2025 did not ease Nigerians into anything.
It arrived aggressive, confrontational, and unbothered by comfort. Power was tested, icons fell apart in public, the economy refused to cooperate, and global politics kept reminding us that Nigeria is never as far from world events as we think.
This was a year where everything felt connected. Abuja decisions affected the streets, celebrity scandals turned into cultural debates, and foreign governments made moves that landed directly on Nigerian soil.
In no particular order, here are 25 moments that truly mattered in 2025
- The Fubara Debacle, Tinubu’s Verdict and The Hand of Wike
The suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara was significant. Suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly marked one of the most aggressive presidential interventions in state politics since 1999. Officially, it was about restoring order. Unofficially, it exposed how fragile Nigeria’s federal structure really is. The unseen hand of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike was involved in all the brouhaha. For many Nigerians, this wasn’t just the normal Rivers State political drama, it felt like a warning shot.
- Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension following confrontations with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate leadership ignited widespread backlash. Many Nigerians felt the punishment reflected how dissent, especially from women, is treated harshly within elite political spaces. The incident damaged the Senate’s public image more than it disciplined its members.
- Trump’s Second Coming
Donald Trump’s return to the White House reignited fears about immigration, climate policy, and global stability. Allies recalibrated, and it has been beautiful global chaos ever since.
- 2Baba’s Love Life
Few celebrity stories hit as hard as 2Baba’s family crisis. He divorced Annie, remarried suddenly, and was filmed getting arrested in the UK. These events turned a beloved icon into a topic of national discussion. The situation sparked widespread conversation. When his family publicly questioned his well being, Nigerians were forced to confront how fame can quietly unravel people.
The 2Baba saga sparked uncomfortable questions about boundaries. Does fame permanently cancel privacy, or should personal struggles stay off-limits? Nigeria’s obsession with celebrity morality collided with empathy, and the lines were not clear.
- Mokwa Flood Disaster and Related Matters
The Mokwa floods in Niger State were tragic and sobering. Entire communities were wiped out, infrastructure failed, and emergency response felt inadequate. Climate change stopped being a future threat and became a current disaster with faces and funerals.
As floods hit state after state, Nigerians began asking harder questions about drainage systems, environmental planning, and corruption. This was no longer “an act of God”, it was an act of neglect.
- Country of Particular Concern Gets Bombs for Christmas
U.S. President Donald Trump went on social media, labeling Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and reigniting religious tension debates. Many Nigerians felt the designation oversimplified complex security issues driven by poverty and extremism. Others worried about diplomatic and economic consequences.
So, when news broke that U.S. forces had conducted airstrikes on extremist targets in Sokoto on Christmas day, many Nigerians were stunned. While the government framed it as cooperation, citizens debated sovereignty and civilian safety. For the first time in a long while, global war felt uncomfortably close.
- Widening The Tax Bracket
The announcement of new tax laws set to start in 2026 landed badly with a struggling population. Nigerians questioned whether reforms were about development or desperation. Trust, more than taxation, became the missing ingredient.
The drama further intensified. Members of the National Assembly noted differences in the approved tax bill. It was different from the gazetted version. This discrepancy is drawing ire from all angles.
While the matter is still being debated heavily, the new tax regime begins on the 1st of January, 2026.
- Super Falcons Achieve Mission X
The Super Falcons won their tenth Women’s African Cup of Nations. Their dominance reminded Nigerians what excellence looks like when supported by talent and resilience. Their victories sparked renewed calls for equal funding. Success, once again, came despite institutional neglect.
- Victorious D’Tigress
In 2025, Nigeria’s women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, etched their name deeper into the history books with a landmark achievement. By securing their fifth straight FIBA Women’s AfroBasket crown and their seventh title overall the team completed an unprecedented run that firmly established them as the undisputed powerhouse of African women’s basketball.
- One Party State?
2025 saw an astonishing wave of defection of governors and top politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Politicians like El-Rufai, Aregbesola, and co formed alliances in the ADC. They joined forces with David Mark, Atiku, and recently Peter Obi. Meanwhile, the ranks of the APC swelled with those who presently hold political power.
At the time of writing this article, 28 Governors are now in the APC. Kano, Bauchi, and Adamawa are expected to follow suit, if reports are anything to go by.
Many say Nigeria is slowly becoming a one-party state. President Tinubu insists that he’s a democrat. He states that he would not want Nigeria to become a one-party state.
- Much Ado About GMO
For a few days, all we were talking about was Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Bill Gates came through to Nigeria. Conspiracy theorists went on overdrive. This reaction was amplified as several influencers seemed to be on a certain payroll. Lol.
All-in-all, I hope we all learnt a thing or two about GMOs.
- The Polycule Chronicles
Let’s be honest, 2025 was the first time many people saw the word “polycule” for the first time and it came with a rich dose of drama.
A lot of lessons were taught and are still being learnt from what became a trend for days and even weeks.
This scandal led to Ezra Olubi, the Co-Founder of Paystack losing his job.
