- BBNaija Nomy disqualified after repeatedly defying Biggie’s orders
- NAFDAC reveals Chinese counterfeiters fueling fake goods crisis
- ₦355bn Student loans: FG asked to strengthen NELFUND recovery
- Omotola questions Nollywood payment stystem after receiving Hollywood royalties
- Macklemore faces removal calls after political remarks at Ed Sheeran’s show
Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.
BBNaija Nomy disqualified after repeatedly defying Biggie’s orders
Big Brother Naija housemate Nomy has been disqualified from the 2026 season after repeatedly failing to follow house rules. The decision came on Monday evening after the nomination process, when Biggie addressed her conduct in the house.
Big Brother cited her refusal to take her assigned bench and vest from the arena after she was made this week’s bench warmer for her poor performance in the Head of House games. Nomy had also received a strike in the second week for a similar offence.
Biggie described the latest punishment as final, giving Nomy 30 minutes to pack her belongings and leave the house.
NAFDAC reveals Chinese counterfeiters fueling fake goods crisis
NAFDAC has raised alarm over Chinese counterfeiters now operating inside Nigeria and contributing to the spread of fake and harmful products. The agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, said some counterfeiters have established production plants and logistics networks in the country.
Iluyomade said the development allows fake goods to be produced and distributed locally without being imported directly from China. He added that NAFDAC had discovered logistics companies allegedly owned by the counterfeiters and was shutting them down.
NAFDAC said it destroyed regulated products worth over ₦1.5tn between February and March 2025. Since 2023, more than ₦1.54tn worth of fake and substandard goods have been destroyed or seized nationwide.
₦355bn Student loans: FG asked to strengthen NELFUND recovery
The Federal Government has been asked to link the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) with Nigeria Revenue Service income data to improve student loan recovery. The recommendation was made by higher education think tank, The iRead To Live Initiative, in a policy brief released on Monday.
The group warned that recovering the ₦355.87bn disbursed to about 850,000 students could prove difficult under the current system. It said the government has about 18 months to improve its recovery process before enforcement of repayments begins for eligible graduates.
The initiative said employer deductions alone were inadequate because many Nigerians work outside the formal sector. It recommended using income data to track self-employed graduates and other borrowers.
Omotola questions Nollywood payment system after receiving Hollywood royalties
Nollywood veteran Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has questioned the industry’s payment system after revealing she still receives residuals and royalties from her five years of work in Hollywood.
The actress said she regularly receives payments from Hollywood projects, despite spending 30 years in Nollywood and appearing in more than 300 productions without receiving comparable earnings. “I’ve only worked in Hollywood for five years, yet I constantly receive envelopes containing my residuals and royalties,” she said.
Omotola previously raised the issue in 2025, saying even limited Hollywood work continued to generate payments while her extensive Nollywood career had produced none.
Macklemore faces removal calls after political remarks at Ed Sheeran’s show
Macklemore has sparked controversy after his controversial performances as Ed Sheeran’s opening act in New Jersey led to calls for his removal from the tour.
During two shows, the rapper voiced support for Palestine, Cuba, Congo, Sudan and Iran while performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall”. The Israeli American Council launched a petition demanding his removal, while some concertgoers accused him of turning the event into a political rally. Others defended his right to speak about human rights.
Pink also criticised Macklemore, saying fans deserved apologies and refunds. Sheeran has not addressed the controversy, and Macklemore remains on the tour.
