2025 in Nigeria
{{short description|2025 events in Nigeria}}
{{Year in Nigeria|2025}}
Events in the year 2025 in Nigeria.
Federal government
- President: Bola Tinubu (APC)
- Vice President: Kashim Shettima (APC)
- Senate President: Godswill Akpabio (APC)
- House Speaker: Tajudeen Abbas (APC)
- Chief Justice: Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
Events
=January=
- 5 January – Six soldiers and 34 militants are killed during an ambush by Boko Haram in Damboa, Borno State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-08 |title=6 soldiers and 34 extremist rebels die in a clash in northeastern Nigeria, military says |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-borno-extremists-boko-haram-clash-237e12f721343e21253a4ce60fd78201 |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=AP News}}
- 7 January – Two people are killed in a bomb attack on a school in Bwari, Abuja.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-07 |title=Explosive device kills 2 at a school near Nigeria's capital, police say |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-abuja-police-explosion-school-9b5d7d405090977b147244af01b5fe74 |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=AP News}}
- 11 January – At least 21 members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps are killed in an ambush by bandits in Baure, Katsina State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-11 |title=Bandits in Nigeria ambush and kill 21 government-backed fighters |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/11/bandits-in-nigeria-ambush-and-kill-21-government-backed-fighters |access-date=2025-01-13 |work=Al Jazeera}}
- 13 January – At least 40 farmers are killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in Dumba, Borno State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-13 |title=At least 40 farmers killed by Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria, an official says |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-massacre-boho-haram-3579523f5f1b978ea7d32b4374c8e036 |access-date=2025-01-13}}
- 13 January – At least 16 civilians are killed in an airstrike in Zamfara State. The military says it had accidentally hit the victims during an operation against militants.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-13 |title=Nigeria military kills 16 civilians in air strike 'mistake' |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0y30766kjo |access-date=2025-01-13}}
- 18 January –
- Nigeria is admitted to BRICS as a "partner country".{{Cite news |date=2025-01-18 |title=Nigeria is admitted as a partner country of the BRICS bloc |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-brics-partner-f6c45439a94e573d77c7c3a432853363 |access-date=2025-01-18}}
- 2025 Suleja fuel tanker explosion: At least 98 people are killed after a crashed fuel truck explodes near Suleja, Niger State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-21 |title=Death toll in Nigeria gas tanker explosion rises to 98 |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-gasoline-tanker-explosion-4d383423ba0e6a3cdd573323ff1b0988 |access-date=2025-01-21}}
- 22 January – At least 20 people are killed in a Boko Haram attack on the village of Gadan Gari, Borno State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-24 |title=Boko Haram militants kill at least 20 in Nigeria's Borno state |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/boko-haram-militants-kill-least-20-nigerias-borno-state-2025-01-23/ |access-date=2025-01-24}}
- 23 January – The government officially designates the militant group Lakurawa as a terrorist organisation.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=New Nigerian jihadist group declared terrorists |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjvqe4n7gzo |access-date=2025-01-26}}
- 24 January – A flight operated by United Airlines from Lagos to Washington DC returns to make an emergency landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport following a “technical issue and an unexpected aircraft movement”, injuring 38 people on board.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-25 |title=At least six people seriously injured on flight from Nigeria to Washington DC |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/25/united-airlines-nigeria-washington-dc |access-date=2025-02-03}}
- 25 January – A fuel tanker crashes into 17 vehicles along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Enugu State and explodes, killing at least 18 people.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=At least 18 have died after a tanker carrying gasoline exploded in southern Nigeria |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-tanker-explosion-gasoline-f2b546036ef8a0b4b1360333aed972f3 |access-date=2025-01-26}}
- 26 January – At least 20 soldiers are killed in an attack by Islamic State – West Africa Province militants on a garrison in Malam-Fatori, Borno State.{{Cite news |date=2025-01-26 |title=Islamist militants kill at least 20 Nigerian troops, security sources say |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/islamist-insurgents-kill-least-20-nigerian-troops-security-sources-say-2025-01-26/|access-date=2025-01-26}}
=February=
