Welcome to Tuesday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls on issues that impact citizens.
1. The Guardian: FG introduces new measures to curb WAEC, NECO exam malpractices
The federal government says it is stepping up efforts to end examination malpractice ahead of the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, unveiling a new set of reforms aimed at restoring confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the ministry is tightening oversight and rolling out targeted measures to protect the integrity of national exams.
Our Take: Now the real test is for the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the examination bodies to move beyond fine announcements and ensure these measures are actually enforced in classrooms and exam halls. Schools running “miracle centres” must be shut down, officials caught aiding malpractice must face real consequences, and parents must be reminded that exam success is not something to be negotiated. If question randomisation can be taken seriously, then enforcement should not be random at all.
2. Punch: Killings: Niger urges calm as terrorists issue fresh threat
Residents of several communities in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State are abandoning their homes in fear after terrorists reportedly issued fresh threats, days after last Saturday’s attack that killed over 40 people. Villagers told The PUNCH that the attackers warned they would continue the killings, sparking panic across border communities connecting Agwara, Borgu and Kebbi State. The situation has been worsened by claims that soldiers deployed to the area withdrew shortly after arriving, leaving residents without any visible security presence.
Our Take: This moment calls for immediate, visible action from President Bola Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Security deployments must return to Agwara and Borgu and remain there, with clear orders to protect civilians, not just observe after attacks. If terrorists can confidently issue threats days ahead, then Nigeria’s security leadership should be able to respond ahead of time too.
3. Daily Trust: 469 Kano Children Die of Malnutrition in 6 Months
At least 469 children reportedly died from malnutrition in Kano State between January and July 2025, and the situation remains deeply worrying, with 51.9 per cent of children in the state said to be stunted. Professor Ruqayya Aliyu Yusuf of Bayero University Kano explained that poor dietary practices and malnutrition are still major challenges in Kano, despite Nigeria’s poor showing on the Global Nutrition Index.
Our Take: This alarming reality calls for immediate action from the Kano State Government, the State Ministries of Health and Education, local government councils, and key agencies, including the National Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (NEMCHIC) under the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), working alongside UNICEF and civil society organisations. Nutrition budgets must move from policy documents to primary health centres, schools and households, with community-based feeding, maternal education and routine monitoring.
