Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Friday, 21st February, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the StartSmart Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 20 February 2025

1. IBB Spills the Tea: June 12 Annulment Was My Toughest Call, Says Ex-Military Leader
   StartSmart Ng disclosed that ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) dropped a bombshell in his new autobiography, A Journey in Service, unveiled in Abuja on February 20, 2025. Speaking through a book review led by ex-VP Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, IBB admitted that canceling the June 12 election—where MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) clinched the most votes and widest reach—was the darkest chapter of his life. He hailed President Buhari’s move to honor Abiola with the title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), a nod usually reserved for presidents, calling it a long-overdue fix.
2. Tinubu’s Govt Dumps Contractor, Kicks Oyo-Ogbomoso Road Project to New Hands
   The Bola Tinubu administration has pulled the plug on the 98km Oyo-Ogbomoso Road deal with Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), citing shoddy performance. Works Minister Dave Umahi broke the news at a stakeholders’ powwow in Ibadan on Thursday, themed Enhancing Federal Roads in Oyo State: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions. Naija News notes the road’s snail-paced progress has cost lives in crashes and cash for traders and farmers linking Nigeria’s north and south. A new contractor is reportedly in the wings.
3. CBN Holds Steady: Interest Rate Stays at 27.5% After 2024 Hike Spree
   The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has hit a pause, keeping the benchmark interest rate at 27.5%. Governor Olayemi Cardoso dropped the update on Thursday after the 299th MPC huddle in Abuja. Naija News says this marks a breather after six straight rate jumps in 2024, hinting at a wait-and-see vibe on the economy.
4. Senate Showdown: Kogi’s Natasha Locks Horns with Akpabio Over Seat Switch
   Thursday’s plenary became a battlefield when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over an unapproved seat swap. Naija News reports Chief Whip Mohammed Ali Monguno sparked the chaos with a point of order about her “wrong spot,” only for Natasha to erupt, brushing off the Sergeant-at-Arms’ attempt to usher her out. “You can’t silence me—I deserve an explanation!” she roared, accusing Akpabio of trampling her rights.
5. Army Chief Oluyede to Bandit Kingpin Bello Turji: ‘Run All You Want, We’ll Get You’
   Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, doubled down on Thursday during a Zamfara State visit, vowing to hunt down and wipe out bandit leader Bello Turji. Briefing reporters in Gusau at Operation Fansan Yamma HQ, Oluyede bragged about recent wins, with troops taking out multiple bandit honchos. Naija News says the COAS is confident: Turji’s days are numbered.
6. Portable’s Court Drama: Singer Rocks Wild Mask, Lands ₦2m Bail Over Assault Rap
   Nigerian singer Portable (Habeeb Okikiola Olalomi) turned heads at Abeokuta’s Isabo High Court on Thursday, sporting a quirky mask while facing charges tied to an alleged attack on government officials. Naija News reports the star, who turned himself into Lagos police on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Oluwatoyin Ayodele, begged for mercy, claiming Portable’s learned his lesson. Magistrate O.L. Oke granted ₦2m bail with a surety, pushing the trial to March 5.
7. IBB Opens Up: June 12 Was Axed for ‘National Interest,’ Regrets Linger
   Thirty-two years later, Ibrahim Babangida cracked open the vault on the June 12 annulment during his A Journey in Service book launch in Abuja on February 20, 2025. Naija News says IBB called it a “national interest” move to save Nigeria, despite MKO Abiola’s clear win under the SDP. He lamented missing the democracy handover but cheered the country’s grit since.
8. Tinubu to IBB: ‘You’re Why I’m Here’ at Autobiography Bash
   President Bola Tinubu tipped his hat to Ibrahim Babangida on Thursday, crediting the ex-military ruler for lighting his political fire. Speaking at the Abuja launch of IBB’s A Journey in Service, Tinubu dubbed him a “leader, father, and uncle” whose vision nudged folks like him into the game. Naija News quotes him: “Without you, people like me wouldn’t be in politics.”
9. Tinubu Names New National Assembly Service Commission Boss, Team
   President Bola Tinubu rolled out a fresh lineup for the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) on Thursday, tapping Dr. Saviour Enyiekere as Chairman for a renewable five-year gig. Naija News says Enyiekere, an environmental guru and ex-Deputy Chief of Staff to the Senate President, leads a 12-member crew—two from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—per a statement from aide Bayo Onanuga.
10. Spanish Court Nails Ex-Football Boss Rubiales for Kissing Jenni Hermoso
    Luis Rubiales, former Spanish football bigwig, has been slapped with a €10,800 ($11,300) fine for planting an unwanted kiss on star Jenni Hermoso after Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup win in Australia. StartSmart reports a Spanish court ruled it sexual assault, though Rubiales dodged jail and coercion charges alongside three others. Prosecutors had pushed for two-and-a-half years behind bars.

That’s your revamped take on today’s Nigerian headlines! Catch more twists and news on StartSmart NG tomorrow.