Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.
1. Daily Trust: Unions Reject Sale of Oil and Gas Assets
We begin with Daily Trust, which reports the criticisms trailing the alleged plan by the federal government to sell parts of its equity in Joint Venture (JV) oil and gas assets.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have warned that the plan could undermine the nation’s economic stability, weaken the oil sector and endanger workers’ welfare.
Our Take: Before the government rushes to pawn off our oil and gas assets like old furniture, it should ask who really benefits when national wealth is sold to a few well-connected buyers. We urge regulators to reconsider this plan and instead strengthen the governance of the sector.
2. The Guardian: Tinubu’s Handling of INEC Transition Will Define Nigeria’s Democracy, Says YIAGA
Let’s shift our attention to The Guardian. The newspaper reports Yiaga Africa’s call for a careful handling of the appointment process for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) leadership, as the commission undergoes a major transition in less than 60 days.
Our Take: As INEC heads for a leadership transition, President Tinubu and the Senate must choose between strengthening Nigeria’s democracy or turning the electoral umpire into another branch of their campaign council. We call for the publishing of nominee names, opening the process to citizens and civil society, and televising the screenings.
3. Punch: N8.41 Trillion Oil Theft Drains Economy, Fuels Investor Doubts
Next is The Punch, with a report that Nigeria lost crude oil valued at a staggering N8.41 trillion to theft and metering deficiencies between 2021 and July 2025, according to the latest data sourced from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Our Take: If Nigeria can lose N8.41 trillion worth of crude oil in just four years and still treat it like ‘normal business’, then we are officially running the world’s most expensive hide-and-seek tournament. The NNPC Limited, NUPRC, and security agencies need to deploy real accountability systems, transparent reporting, and prosecution of oil thieves who somehow always remain ‘unknown’.