- Technical Glitch, JAMB & WAEC
As if INEC’s theatrics in the last election was not enough, JAMB and WAEC decided to transfer the trauma we felt in 2023. This was due to glitches during their exams this year.
Sad stuff. Let’s do better.
- Israel v Gaza
After over 60,000 lives had been lost, Israel finally let the people of Gaza have some respite after about 2 years of bombardment.
And while an uneasy fire still stands, we are holding our breathes to know if this is truly the end, or Netanyahu is just biding his time before returning to bombing Palestinians in Gaza.
- Iran v Israel
One Friday morning, we woke up to heard that Israel had launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear program. What followed was an exchange of fire from both sides. We all thought World War 3 was finally here.
After some days, big brother USA escalated the matter stepped in and attacked Iran. Iran attacked Qatar (well USA’s military base in Qatar), before the matter de-escalated. Interesting times!
- Anthony Joshua Nearly Died in Our Backyard
In a shocking incident that had the whole country on the edge of their seats, British-Nigerian boxing superstar Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death in a violent car crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, when the SUV he was traveling in collided with a stationary truck, killing two of his closest team members on the spot.
The accident happened while Joshua was visiting family and celebrating the festive season. This was just days after a knockout win over Jake Paul. It left the boxing legend with injuries. Social media was plunged into a mix of relief, grief, and fiery debates about road safety in Nigeria.
Fans, fellow athletes, and President Bola Tinubu expressed their support online and in statements. Many Nigerians used the tragedy to highlight the deadly state of local highways. They emphasized the urgent need for better safety enforcement.
- Musk v Trump
Elon Musk and President Donald Trump initially shared a power duo vibe. Musk even led Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. However, their relationship spiralled into one of the most dramatic feuds in global political-tech history. This conflict spilled over from the Oval Office to social media and Wall Street.
Their fallout exploded after Musk publicly slammed Trump’s massive “One Big Beautiful Bill” as an abomination, for ballooning the U.S. deficit. This prompted Trump to threaten to cut off Tesla and SpaceX federal contracts. The clash wiped hundreds of billions off Tesla’s market value. It ignited meme wars, protests, and a potential new America Party movement.
After weeks of barbed X posts accusing Trump of everything from fiscal irresponsibility to being in the Epstein files, periods of public apology followed. Fractured reconciliation followed these apologies. Ultimately, the year ended with both figures still intertwined but wary. This situation left investors, activists, and global audiences asking what comes next.
18 Trump v Zelenskyy
In February 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first met in the Oval Office. The summit was televised and meant to cement a new era of diplomacy. However, the meeting exploded into a heated confrontation over Ukraine’s future, rare-minerals deals, and Russia’s ongoing invasion. The confrontation culminated in Zelenskyy being sent out of the White House without signing the planned agreement.
This fraught first encounter set the tone for the year. Trump publicly demanded that Ukraine make tough concessions. He even suspended some military support. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stood firm on sovereignty and security guarantees. This fueled global headlines and mixed reactions from world capitals.
Later in April, as the world gathered for Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican, the two leaders met again in a quieter, symbolic 15-minute dialogue. Zelenskyy called the meeting “historic” and full of hope for peace efforts. The war raged on and real agreements remained elusive.
They recently met again, this time more positive and optimistic.
- Coupe Decale in West Africa
West Africa held its breath in after a failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic, when rogue soldiers briefly claimed to have overthrown President Patrice Talon before loyalist forces crushed the plot within hours. What made the situation explode beyond Benin’s borders was Nigeria’s swift intervention, as Abuja deployed military assets under ECOWAS authority, framing the move as a necessary defence of regional stability and a warning shot to coup-curious soldiers across the Sahel.
While supporters hailed Nigeria for stepping up as West Africa’s reluctant policeman, critics online questioned why such decisiveness is easier to export than apply to Nigeria’s own internal security crises.
Around the same period, Guinea-Bissau descended into its own “coup drama,” with soldiers announcing the detention of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and the suspension of democratic processes just as elections loomed. Unlike Benin’s clear mutiny, this takeover raised eyebrows because there were no major clashes, no prolonged resistance, and no obvious shift in power structures, prompting many analysts to label it a “fake coup,” especially as it was the President himself who announced the coup and was even doing interviews with local and foreign press over the phone while in “detention”
Opposition figures and regional observers, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, argued that Embaló may have weaponized the language of a coup to justify emergency rule, neutralize rivals, and manipulate the political process under the guise of restoring order.
Together, both incidents exposed a troubling evolution of power politics in West Africa, especially with the developments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.
- Nepo v Lapo Baby
Sometime in 2025, “Nepo Baby vs Lapo Baby” stopped being Twitter slang and turned into a full-blown cultural argument, as young Nigerians debated whether success is earned or inherited in a country where connections often matter more than competence.