- 2 February – Two buses collide on the Benin–Ore–Sagamu Expressway in Odigbo, Ondo State before catching fire, killing 30 people and injuring two others.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-02 |title=30 burnt to death in tragic Ondo road crash |work=PM News |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2025/02/02/30-burnt-to-death-in-deadly-ondo-road-crash/ |access-date=2025-02-03}}
- 5 February – At least 17 children are killed in a fire at an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-06 |title=Fire breaks out at a school in northern Nigeria, killing at least 17 children |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-school-zamfara-fire-tinubu-nema-6b963e0ec75ba13fb15306055aafa023 |access-date=2025-02-06}}
- 13 February – A truck falls into an overpass in Kano, killing 23 and injuring 48.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-15 |title=23 die in Nigeria road crash: official |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/14/23-die-in-nigeria-road-crash-official |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Daily Tribune}}
- 16 February – At least ten civilians are reported killed in an airstrike in Safana, Katsina State. The military says it had accidentally hit the victims during an operation against rebels.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-17 |title=Several civilians killed in Nigeria by military airstrike targeting rebels, officials say |work=AP News |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-airstikes-civilians-9f97fb91d5d58ed09e93d78cff399b20 |access-date=2025-02-18}}
- 19 February – The Netherlands agrees to repatriate 119 artefacts from the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, including some of the Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria.{{Cite web |title=The Netherlands agrees to return more than 100 artifacts to Nigeria looted during colonial times|url=https://apnews.com/article/netherlands-nigeria-benin-bronzes-art-restitution-9075dc135bc2a207f9b22e8762e620d1 |work=AP News |date=20 February 2025}}
- 22 February – A bus crashes into a petrol tanker near Kusobogi, Niger State, killing 14 people and injuring six others.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-23 |title=14 die in central Nigeria road crash: official |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591303/world |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Arab News |language=en}}
= March =
- 7 March –
- The Senate of Nigeria suspends Senator Natasha Akpoti for six months after she accuses Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Nigerian Senate suspends female senator who made sexual harassment claim |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/7/nigerian-senate-suspends-female-senator-who-made-sexual-harassment-claim |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Egbejule |first=Eromo |date=2025-03-16 |title='We are all Natasha': senator's sexual harassment claims roil Nigeria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/16/senator-sexual-harassment-claims-nigeria-natasha-akpoti-uduaghan |access-date=2025-03-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
- Catholic priest Sylvester Okechukwu is abducted and killed in Kaduna.{{Cite web |last=Muhammed |first=Garba |date=7 March 2025 |title=Catholic priest abducted, killed in Nigeria, Christian group says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/catholic-priest-abducted-killed-nigeria-christian-group-says-2025-03-07/ |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Reuters}}
- 9 March – Eleven people are killed in attacks by Lakurawa militants on the Birnin Dede area of Kebbi State.{{Cite web |date=10 March 2025 |title=11 Killed In Jihadist Revenge Attack In Nigeria |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/11-killed-in-jihadist-revenge-attack-in-nigeria-2fa70427 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Barron's}}
- 10 March – The Nigerian government signs $200 million deal with WeLight to deploy renewable mini-grids in rural areas.{{Cite web |last=Anyaogu |first=Isaac |date=10 March 2025 |editor-last=Janowski |editor-first=Tomasz |title=Nigeria strikes $200 million deal to power rural areas with renewable mini grids |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-strikes-200-million-deal-power-rural-areas-with-renewable-mini-grids-2025-03-10/ |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=Reuters}}
- 11 March –
- State authorities confirm an outbreak of meningitis in Kebbi State that has killed at least 26 people since January.{{Cite web |last=Shibayan |first=Dyepkazah |date=12 March 2025 |title=Nigerian authorities confirm meningitis outbreak in northwest has killed 26 people since January |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-meningitis-outbreak-kebbi-932a7864cfe431b070a32b9d48fd7b06 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=AP News}}
- Nigeria reports 535 Lassa fever cases and 98 deaths across 14 states, with a fatality rate of 18.3%, prompting renewed health advisories and contact tracing efforts.{{Cite web |last=Anyaogu |first=Isaac |date=17 March 2025 |editor-last=Osmond |editor-first=Ed |title=Nigeria steps up fight against Lassa fever outbreak after 98 deaths this year |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/nigeria-steps-up-fight-against-lassa-fever-outbreak-after-98-deaths-this-year-2025-03-11/ |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=Reuters}}
