Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the TheTimes Nigeria roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 2nd May, 2026.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, May 2nd, on a visit to Kenya, Rwanda and France.
TheTimes Nigeria reports that this was made known in a statement on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu’s first stop will be in France, after which he will depart for Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the Africa-France Summit scheduled to begin next week.
Co-chaired by President Emmanuel Macron and President William Ruto, the summit focuses on energy transition, green industrialisation, digital transformation, restructuring of global financing architecture, and climate action.
President Tinubu’s participation at the summit from May 11th to May 12th. will underscore Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with African nations and the French Republic.
The summit, with the theme, “Africa Forward: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”, will provide a high-level platform for African leaders and their French counterparts to deliberate on critical issues affecting the continent, including economic transformation, climate resilience, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technological advancement, and peace-building initiatives.
At the end of the Kenyan summit, President Tinubu will depart for Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the annual Africa CEO Forum, taking place between May 14th and 15th.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus KeyamoThe Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo
The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a national aircraft leasing company to support domestic airlines in accessing modern aircraft on competitive terms.
TheTimes Nigeria reports that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, describing the initiative as a major intervention in the country’s aviation sector.
In a statement issued on Friday, Keyamo said the company would operate as a private-sector-driven Special Purpose Vehicle with government backing.
The minister said the new platform would change the way Nigerian airlines acquire and finance aircraft.
According to him, the initiative is expected to address the long-standing difficulties faced by local carriers in securing aircraft from international lessors.
Keyamo said, “This initiative is a game-changer for our aviation industry. It eliminates the long-standing challenges Nigerian airlines face in accessing aircraft on competitive terms and positions the country as a hub for aviation financing in Africa.”
He explained that the platform would allow airlines to source aircraft through a centralised system instead of negotiating individually with international leasing firms.
Keyamo said the Federal Government would support the project through sovereign guarantees, while private investors would drive its operations.
He noted that the structure was designed to give investors confidence, especially in the area of asset protection and security.
The minister added that the government would participate through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, without making direct financial investment.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is set to hold its first National Convention on May 9, 2026, in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This was made known in a statement on Friday by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam.
He explained that grassroots and mid-level congresses are already underway across the country, adding that ward and polling unit congresses are scheduled for May 1 and 2, followed by local government and state congresses on May 4.
Zonal congresses are expected to take place on May 6, setting the stage for the national convention on May 9.
The statement noted that the phased approach is designed to ensure an orderly emergence of party structures from the grassroots to the national level, in line with its constitution and operational guidelines.
Abdulsalam, who noted that the party had concluded arrangements for the national convention, describing it as a significant milestone in the NDC’s institutional development, stressed that the convention would be held in Abuja and would bring together accredited delegates and party faithful, alongside officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are expected to monitor proceedings in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
He assured that logistics, security and distribution of materials for the congresses and convention have been palnned, assuring members of a seamless exercise nationwide.
The apex leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Friday endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The decision was ratified at a high-level leadership summit held in Samonda, Ibadan, as part of efforts to consolidate unity within the party.
The endorsement reflects a growing trend within the APC, following similar consensus arrangements recently adopted in Lagos and Ogun states.
Party leaders said the approach is aimed at avoiding internal divisions and strengthening the party’s chances in the next general election.
Speaking at the summit, Senator Ayo Adeseun disclosed that the endorsement followed extensive consultations, including discussions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Mr. President remains the leader of our party, and his opinion on who flies the party’s flag must be given due consideration,” Adeseun said.
He noted that Alli had already declared his intention to contest before the consensus was reached.
Another party chieftain, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, also confirmed that President Tinubu backed Alli’s candidacy.
The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has asserted presidential aspirants Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi can only win the 2027 election, thorough a joint ticket.
Amadi stated this via a post on his 𝕏 handle on Friday while
According to him, Nigeria is a republic where there are no first-class and second-class citizens.
He argued that if a man won over 6 million votes, excluding those not counted, he deserves the respect of being treated as an integer, not a fraction.
“You cannot continue to insist on bossing everyone else, even those better than you.
“For those who care to know, if O cannot win, A cannot win. If O and A need to be together to win, then it should be OA this time, not AO,” he said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed First Lady, Remi Tinubu, over her distribution of 100 trucks of rice and ₦1.2 billion in palliatives to northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu on Thursday unveiled an initiative to distribute ₦1.2 billion worth of rice as palliative to Nigerians.
