Today's Paper Roundup: Tue 20-10-2026
From Abuja to Abeokuta, the day's news spans a church call for electoral peace, fresh warnings over the naira and stock market, grid troubles that just won't quit, and a continental scramble for Africa's minerals and football glory.
2027 Elections in Focus
With the 2027 general election drawing closer, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has declared a nationwide season of prayer and fasting aimed at securing a credible vote, under a theme invoking justice and peace. Meanwhile, INEC's attention has turned to voter preparedness on the ground, with the commission flagging tens of thousands of uncollected permanent voter cards in Taraba State ahead of the polls.
“Catholic bishops declare nationwide fasting, prayer”
“Catholic Bishops Declare National Prayer For Peaceful Poll”
“29,314 PVCs Uncollected In Taraba For 2027 Polls, Says INEC”
Naira, Markets and the Economy
Fiscal policy adviser Oyedele has sounded an alarm on currency policy, warning that maintaining subsidy arrangements could push the naira to as weak as N4,000 to the dollar, with ordinary Nigerians bearing the brunt through higher costs. That gloom was compounded by fresh losses on the trading floor, as the stock market opened the week sharply lower and overall capitalisation slipped below the N160 trillion mark. Elsewhere, commentary pieces are urging Nigerians to weigh their options carefully between treasury bills and money market funds, and to rethink how the country finances and delivers healthcare given its worryingly low life expectancy.
“Persistent Losses Drag Stock Market Below N160trn Mark”
“Why prevention must come first”
Power Grid Woes Persist
Nigeria's electricity troubles remained front and centre, with the national grid languishing at just 404 megawatts hours after operators had insisted stabilisation had been achieved. The episode lends weight to a broader critique from labour voices in Africa questioning whether privatised electricity systems can ever truly power industrialisation and job creation on the continent.
“Grid Generation Still At 404MW Hours After Multiple Failures”
“Why privatised electricity cannot drive industrialisation, create jobs in Africa — Odigie”
Africa's Resources and the World Beyond
A deep-dive series is examining what it calls a new scramble for Africa, tracing how minerals dug from the Democratic Republic of the Congo's red earth power global industry while control remains elsewhere. Further afield, a world-in-brief roundup notes unrest in France prompting curfews, a record slump in an American president's approval ratings, and shifting alliances in the Middle East.
“The minerals are African; the power is somewhere else”
“France imposes curfews after riots and looting”
State and Community Affairs
In Kwara, pensioners have praised Governor AbdulRazaq for regular pension payments and clearance of arrears, while in Oyo State, student leaders have cautioned political candidates against inflammatory rhetoric that could spark unrest, and housing officials pressed a developer toward a December project inauguration. On the humanitarian front, Olam Agri and the Lagos Food Bank Initiative marked World Food Day by distributing food boxes to vulnerable households, while a communications firm marking its 10th anniversary reported reaching tens of millions of households through agriculture and nutrition programmes.
“Kwara NUP lauds AbdulRazaq pension payment”
“NANS warns Oyo candidates against politicising governance, civil unrest”
“Olam Agri, LFBI collaborate to support vulnerable households across Nigeria”
Sports: Rangers Eye Continental Glory
On the pitch, the Nigeria Professional Football League boss has thrown his support behind Rangers International after their first-leg win over Algeria's MC Alger in Abeokuta, urging the Flying Antelopes to finish the job and secure their CAF Champions League qualification ticket.
“NPFL Boss, Abdulrahman, Talks up Rangers for CAF Champions League Ticket”