• Atiku, Obi, others adopt ADC to challenge Tinubu in 2027
• IMF warns of impending fiscal crisis in Nigeria
• FG announces ₦50 million grant for outstanding STEMM Students
• FCTA staff end protest, issue 21-day ultimatum over unmet demands
• WHO urges higher health taxes to combat chronic diseases

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Atiku, Obi, others adopt ADC to challenge Tinubu in 2027

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Senate President David Mark, and other opposition leaders have adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new coalition platform to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

However, the move has sparked backlash from ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu and members of the party’s old guard, who accused the coalition of hijacking the party and lacking the leadership to challenge the ruling APC.

The PDP Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, warned of repercussions for members undermining the party under the guise of coalition-building, while the APC dismissed the coalition as a group of “retired politicians” with no real threat to Tinubu’s re-election.

IMF warns of impending fiscal crisis in Nigeria

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s 2025 fiscal outlook, warning that the country risks breaching its deficit targets unless urgent corrective measures are taken.

In its latest Article IV consultation report released on Wednesday, the IMF cited falling oil prices, declining production levels, and capital expenditure challenges as key threats to Nigeria’s financial stability.

The Fund urged the Nigerian government to swiftly revise its budget assumptions and fiscal policies to align with the prevailing economic conditions and avoid a deepening financial crisis.

FG announces ₦50 million grant for outstanding STEMM Students

The Federal Government has unveiled a ₦50 million venture capital grant for exceptional students in public universities, specifically in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative on Monday during the inauguration of the Research and Innovation Commercialisation Committee (RICC) in Abuja.

The grant targets high-performing STEMM students from 300 Level upwards, aiming to support innovative research and entrepreneurial ventures in Nigerian universities.

FCTA staff end protest, issue 21-day ultimatum over unmet demands

Staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under the Joint Union Action Committee, have ended their three-day protest and issued a fresh 21-day ultimatum to the government to meet their demands.

The protest, which began on June 30, 2025, was sparked by unpaid salaries, the prolonged strike by primary school teachers, delayed wage awards to health workers, and a call for the removal of FCT Civil Service Commission Chairman, Emeka Ezeh.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is expected to meet with area council chairmen, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the National Association of Nigerian Students to address the ongoing crisis.

WHO urges higher health taxes to combat chronic diseases

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new initiative urging countries to raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to curb chronic diseases and boost public health funding.

Unveiled at the UN sustainable development conference in Sevilla, the ‘3 by 35’ Initiative calls for a 50% increase in the real prices of these products by 2035.

WHO Assistant Director-General, Jeremy Farrar, said such health taxes are powerful tools for reducing harmful consumption while generating revenue that can be reinvested in essential services like health care and education.