Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 19th May, 2025

President Tinubu Applauds Pope Leo XIV’s Humility
President Bola Tinubu has lauded the humility and moral clarity of Pope Leo XIV following their recent meeting in Rome. Reflecting on the Pope’s ties with Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized the importance of moral leadership in today’s world. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global peace and unity, irrespective of race or religion.

Osita Okechukwu Urges Electoral Reform
Osita Okechukwu, a founding APC member, has advised the House of Representatives to adopt key recommendations from the Uwais Report to increase voter turnout. Speaking in Abuja, Okechukwu warned against penalizing citizens who abstain from voting due to systemic failures and electoral injustices.

Tinubu Reportedly Pressures Fubara to Join APC
Rivers State’s suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has allegedly been compelled to align with the APC following high-level negotiations with President Tinubu in London. The move, reportedly aimed at consolidating power ahead of 2027, includes conditions tied to state resource control and political loyalty.

NDLEA Arrests Elderly Drug Suspects in Major Crackdown
The NDLEA has apprehended two octogenarians—80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Uloma Sunday—along with Sunday’s daughter, in separate drug raids across the country. Authorities also intercepted illegal pharmaceuticals worth over ₦3.2 billion at Lagos and Rivers ports.

Nigerian Army Eliminates Terrorist Commander Linked to Bello Turji
In a major security operation, the Nigerian Army has killed Alhaji Shaudo Alku, a top associate of notorious terrorist Bello Turji. The successful airstrike occurred in Sokoto State and also took out several other militant leaders.

Wanted Kidnapper Nabbed at Abuja Hajj Camp
Security agents have captured a wanted kidnap suspect, Yahaya Zango, at the hajj camp in Abuja. Zango was attempting to join pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia when he was identified and arrested.

Victor Osimhen Leads Galatasaray to Turkish League Glory
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has helped Galatasaray clinch the 2024/25 Turkish Süper Lig title. With 25 goals and 5 assists in 29 games, Osimhen’s debut season proved transformative as the club finished with 89 points, comfortably ahead of Fenerbahçe.

Flying Eagles Clinch Bronze at U-20 AFCON
Nigeria’s U-20 team secured third place at the 2025 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Egypt 4-1 in a penalty shootout. The match, held in Cairo, ended 1-1 in regulation before the Flying Eagles triumphed from the spot.

Newcastle’s European Hopes Dim After Arsenal Loss
Newcastle United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, denting their chances of a top-five finish in the Premier League. Declan Rice’s goal proved decisive. Newcastle now sits level on points with Chelsea and Aston Villa but leads only on goal difference heading into the final matchday.

Tina Mba: “Supporting Roles Don’t Diminish an Actor”
Veteran actress Tina Mba has spoken out against the belief that only lead roles matter in filmmaking. On a recent show, she argued that such thinking reflects a lack of depth, stressing that every character plays a vital part in storytelling.