Welcome to Wednesday’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls on issues that impact citizens.
1. Daily Trust: Int’l Human Rights Day: ‘Why violations continue to rise in Nigeria’
As the world marks International Human Rights Day 2025, analysts warn that Nigeria’s human rights situation is deteriorating despite government and civil society interventions. Data from Daily Trust and various agencies show a sharp rise in abuses ranging from torture by security operatives to child abuse, cultism, banditry, and terrorism.
Our Take: As Nigeria joins the world in marking International Human Rights Day, it is time for the authorities, from the National Human Rights Commission to the Ministry of Justice, state governors, and security agency leadership, to step out of their press statements and into real action by ensuring accountability, enforcing existing laws, and educating citizens on their rights. Citizens, too, must stop treating violations as mere ‘gist’ for social media and instead report abuses through official channels.
2. The Guardian: TCN Faces Reps’ Panel, Hinges Instability on Vandalism, Gas Shortage
The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee probing multi-billion-naira power sector reforms questioned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) officials yesterday, revealing major discrepancies between Nigeria’s installed power capacity and actual electricity supply.
Our Take: Now that fresh gaps in Nigeria’s power generation figures have come to light, it is time for the Minister of Power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, to stop trading blame like faulty transformers and instead deliver transparent data, enforce standards, and invest in infrastructure that truly lights up homes, not just committee hearing rooms.
3. Punch: Reps summon ministers over budget underperformance
The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, following concerns over poor budget implementation.
Our Take: The House of Representatives’ summons should serve as a wake-up call for Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji to stop treating budget releases like optional perks and ensure that funds reach completed projects.
