Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Tuesday morning

Good morning. Here are the key news stories from Nigerian Newspapers this Tuesday:

1. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has blasted President Bola Tinubu for running a government that demands endless sacrifices from Nigerians while constantly seeking new loans. Atiku questioned why the President has not accounted for the money already borrowed, particularly following the announcement of a fresh $1.5 billion loan from the World Bank.

2. NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi pledged during a town hall meeting in Sokoto to reinstate the petroleum subsidy if elected, while emphasizing that tackling corruption would be his top priority. Obi said corruption remains Nigeria's greatest challenge and vowed to combat it across all sectors if his party wins.

3. Heavy rainfall in Benue State submerged houses in the capital Makurdi for over nine hours on Monday, causing damage to properties and disrupting transportation. The flooding began overnight and persisted into Monday evening, submerging household items and leaving commuters stranded.

4. The Nigerian naira weakened to N1,382 per US dollar in the official market on Monday, up from N1,378 in the parallel market the weekend before. It also depreciated to N1,331.5 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) on Monday.

5. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have amended their legal challenge to President Bola Tinubu's eligibility to run for re-election in 2027. The Federal High Court in Abuja is set to hear their application on October 13, 2026, with the All Progressives Congress and Independent National Electoral Commission also named as defendants.

6. The Rivers State House of Assembly approved the bill to establish state police across Nigeria, joining the legislatures of Osun and Edo in endorsing the proposal. The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a constitutional framework for creating state police forces in Nigeria.

7. Gunmen attacked a mining site in the Rakum community of Plateau State on Monday, killing three women and injuring another person. The attackers stormed the site around 4:30 p.m., opened fire on workers, and then fled the scene.

8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Army dismantled two cannabis plantations near Eko Camp, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, destroying an estimated 1,360.23kg of yield and 107kg of processed cannabis and seeds.

9. A significant defection occurred within the Peoples Democratic Party this weekend, with over 1,500 members from Alapa/Onire/Odegiwa Ward of Kwara State joining the ruling All Progressives Congress. The defections were announced during a ward meeting attended by key party officials, including the Chairman of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

10. Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement Seyi Makinde claimed that Nigeria could be "reset" within four years if he is elected president in 2027. In his remarks at an APM Town Hall Meeting in Lafia, Makinde outlined plans to introduce a new security architecture, overhaul education, and revitalize the economy through data, science, and logic.