Biggest Stories Across Nigeria – Mon 25 Aug to Sat 30 Aug 2025

Pipeline theft all but history
Nigeria’s NNPC says that coordinated efforts with defense forces have nearly stamped out oil pipeline theft. Last year, only 30 % of oil got to terminals; now it’s almost 100 %, boosting output and investor confidence.

Shea nuts ban to birth a homegrown boom
Raw shea nut exports are banned for six months to hive off processing perks locally. Nigeria hopes to capture its portion of the massive $6.5 billion global shea market—just 1 % now—adding up to $3 billion in gains by 2027.

Coastal villages swallowed by the sea
Apakin in Lagos watches its homes—and ancestors’ tombs—erode into the ocean. Experts blame port activity and infrastructure projects. Despite past Commonwealth promises, the community’s disappearance continues.

Aid loss shakes a school in Maiduguri
USAID’s abrupt pullback forced a school serving Boko Haram–affected children to cut 700 students and 20 teachers. Insecurity and poverty mean many kids’ education—along with their futures—is slipping away.

Women’s health horrors in the north persist
Northeastern Nigeria remains the deadliest place in the world to give birth. Maternal mortality rates are soaring, with violence and healthcare collapse to blame. The emergency fund of $200 million barely scratches the surface.

Zamfara tragedy—13 drown fleeing bandits
A boat carrying villagers escaping armed men capsized in Zamfara, killing 13 and leaving dozens missing. Mass abductions continue to plague the region.

Petrobras welcome mat laid out
President Tinubu, while in Brazil, invited Petrobras to quickly re-enter Nigeria’s oil space. The visit sealed several bilateral deals—from aviation to direct Lagos–São Paulo flights.

Nigeria courts China’s tech giants
The National Commission for Space and Planning is courting Chinese big tech to position Nigeria as Africa’s next big data hub. Talks spotlight a digital future.