- 18 March – President Tinubu, invoking an emergency, imposes a six-month suspension on Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing inaction regarding attacks on oil pipelines. Former navy commander Ibokette Ibas is appointed as caretaker governor.{{Cite web |last=Shibayan |first=Dyepkazah |date=19 March 2025 |title=Nigerian leader suspends the governor of an oil-rich state in rare emergency rule |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-tinubu-rivers-emergency-fubara-2c0384cc4ce3432e075c153a33eea144 |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=AP News}}
- 19 March – A truck crashes into 14 stationary vehicles near Abuja and catches fire, killing six people.{{Cite web |date=20 March 2025 |title=At least 6 people killed when a trailer crashed into vehicles and burst into flames in Nigeria |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-trailer-crash-nyanya-0dd8cf812c4cf1b2e168d025fcb08af7 |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=AP News}}
- 25 March – Twenty Cameroonian soldiers stationed on the Nigerian border town of Wulgo are killed in a raid by Boko Haram militants.{{Cite web |date=26 March 2025 |title=Boko Haram fighters kill 20 Cameroonian troops: sources |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250325-boko-haram-fighters-kill-20-cameroonian-troops-sources |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=France 24}}
- 28 March –
- Sixteen people accused of being kidnappers are killed by a mob in Uromi, Edo State.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2025 |title=A mob in southern Nigeria kills 16 people they suspected of being kidnappers |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-mob-killings-764c183e27d5f2c46d51ba0d14f2c590 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=AP News}}
- Six people are killed during clashes between police and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria during one of the latter's demonstrations in Abuja.{{Cite web |date=30 March 2025 |title=Clash between Nigerian security forces and members of pro-Palestinian group kill 6 |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-police-muslim-group-clash-palestinians-c170559c98687b7f4a73a391e7dd73a8 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=AP News}}
= April =
- 2 April –
- President Tinubu dismisses the entire board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.{{Cite web |title=Nigerian president sacks board of state oil company |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250402-nigerian-president-sacks-board-of-state-oil-company |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=France 24 |date=2 April 2025 |language=en}}
- At least 48 people are killed in attacks on villages in Plateau State blamed on intercommunal clashes.{{Cite web |title=Intercommunal violence kills dozens in central Nigeria |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250404-intercommunal-violence-kills-dozens-in-central-nigeria |access-date=5 April 2025 |website=France 24 |date=4 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 11 April – Gwaska Dankarami, a militant commander linked to Islamic State, is reported killed along with 100 other militants during a military operation in the Munumu Forest of Katsina State.{{Cite web |title=Nigerian bandit kingpin and 100 followers killed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15vwgjp0pqo |access-date=12 April 2025 |website=BBC |date=12 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 12 April – Eight people are killed in a roadside bombing targeting a bus along the Damboa-Maiduguri highway in Borno State.{{Cite web |title=A roadside bomb kills 8 bus passengers in northeast Nigeria |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-boko-haram-bus-bomb-10a769e94ab3c0b475e09f20ccd0742c |access-date=13 April 2025 |website=AP News |date=13 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 13 April – At least 40 people are killed in an attack by suspected herders on Zike, Plateau State.{{Cite web |title=Attack by gunmen leaves at least 40 people dead in Nigeria, the country's president says |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-raid-attack-killed-db71fad73dc1a15499079d5e6af19339 |access-date=15 April 2025 |website=AP News |date=14 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 18 April – At least 56 people are killed in an attack by suspected herders in Benue State.{{Cite web |title=Herder-farmer clashes in Nigeria kill at least 56 |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/19/herder-farmer-clashes-in-nigeria-kill-at-least-17 |access-date=20 April 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
- 24 April – At least 20 people are killed in an attack by gunmen on the village of Gobirawa Chali in Zamfara State.{{Cite web |title=Gunmen kill at least 20 people in mining town in northwestern Nigeria, rights group says |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-attack-zamfara-amnesty-international-a9325d55ec4009b6b3e63cc0c04134fc |access-date=29 April 2025 |website=AP News |date=25 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 28 April – At least 26 people are killed after a truck hits a roadside bomb in Borno State.{{Cite web |title=Roadside bomb blast kills 26 in Nigeria's restive northeast |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/29/roadside-bomb-blast-kills-26-in-nigerias-restive-northeast |access-date=29 April 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}
