January 16, 2026 – Nigeria Headlines

Story gist: Olubadan emerged as chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas. Alaafin was absent from the event.

Bias summary: No left-leaning coverage. Center outlet Punch headlines Alaafin’s absence during Olubadan’s emergence as chair, neutrally noting the fact but implying possible tension through sequencing. Right-leaning The Nation emphasizes a defender’s view that tradition, not rivalry, explained Alaafin’s conduct, omitting absence details and framing it positively to downplay conflict.

Story gist: Northern groups in Nigeria plan a summit titled ‘Sixty years without the Sardauna’ to rethink the region’s future. The event marks 60 years since the death of Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage of the summit. Center outlet BBC Hausa published a human-interest piece on Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna’s wife, framing her as self-sacrificing for him, emphasizing personal devotion and historical legacy rather than the summit’s political agenda for Northern Nigeria’s future.

Story gist: Oyedele denied the suspension of tax laws guidelines.

Bias summary: Center outlet Punch Newspapers framed the story neutrally, using the headline ‘Oyedele denies suspension of tax laws guidelines’ to report the denial directly. Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting progressive emphasis on tax policy implications or conservative focus on fiscal reform disputes.

Story gist: Kogi State Governor Ododo ordered the demolition of criminals’ hideouts in Okene.

Bias summary: Left- and right-leaning outlets provided no coverage, omitting progressive critiques of government tactics or conservative endorsements of security measures. The center outlet, Vanguard News, framed the event neutrally as an official order by Gov. Ododo targeting criminals’ hideouts, with straightforward tone and no emphasis on outcomes or context.

Story gist: In Rivers State, Nigeria, more lawmakers opted for reconciliation amid the feud between Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The State House of Assembly failed to reconvene for impeachment proceedings.

Bias summary: No left-leaning outlets covered the story, leaving pro-Fubara or reconciliation-positive perspectives absent. Center outlet Punch emphasized the neutral fact of the Assembly’s failure to reconvene for impeachment. Right-leaning Nation used dramatic ‘On the chopping block’ phrasing, highlighting peril and instability with alarmist tone focused on potential ousting.