Good morning, Nigeria. Here’s your Gossip News Now roundup of the major stories making headlines across the country today, Thursday, October 30, 2025.
1. Guardiola Warns Premier League Set-Pieces Are Becoming Major Threat Again
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says set-pieces are once again becoming a decisive factor in the Premier League, evoking memories of the physical, aerial-dominant era of Tony Pulis’ Stoke City.
Guardiola noted that more clubs are now relying on long throws, aggressive aerial battles, and corner-kick routines to disrupt opponents and gain an edge.
“It’s true that people use every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players in the box,” he said. “We suffered when we played at Brentford. Or look at Brentford against Liverpool — every action (Michael) Kayode put in the box. And Kayode was the man of the match.”
Data shows that nearly 19% of Premier League goals this season have come from corner kicks — the highest rate in years and roughly five percentage points above the norm.
2. I Used to Be Unhappy About Being African Growing Up in London — Tiwa Savage
Award-winning singer Tiwa Savage has revealed that she struggled with embracing her African identity while growing up in London.
Speaking at the Unstoppable Africans event, Savage said she once found it difficult to feel proud of her heritage but now celebrates her identity due to the global impact of Afrobeats.
She dismissed claims that the genre is experiencing a decline, insisting instead that Afrobeats continues to rise on global charts and tours, calling it “unstoppable.”
According to the singer, the genre has achieved massive success despite limited industry support, infrastructure, and investment.
3. Federal Government Releases ₦2.3bn to Clear Outstanding University Lecturers’ Arrears
The Federal Government has disbursed ₦2.3 billion to settle outstanding salary and promotion arrears owed to lecturers in federal universities.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Wednesday while providing updates on the government’s engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions.
Alausaa stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to resolving outstanding welfare and funding issues in the tertiary sector in a “transparent, fair, and sustainable manner.”
According to a statement from the Ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, ₦2.311 billion—representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears—has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, with universities expected to begin receiving payments shortly.
He added that Earned Academic Allowances will be fully integrated into university salaries beginning 2026 to ensure consistent and timely disbursements. The minister also noted that the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF are finalising the release of non-statutory deductions and pension remittances, while funds under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities scheme have also been disbursed to sustain sector-wide interventions.
4. House of Representatives Approves Tinubu’s ₦1.84 Trillion Loan Request to Fund Budget Deficit
The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for a fresh external loan of ₦1.84 trillion (approximately $1.23 billion) as part of funding measures in the 2025 Appropriation Act to reduce Nigeria’s budget deficit.
The approval followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, chaired by Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba, during Wednesday’s plenary.
The committee stated that the new borrowing will support financing the ₦9.27 trillion deficit projected in the 2025 fiscal plan.
In addition, the House approved the refinancing of a $1.12 billion Eurobond due in November 2025 at a coupon rate of 7.625%, in a bid to prevent repayment strain and stabilise the nation’s debt profile.
Lawmakers also backed the federal government’s plan to access an additional $2.35 billion from various international financing sources to further support Nigeria’s fiscal needs.
5. US Lawmakers’ Claims of Christian Genocide Based on Misleading Data – Minister Idris
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed allegations by some United States lawmakers that Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide, describing their claims as based on flawed and misleading data.
The minister was reacting to calls by certain US legislators urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over alleged systematic persecution and killing of Christians.
Speaking in a CNN interview on Tuesday night, Idris maintained that security challenges in Nigeria are not religiously motivated, stressing that insurgents and criminals do not target victims based on faith.
He argued that the assertions made by the US lawmakers fail to capture the full complexity of Nigeria’s security landscape.
Idris’ remarks were further detailed in a statement issued Wednesday by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
6. Tinubu Drops Maryam Sanda, Kidnappers, Drug Convicts From Presidential Pardon List
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the removal of Maryam Sanda—who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello—from the presidential pardon list.
This was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Tinubu ordered the exclusion of individuals convicted of grave offenses such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal possession or trafficking of firearms.
The presidency also disclosed that some individuals who previously received pardons under the old list will now have their sentences merely reduced, rather than fully cleared.
The controversial pardon initially granted to Sanda had triggered widespread public backlash, prompting the federal government to promise a thorough review of the list.
7. Senate Confirms Tinubu’s Newly Appointed Service Chiefs
The Senate has confirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominees for the nation’s top military leadership positions.
Those approved include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate, requesting swift screening and confirmation of the nominees.
During Wednesday’s plenary, lawmakers suspended all other matters to conduct the exercise, holding a closed-door session for more than two hours to question the nominees on intelligence coordination, military modernisation, and rebuilding public confidence in the Armed Forces.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio later conducted a voice vote, which passed unanimously. He praised the president’s selections, saying the appointees are experienced officers capable of strengthening the nation’s military institutions.
8. Sylva’s Aide Refutes Coup Allegations, Confirms Raid on Ex-Minister’s Residence
The media aide to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has dismissed reports linking the former Bayelsa governor to an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling the claims unfounded and politically driven.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Sylva’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, described the allegation as “false, baseless, and politically motivated,” reaffirming Sylva’s loyalty to President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
“Chief Timipre Sylva remains a committed democrat and supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These rumours are the handiwork of political opponents trying to tarnish his image ahead of 2027,” Bokoru said.
He however confirmed that Sylva’s Abuja home was recently searched by individuals suspected to be operatives from Defence Headquarters, though no reason was provided for the raid. Sylva and his wife were reportedly outside Nigeria during the incident, with the former minister undergoing routine medical checks in the UK and scheduled to attend a conference in Malaysia.
9. EFCC Took ₦10 Million Before My Release — Rapper Oladips Alleges
Nigerian rapper Oladips has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of collecting ₦10 million from him before securing his release from detention.
Speaking on the Trending podcast, the artiste recounted his arrest during a midnight EFCC raid at his estate in November 2024, which led to his detention alongside several neighbours over alleged fraud.
Oladips claimed he spent five days in custody, stressing that no incriminating evidence was found against him during the investigation. He alleged that despite his innocence, he was compelled to pay ₦10 million to regain his freedom.
Expressing frustration over the ordeal, he said he felt like “Nigeria just happened to me.”
10. Amaju Pinnick Refutes Allegations of Mismanaging FIFA Goal Project Funds in Kebbi
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick has denied allegations of mismanaging funds allocated for the FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State, calling the claims “completely misconstrued.”
The controversy resurfaced after FIFA shared a social media post showing the incomplete Benin-Kebbi Stadium, prompting public criticism and questions about the handling of project funds.
Speaking on ARISE News, Pinnick insisted that the project adhered to proper procedures and that FIFA monitored every financial transaction closely.
The FIFA Goal Project was established to enhance football infrastructure globally, but in Nigeria, it has faced criticism over stalled or poorly maintained facilities.
That wraps up today’s top headlines from across Nigeria. Stay tuned to Naija News for more breaking stories and updates. Catch you again tomorrow.