- 29 April – Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, is sentenced to death by hanging in connection with her death in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Husband of late Nigerian gospel singer sentenced to death |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c705yg0rdego |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=BBC |date=29 April 2025 |language=en}}
- 30 April – Nigeria completes payment of a $3.4 billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund to finance its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Nigeria completes $3.4 Billion IMF COVID-19 loan repayment, faces ongoing annual charges|url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/09/nigeria-completes-34-billion-imf-covid-19-loan-repayment-faces-ongoing-annual-charges/ |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=Africanews |date=9 May 2025 |language=en}}
= May =
- 8 May – At least 30 people are killed in an attack by suspected Indigenous People of Biafra militants on motorists travelling along the Okigwe-Owerri road in Imo State.{{Cite web |title=Gunmen kill 30 during 'vicious' attack in southeast Nigeria: Rights group |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/9/gunmen-kill-30-during-vicious-attack-in-southeast-nigeria-rights-group |access-date=10 May 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ezeamalu |first=Ben |date=9 May 2025 |title=Gunmen kill 30 travellers in Nigeria's unstable southeast, Amnesty says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-kill-30-travellers-nigerias-unstable-southeast-amnesty-says-2025-05-09/ |access-date=13 May 2025 |website=Reuters}}
- 15 May – At least 57 people are killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants on two villages in Baga, Borno State.{{Cite web |title=Militant attack on 2 villages in northeast Nigeria kills at least 57, witnesses say |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-attack-militant-boko-haram-islamic-state-8fb38a82c5ad79edb3333f0c45803d0a |access-date=19 May 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- 18 May – My Father's Shadow, directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written by his brother Wale, becomes the first Nigerian film to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=Cannes standout 'My Father's Shadow' marks a historic first for Nigeria |url=https://apnews.com/article/cannes-nigeria-fathers-shadow-35c58102da6fd2174d0bd110844723b2 |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- 25 May – Twenty people are killed in an attack by gunmen on the village of Aondona in Gwer West, Benue State.{{Cite web |title=Gunmen killed at least 20 people in north-central Nigeria over the weekend, local authorities say |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-attacks-benue-state-herders-farmers-da0cd108613ac9ed624a7d4c6021e682 |access-date=28 May 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- 26 May – A suicide bomber detonates himself in front of the Abacha Barracks in Abuja, injuring another person.{{Cite web |title=Na suspected suicide bomber die for Abuja explosion - Nema |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/cev4z3z94lno |access-date=27 May 2025 |website=BBC News Pidgin |language=en}}
- 29 May – At least 111 people are reported killed in flooding caused by heavy rains in Mokwa, Niger State.{{Cite web |title=At least 111 people dead after floods submerge a market town in Nigeria |url=https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-flood-deaths-mokwa-69dcc0b8c06a052e83643edb20838db6 |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}
- 30 May – At least 25 people are reported killed following flooding and landslides in Okrika, Rivers State.{{Cite web |title=Torrential rains kill 25 in southern Nigeria, rescue efforts ongoing |url=https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/30/torrential-rains-kill-25-in-southern-nigeria-rescue-efforts-ongoing/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |website=Africanews |language=en}}
Holidays
{{Further|Public holidays in Nigeria}}
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 30–31 March – Eid al-Fitr
- 18 April – Good Friday
- 20 April – Easter Sunday
- 21 April – Easter Monday
- 1 May – International Workers' Day
- 6–7 June – Eid al-Adha
- 12 June – Democracy Day
- 4 September – Milad un-Nabi
- 1 October – Independence Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Boxing Day
Art and entertainment
Deaths
- 15 January – Adewunmi Onanuga, 59, politician, MP (since 2019).{{Cite web |title=House Deputy Chief Whip, Adewunmi Onanuga dies |url=https://nta.ng/2025/01/15/house-deputy-chief-whip-adewunmi-onanuga-dies/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Nigerian Television Authority |language=en-US}}
- 12 April – Christian Chukwu, 74, football player (Enugu Rangers, national team) and manager (national team).{{cite news |title=BREAKING: Former Super Eagles Coach Christian Chukwu Dies At 74 |url=https://saharareporters.com/2025/04/12/breaking-former-super-eagles-coach-christian-chukwu-dies-74 |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Sahara Reporters |date=12 April 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2025&country=77 Online calendar]
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{{Africa topic|2025 in}}
{{Years in Nigeria}}