classrooms, transport support, and clear timelines to keep children learning while homes are being cleared.