It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup — and in this week’s edition, we are focusing on five trending stories across the country.
As usual, the stories will cut across the top five beats in our media organisation, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, metro, and leading stories].
As we all know, a day can’t pass without trending stories and we have tracked many of them for you this week. Why not scroll down and treat yourself?
Politics: Fubara defects to APC
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, announced his immediate defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, bringing along key political stakeholders and loyal supporters.
The announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt, following a crucial closed-door consultation the governor held with President Bola Tinubu on Monday.
Fubara stated that the decision was influenced by the need to fully align with the President, whom he credited with sustaining his leadership position amidst recent political instability in the state.
Economy: CBN issues final licences to 82 BDCs, warns against illegal operators
NRTC WEEKLY learnt that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued final operating licences to 82 Bureaux De Change (BDCs) under its revised regulatory framework.
The apex bank says the approvals took effect from November 27, 2025, following full compliance with the 2024 Regulatory and Supervisory Guidelines for BDC Operations.
Acting Director of Corporate Communications Hakama Sidi-Ali explains in a statement on Monday that the move is part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the foreign exchange market.
She notes that Nigerians must verify the status of any BDC on the CBN website before carrying out foreign exchange transactions.
The bank stresses that only the operators listed on its official website are recognised as licensed BDCs.
Leading Stories: Soyinka criticizes ‘excessive’ security for Seyi Tinubu, urges prioritization of national security
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka called on President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in handling regional security, domestic governance, and the allocation of state protection to select individuals.
Soyinka made the remarks in a now-viral four-minute, 25-second video shared on Tuesday night during the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos.
He recounted a recent encounter in Ikoyi, Lagos State, which he said left him shocked at what he considered an extravagant deployment of state security.
Soyinka said he witnessed “an excessively large security battalion assigned to a young individual close to the Presidency,” describing the entourage as “sufficient to take over a small country.”
Sports: FIFA rule adjustment forces Nigeria–Egypt pre-AFCON clash to new December date
NRTC WEEKLY learnt that Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations took a sharp turn, as FIFA’s updated release regulations have forced a change in the timing of their highly anticipated pre-tournament meeting with Egypt.
The new rule, which permits clubs to retain players until Monday, 15 December, has disrupted earlier plans and prompted national teams to swiftly adjust their schedules.
The Super Eagles and the Pharaohs had originally agreed to face off on Sunday, 14 December, but that arrangement is no longer feasible.
As a result of the shift, both federations have jointly settled on Tuesday, 16 December, as the new date for the warm-up encounter in Cairo. The modification, though inconvenient, ensures that both sides will finally have access to their full squads, and it also allows coaches to better align their tactical preparations with the tournament’s demands.
Entertainment: Gaise Baba tops 2025 Nigeria YouTube rankings, surpasses Wizkid, Davido [FULL LIST]
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that YouTube released its 2025 Nigeria Year-in-Review, highlighting the music videos, creators, and entertainment content that captured the attention of Nigerian viewers throughout the year.
According to the newly published rankings, gospel singer Akinade “Gaise Baba” Ibuoye and Nollywood star Omoni Oboli emerged as the platform’s standout personalities for 2025.
The announcement was confirmed in a statement issued by YouTube’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Addy Awofisayo.
Gaise Baba led the music category with his viral track “No Turning Back II,” which features Lawrence Oyor, earning the title of the most-streamed Nigerian music video of the year. Released in mid-May, the video rapidly gained traction nationwide and amassed over 41 million views in just six months, drawing widespread engagement from users.
That’s all for this week on NRTC WEEKLY. Stay tuned and join us again for another exciting edition next week!