Speaking through a statement by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the move as the weaponisation of hunger and poverty.
He asserted that it was a political performance staged on the altar of mass hardship.
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has countered the claims that there is a leadership vacuum in the party.
The position was made known in a statement on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed.
According to him, Abdulrahman Mohammed remains the party’s legitimate national chairman.
This position follows an earlier decision by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, which announced that it had taken over the national leadership of the party.
TheTimes Nigeria reports that the PDP BoT, in a statement on Thursday, signed by Wabara, said the step was taken based on the Supreme Court ruling of Thursday.
According to him, the judgment of the apex court left the PDP without a recognized leadership, and the BoT had to take over in order to avoid a leadership vacuum in the party.
He argued that the Supreme Court, by its ruling, invalidated the November 2025 National Convention of the PDP held in Ibadan, Oyo State, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of our Party.
Wabara added that the Supreme Court also upheld the suspension of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, and Kamaldeen Ajibade as National Secretary, National Organising Secretary and National Legal Adviser, respectively, from the Party.
According to him, the implication of the Supreme Court’s ruling is that all actions taken by Anyanwu, Bature and Ajibade, including the appointment of Abdulrahman Mohammed as Acting National Chairman, the composition of the National Caretaker Working Committee and the conduct and outcome of the March 29th, 2026, Convention in Abuja, are illegal, null and ab initio void.
He said since the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led as well as the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led Working Committees have been invalidated, the BoT has to take over the leadership of the PDP.
However, Mohammed disagreed with the claim, arguing that the apex court’s ruling only nullified the 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, and it did not affect the current National Working Committee (NWC).
Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of tarnishing the judiciary, stating that certain judges and courts are reportedly used to undermine the leadership of political parties in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.
TheTimes Nigeria reports that Eze made the statement following the Supreme Court ruling that restored the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC, on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday, Eze criticised the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, asserting that they should feel ashamed for acting as obstacles to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
Eze stressed that with the Supreme Court’s judgment, it is over Tinubu’s administration, urging the President to begin drafting his handover notes and prepare for his return to Lagos State.
Portuguese tactician, Jose Mourinho has dismissed claims linking him with a return to Real Madrid, insisting there has been no approach from the Spanish giants.
The Benfica manager spoke on Friday, May 1, as rumours gathered pace that Real Madrid could consider him for the job this summer.
TheTimes Nigeria recalls that Jose Mourinho previously led Madrid from 2010 to 2013, during a fierce rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
“No one from Real Madrid has spoken to me. I can guarantee that,” Mourinho, 63, told reporters.
“I’ve been in football for so many years, and I’m used to these things… but there’s nothing from Real Madrid,” added the coach who guided Madrid to the 2012 La Liga title.
Madrid are expected to review their coaching situation after a difficult season under Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January by club president Florentino Perez to replace Xabi Alonso.
The club, sit 11 points behind Barcelona with five matches remaining and were, eliminated from the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by Bayern Munich.
Mourinho also stressed his focus remains on Benfica.
Nigerian entertainer Portable has dared heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua to a match.
The controversial singer stated that he was ready to face Joshua in the ring if he was offered ₦1 billion.
He made the statement on Thursday during a public face-off ahead of his celebrity boxing match against streamer Carter Efe.
Confident in his fighting abilities, Portable described himself as the face of Nigerian boxing and insisted that nobody could take the “belt” from him.
“For ₦1 billion, I’ll take you down,” the singer said while calling out Joshua during the event.
Portable and Carter Efe are scheduled to clash on Friday in an exhibition boxing match at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The singer had earlier revealed in February that he received ₦40 million for accepting the fight against Carter Efe. He also claimed that businessman E-Money and music executive Soso Soberekon have both promised him ₦50 million and a car if he wins the match.
Carter Efe, on his part, said he agreed to the fight after he was informed that the winner would walk away with ₦50 million.
Portable has built a reputation around celebrity boxing matches in recent years. In April 2025, he defeated social media personality Speed Darlington in a widely discussed bout.
He had also recorded victories against actor Charles Okocha in December 2023 and Kelvin Power, bodyguard to Kizz Daniel, in February 2024.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on TheTimes Nigeria. See you again tomorrow.