The phrase Nepo Baby became shorthand for children of politicians, billionaires, pastors, and industry gatekeepers who glide into elite schools, plum jobs, and media visibility, while Lapo Baby emerged as the sarcastic counter, representing those raised on microloans, hustle culture, and survival instincts rather than privilege.
The argument started when billionaire, Femi Otedola released his book where he tried to motivate aspiring entrepreneurs and ordinary Nigerians were not having it.
Social media timelines filled with hot takes, think pieces, and memes that mocked motivational speeches from the well-connected while celebrating raw, unfiltered stories of self-made struggle.
What made the debate sting was how personal it felt, especially in an economy squeezing young people from all sides, where unemployment, inflation, and broken systems make upward mobility feel like a myth.
21 The Evolution of Detty December
Our beloved Detty December solidified its status as a global cultural export. From Lagos to London, the season was a chaotic, joyful, and lucrative mix of concerts, festivals, and traffic jams. It’s no longer just a party; it’s a full-scale economic ecosystem and a brand that represents Nigerian resilience and our unique ability to find and create joy against all odds. The world is finally catching on to our brand of festive chaos.
- Dangote and the $5 Million School Fees Scandal
A massive financial scandal erupted around the misuse of public funds, with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote publicly called out Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), accusing him of corruption and living far beyond what his public servant paycheck should allow.
Dangote claims the NMDPRA guy spent $5 million on secondary school fees in Switzerland for his four children, that’s about ₦7.5 billion over six years. Ordinary Nigerians are struggling to afford ₦100,000 per term in his home state of Sokoto, yet this regulator allegedly drops billions just on schooling?
Aliko Dangote was notably cited in related discussions about the need for a systemic “corruption audit,” as the scandal sparked national outrage and became a symbolic shorthand for the impunity that plagues the system.
- The Glock of God
In mid-2025, House on the Rock founder Pastor Paul Adefarasin found himself at the center of a major controversy. A roadside video showed him holding what looked like a firearm. This occurred during an altercation with a Lagos content creator. The incident sparked outrage and intense debate about clergy behavior and ego on Nigerian streets.
The Lagos State Police invited him for questioning after the clip blew up online. What emerged was a gun-like stun device. The police confirmed it was a prohibited anti-riot tool and not a lethal firearm. This led Adefarasin to turn himself in. He gave a cautionary statement and was released on bail. Meanwhile, public discourse oscillated between criticism and sympathy for the cleric’s reputation.
By September, the Lagos Police Command ultimately discontinued the case after concluding the object wasn’t a real gun. However, the incident crushed Adefarasin’s year with memes and celebrity taunts, such as Portable roasting him. It also sparked nationwide conversations about accountability. The power of viral content was discussed. There were debates about how much public figures can be held responsible for “one moment on camera.”
24 African Giant Made Small in Big America
At the heart of 2025’s entertainment headlines was Burna Boy’s dramatic moment at his Denver concert. The Grammy-winning Afrobeats star paused his set and publicly ordered a front-row couple to leave. He spotted the woman apparently sleeping during his performance. This moment instantly lit up X, TikTok, and Instagram with reactions from fans. They both defended and condemned him.
“When I stand up here, I see you over there with your girl sleeping. Walahi, I’m not doing another song until you go home,” he shouted. He refused to continue until they were escorted out. A clip of this incident would go viral worldwide.
The fallout was intense. Critics blasted Burna Boy for publicly humiliating paying fans. This criticism intensified especially after the woman later revealed she was emotionally exhausted and grieving a personal loss. Meanwhile, supporters stood by his insistence on high-energy shows and respect for the art. The backlash grew into a full-blown conversation about artist accountability, fan etiquette, and celebrity ego. It drew responses from global names like Eminem. Additionally, it sparked memes mocking the “sleeping trend,” which saw fans dramatize falling asleep at shows to lampoon the feud.
The controversy ultimately had real-world consequences when Burna Boy abruptly cancelled two of his upcoming U.S. tour stops, with ticketing platforms confirming shows in Minneapolis and Chicago were pulled amidst the criticism. Baba started doing give aways and charity work to ease the tension.
I hope we have all learnt a lesson.
- Is This The End of The Road for Big Brother Naija?
In 2025, Big Brother Naija Season 10 debuted with a record ₦150 million prize. It came with all the usual hype. However, the buzz never caught fire like past seasons. Many fans felt lukewarm about it. Critics called this edition “forgettable.”
Despite the long run and familiar faces, social media chatter often felt muted compared to earlier years. Viewers said the house dynamics and story lines didn’t generate the viral moments or cultural water-cooler conversations. These aspects used to make BBNaija impossible to ignore. Even petitions popped up asking the National Broadcasting Commission to ban or regulate the show for lack of value.
While Imisi’s win did get some applause, many Nigerians admitted they heard about the finale more from headlines. There was less genuine excitement. This is a sign the once-unrivaled BBNaija craze in pop culture may have run its course. Or maybe not.
What’s your favourite event of 2025? What are you looking forward to in 2026?
Your opinion matters, please leave a comment