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: Akpabio declares three Senate seats vacant, orders INEC to conduct by-elections
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday officially announced that three senatorial seats in the 10th Senate have become vacant following the deaths of their occupants.
The affected constituencies are Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Akpabio made the declaration during plenary, explaining that the vacancies arose from the passing of the lawmakers representing the districts, in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues,” he said.
Business/Economy: FG unveils digital payments report to help Nigerian MSMEs tap $3.5tn AfCFTA market
NRTC WEEKLY learnt that the Federal Government (FG) has moved to deepen Nigeria’s participation in the continental economy with the launch of a new report focused on cross-border digital payments and identity systems.
Titled “Cross-Border Digital Payments and Identity in Nigeria under the AfCFTA,” the report is designed to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) access opportunities within the $3.5 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, unveiled the report on Monday. It was developed by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with ODI Global under the Supporting Investment and Trade in Africa (SITA) programme.
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Hadejia described the report as a key step towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital trade ecosystem, noting that it aligns with the country’s broader Digital Trade Strategy.
He stressed that Nigeria must modernise how small businesses carry out cross-border transactions if it hopes to take a leading role in AfCFTA implementation.
Leading Stories: Why Tinubu met Plateau attack victims at airport – Presidency
NRTC WEEKLY reported that the Presidency shed more light on the circumstances surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Plateau State.
The Presidency explained why his engagement with victims of the Jos attacks took place at the airport rather than within the affected communities.
In a statement issued on Friday, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, clarified that the decision was shaped by a mix of tight scheduling, diplomatic obligations and aviation limitations, not a lack of intent to visit the communities directly.
Onanuga said the President’s day had already been tightly scheduled, with plans to host Mahamat Idriss Déby and later travel to Ogun State.
He said however, after receiving a briefing from Caleb Mutfwang on the scale of the violence in Jos, Tinubu immediately shelved his Ogun trip to focus on the Plateau.Onanuga added that his meeting with the Chadian leader, centred on cross-border security, extended longer than expected.
Sports: World Cup 2026 under fire as Amnesty warns of repression risks across host nations
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the 2026 World Cup risks becoming “a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices”, according to a new report from Amnesty.
The organisation has detailed “significant risks” to fans, players, journalists, workers and local communities across the United States, Mexico and Canada. These concerns stretch beyond sport into broader human rights realities.
Highlighting “troubling attacks on human rights”, Amnesty claims the “starkest threat” to visitors may be “the machine of abusive, discriminatory and deadly immigration enforcement and mass detention in the USA”.
And it warns “severe restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful protest” threaten the “safe, welcoming and inclusive” tournament promised by Fifa. As a result, questions around accountability are growing louder.
The US is due to host 78 matches across 11 cities, while Canada and Mexico will stage 13 games each. Yet, scale alone cannot overshadow the ethical concerns now surfacing.
Entertainment: I don’t have stage 4 cancer – Blessing CEO reveals
NRTC WEEKLY learnt that controversial self-styled relationship coach, Blessing CEO, has spoken out to clear the air over widespread rumours about her health and the funds being raised for her treatment.
In a recent appearance on the online programme Young and Healthy Bros, hosted by Egungun, she explained that the confusion surrounding her condition stemmed largely from earlier miscommunication.
“I don’t have stage 4 cancer. That was a miscommunication,” she said.
Providing further clarification, Blessing revealed that she had only recently received the results of her biopsy, noting that initial assessments had suggested the lump was harmless before subsequent tests confirmed otherwise.
That’s all for this week on NRTC WEEKLY. Stay tuned and join us again for another exciting edition next week!
