December 13, 2025 – Nigeria Headlines

Story gist: Aliko Dangote stated that without the Ooni of Ife’s intervention, the Dangote Refinery could not have been built. He credited the Ooni with removing 19 shrines from the construction site.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provide no coverage, omitting the story and absenting secular or critical perspectives on traditional influences. Center outlets like Punch directly quote Dangote’s claim of essential intervention, maintaining neutral tone without details. Right-leaning TVC emphasizes the specific act of removing 19 shrines, framing cultural leadership positively with action-oriented headline.

Story gist: Bayelsa State Government announced the death of Deputy Governor Ewhrujakpo and declared a three-day mourning period.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, leaving those perspectives absent. Center outlet Punch Newspapers emphasized mourning by Adamawa Governor Fintiri and a Delta senator, focusing on tributes and political solidarity rather than the government’s announcement or death details.

Story gist: Nigeria’s Supreme Court affirmed Maryam Sanda’s death sentence for culpable homicide. The ruling overruled prior intervention associated with Tinubu.

Bias summary: No left-leaning outlets covered the story, omitting progressive views on capital punishment or women’s rights. Center (BBC) used neutral, factual framing focused on the court’s reaffirmation and case details. Right (Daily Trust) employed dramatic tone with ‘Blow For Maryam Sanda’ and emphasized overruling Tinubu, highlighting triumph over political influence while upholding the sentence.

Story gist: A court remanded Ngige in Kuje prison over an alleged N2.14 billion contract fraud.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets provide no coverage, omitting the story. Center outlets like TheCable frame it neutrally with a factual headline emphasizing court remand and fraud amount. Right-leaning outlets also absent, leaving any emphasis on Ngige’s political background, defenses, or broader corruption context unrepresented. Coverage limited to center, with no partisan tonal differences evident.

Story gist: Benin faced a coup attempt. About 200 soldiers from Nigeria and Ivory Coast were deployed for a ‘clean-up’ operation.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting the story and absenting those perspectives entirely. Center outlet BBC frames it neutrally via headline, emphasizing regional troop deployment for post-coup ‘clean-up’ with quotes around the term, focusing on facts without added tone, emphasis, or speculation.