NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week 

It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup — 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 organization, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, business, and more].

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? 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

Entertainment: Davido releases a fourth album, metro: Yul Edochie loses son, sport: Club games turn after the international break, politics: PDP internal crises, business: Nigerians still groaning over the scarcity of naira are the stories NRTC WEEKLY will be discussing. 

Entertainment: Davido releases fourth album

Superstar Afrobeat singer, David Adekele, professionally known as Davido on Friday released his fourth album ‘Timeless’ after months of being away from social media.

The award-winning musician set the internet buzzing with the 17 tracks of his album featuring Nigerian international artists.

Davido who had been off from social media returns with the new album as well as the news of getting married to his wife, Chioma Rowland. According to him, they got married in a closet and the celebration will be done in years to come.

Recall the couple lost their 3-year-old son, Ifeanyi Adeleke on October 31st, 2022 after he was reported drowned in a pool at his father’s residence.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

In six hours, the much-awaited album, ‘Timeless’, amassed one million streams on Boomplay, the no. 1 album on Nigeria’s Top Albums Chart, and UK’s Top Albums Chart, as well as in 17 other countries on Apple Music.

NRTC WEEKLY findings showed that the music is still making waves as fans continue streaming the music. 

A few hours after the release of the album, the internet went buzzing as Grammy awards winner, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid directed his fans to listen to Davido’s album.

Wizkid via his social media handles called Davido his brother whereas the Aye crooner in an interview granted immediately the release of his album stated that Wizkid was there throughout his healing period.

This is love

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that Nigerians, most especially fans of the two music legends could not hold their excitement as they stormed social media to express happiness seeing the duos demonstrating love for each other after some years.

“Wizkid demonstrated what his album title “More love, less ego” and this is how it should be. There should be no grudges among any stars.

“Nigerian celebrities and other important people in the world should learn from Davido and Wizkid. Love is all that everyone needs,” Netizens stated.

Business: Nigerians are still groaning over the scarcity of naira 

Since January 2023, NRTC WEEKLY’s business had centered on the naira scarcity, documenting and bringing into the limelight what Nigerians are passing through in getting cash. NRTC WEEKLY findings for the past months show that it had been a great suffering and the most trying time ever for the citizens as many businesses have been shut down, and death records among others.

Upon the extension, and disbursement of funds to Banks across the country, citizens are still much frustrated in laying their hands on cash resulting from the Bank’s nonavailability of loading the Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

NRTC WEEKLY investigation showed that in some parts of the country, Banks are selling tags at the rate of N500 for their customers before they could access twenty thousand naira [N20,000.00]. Further digging revealed that some Banks only load their ATM a maximum of N100,000.00 per day. 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week 

Upon extension of the deadline that put a smile on the face of Nigerians after President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele bowed to pressure and ordered the old naira notes to remain legal tender till December 31, 2023, Nigerians are still struggling to survive.

Nigerians are frustrated over the nonavailability of the notes in circulation, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

Metro: Yul Edochie loses son

As of press time, the family of Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie is currently mourning following the death of his sixteen-year-old son, Kambilichukwu Edochie who died on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Mother and Child Hospital in Lagos where he was rushed to after developing a seizure while playing football with his mates.

Yul had January 4 celebrated his (son) birthday via his Instagram handle. He wrote: “A very happy 16th birthday to my first son, Kambilinachukwu Leo Yul-Edochie. May God lead and protect you always. With many more happy years. Daddy loves you.”

But tears flowed freely as they received the shocking news of the dismissal of the son he had with his divorced wife, May.

Information obtained by NRTC WEEKLY showed that Edochie reported his son’s death to the Police for proper investigation, which had begun.

The Lagos State Police Command began the investigation into the death of Kambilichukwu, after the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Friday confirmed that the actor had reported the death of his son to the command.

In a report by Daily Post, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the investigation, saying the matter would be forwarded to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

In their condolence messages, the actor’s fans wish him the strength to pull through as well as his divorced wife.

Sport: Club games return after the international break

The moment of joy returned today after weeks as cubs football competitions returned into action. Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, and others kick off again as players return to their clubs.

Some players were away for international duties to fight for their country’s slot in international football competitions such as Euro 2024, and the African Cup of Nations among others. While on international duties, many of these players broke and set new records.

For Al-Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo became the player with the most caps as well as international goals.

“My club is superior. We spent a lot to buy players who are ready or have been delivering as expected.

“Your team can’t lift the trophy because that top is not for them. It’s just for the main time.

“Your club wasted money to buy players; as it stands, it’s either your team relegated or fight to number 10 on the table,” all these and more are conversations that’ll resume at the football viewing center today.

Politics: PDP internal crises

The internal crises of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have again resurfaced in another dimension. The crisis which began after the party primary last year which provided Atiku Abubakar took a new angle this week.

Recall that Nyeson Wike of River State who came second in the primary called for the resignation of the Party Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu for compromising and manipulating the primary election results. His calls were dismissed by the party leaders which angered him and four other governors of the party.

Wike and the four governors formed G-5 governors to work against Atiku’s ambition of becoming the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that Atiku lost the states of the G-5 governors to the main opposition parties.

After the announcement of the winner and submission of the petition at the Election Petition Tribunal, The National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, was suspended for anti-party, by Benue State High Court, Makurdi.

Immediately after Ayu’s suspension, the party appointed Umar Damagum as the acting National Chairman. Damagum’s appointment caused turmoil as some factions condemned the suspension while Wike and others applauded the court order, NRTC WEEKLY gathered.

However, Ayu, who stepped aside from his position on Tuesday, is set to fight his suspension as he heads to court.

Ayu’s Special Assistant on Communication, Simon Imobo-swam, disclosed after the party announced the appointment of the Deputy National Chairman, (North), Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman.

In a contrary statement by the party spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba reversed the suspension of a former Senate President, Pius Anyim, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose and former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, from the party.

It also lifted the suspension on two other members – Dennis Ityavyar from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.

The party also reversed the referral of the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to its disciplinary committee.

As of the time of filing this report, the crises are revolving, knowing well that the party is in court to challenge the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Here, the cotton of this week’s episode of NRTC WEEKLY will drop. Join us for another edition next week as we take you around the trending lists in Nigeria.