Leading Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Sunday, 15th March 2026

Good morning Nigeria. Here is a roundup of some of the major stories making headlines across the country today, Saturday, March 14, 2026.

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his concern for the welfare of Nigerians, revealing that he begins each day by reviewing newspapers to stay informed about developments across the country. The President made the disclosure during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He admitted that he was initially firm in the early stages of his administration but emphasized that his government remains committed to strengthening the principles of true federalism. Tinubu noted that local governments now receive direct allocations from the Federal Government, stressing that national development should not be the sole responsibility of the federal authorities. He also urged the media to extend their scrutiny beyond the presidency and hold state and local government administrations accountable for governance and service delivery.

In another development, the Presidency has assumed direct oversight of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, removing the agency from the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development. The directive, reportedly approved by President Tinubu earlier in March and communicated to Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, mandates immediate implementation. The Attorney-General of the Federation has also been instructed to amend the agency’s establishment law to reflect the new administrative structure and forward the proposed changes to the National Assembly for legislative approval. The NSIB, which replaced the former Accident Investigation Bureau through legislation enacted in 2022, has a broader mandate that covers investigations across multiple transportation sectors, including aviation, marine, rail and other transport systems. With the change, the aviation ministry now supervises five agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Meanwhile, a political affairs analyst, Ibrahim Modibo, has called for the removal of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, citing what he described as a worsening security situation in the country. Speaking during a televised programme, the analyst argued that the current security framework has failed to effectively address threats posed by insurgents and armed groups. He expressed concern over recent attacks on military Forward Operating Bases, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several senior officers, including multiple General Commanding Officers. Modibo said the incidents highlight serious gaps in Nigeria’s security strategy and called for decisive action to address the challenges.

As political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, a member of the House of Representatives representing Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Harris Okonkwo, has expressed confidence that former Anambra State governor Peter Obi will secure the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress. The lawmaker made the remarks while speaking with journalists during a medical outreach organised for constituents in Ojoto. Okonkwo, who recently defected from the Labour Party (Nigeria) to the ADC, said he and his supporters would mobilize support to ensure Obi emerges as the party’s candidate. He also criticized certain provisions in the amended Electoral Act, arguing that while individuals should not belong to multiple political parties, the law should not prevent citizens from supporting candidates outside their party affiliations.

Elsewhere, a former chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, has declared his intention to contest for the position of National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for March 2026. Speaking with journalists in Calabar, Cross River State, Obono-Obla said his background in law, governance and anti-corruption efforts makes him well suited for the role. He maintained that his decades of legal practice across Nigeria’s judicial system would help ensure the party’s operations remain within legal boundaries and reduce internal disputes and litigation.

In Plateau State, a cleric, Ezekiel Dachomo, has accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of allegedly diverting the deployment of United States troops away from Plateau communities despite earlier appeals for assistance to tackle violent attacks in the region. The cleric, who serves as a regional leader of the Church of Christ in Nations, made the claim in a video message released online. He recalled that he had previously appealed to former U.S. President Donald Trump to support efforts to curb insurgent violence affecting communities in the state. According to him, although U.S. forces later conducted airstrikes targeting insurgent groups such as Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram in parts of northern Nigeria, Plateau State was not included in subsequent troop deployments.

Political tension also surfaced in Taraba State during the Peoples Democratic Party congress after members of the congress committee reportedly announced two different individuals as the party’s consensus chairman. The development triggered confusion and protests among delegates at the venue as supporters reacted to the unexpected turn of events. Reports indicate that a committee member initially declared Victor Samuel Falack as the consensus candidate, drawing applause from delegates who believed the process had concluded. However, the situation changed dramatically when another committee member arrived and announced a different individual as chairman, sparking outrage and demands for clarification.

In the entertainment scene, American rapper and music executive Rick Ross has shared his dream music collaboration, saying he would love to create a record featuring reggae icon Bob Marley, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy. During a livestream interview, Ross described such a collaboration as a historic moment in music, saying the combination of legendary talents would produce a “next-level” record. He also mentioned Nigerian-British singer Sade Adu as another artist he would love to feature, though he acknowledged that securing her participation might be difficult.

In Nollywood, popular actress Toyin Abraham has advised her colleague Timini Egbuson to avoid publicly taking sides in politics. Speaking during a conversation about promoting movies and achieving box-office success, Abraham revealed that her open support for President Bola Tinubu during the last election negatively affected her career. She urged Egbuson to remain neutral in political matters and avoid openly endorsing any candidate or political party.

In sports, Nigerian football has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu at the age of 62. The passing of the Imo State-born football legend was announced by his former teammate and fellow 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Segun Odegbami. According to Odegbami, Nwosu died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja after spending several days in intensive care. The late midfielder, fondly remembered as “Youngest Millionaire,” was widely regarded as one of the outstanding players of Nigeria’s victorious 1980 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

That concludes the roundup of major Nigerian newspaper headlines for today.