Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Saturday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Federal Government has commenced payment of the second tranche of the N35,000 wage award arrears to civil servants, signalling continued efforts to fulfil its commitments to federal workers. In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation confirmed the disbursement, stating that the payment was part of the outstanding wage award introduced to cushion the impact of economic reforms on public sector employees.

2. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reviewed the results of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination earlier released on Monday. Speaking with reporters on Friday in Lagos, Head of National Office (Nigeria) Dr Amos Dangut, said with the review, 62.96 percent of the candidates who sat for the examination had credits and above in a minimum of five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.

3. Fuji music maestro, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal aka K1, has tendered an unreserved apology over the ugly incident at the airport on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. In a statement signed by the singer, he tendered apologies to all concerned but firmly insists that he didn’t have alcohol in his flask but water.

4. For misconduct at the NNPC Retail Limited, Ikorodu, Lagos, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said it has sacked the pump attendant, suspended the manager and issued the dealer a warning letter. According to a press statement the state -owned oil company issued on Friday, “In response to this incident, NNPC Retail Limited has taken the following decisive actions in line with its sanction grid:

5. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the reported extortion of over N56 million from farmers in Zamfara State by armed groups as a sign of a failed State, calling on the federal government to put in place measures to address the situation. ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said a situation where farmers paid terrorists before they could gain access to their own farmlands, is a national warning.

6. Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from police custody. Sowore had been detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory since Wednesday when he honoured an invitation from the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit. The activist confirmed his release in a Facebook post.

7. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said that it supplies up to 40 million litres of petrol daily, refuting recent reports alleging a shutdown of its operations. In a statement on Friday by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery’s management categorically denied claims that truck loading had been suspended or that production had been interrupted.

8. Bandits have again struck Suwa and Ding’ak villages in the Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, and killed three persons, including a pastor. It was learnt that the attack occurred between 1pm and 2pm on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

9. Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested a suspected ritualist, Cletus Bassey, and recovered a firearm in the Uruan Local Government Area of the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in a statement on Friday in Uyo, the state capital, said the suspect was apprehended on July 29, 2025, at about 7pm at his shrine located in Nung Oku Village, Uruan LGA.

10. The immediate past Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu, has resigned as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. In a letter signed by the former deputy governor and addressed to the PDP chairman, Ndi Elu ward Nkporo Ohafia Local Government Area, which was sighted by our correspondent on Friday, Oko-Chukwu stated that his resignation was for personal reasons.

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Saturday morning