Nigerian press: the country's leading newspapers and media

The Nigerian press, mainly English-language, centres on Lagos and Abuja dailies such as The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian, ThisDay and Daily Trust, sites like Premium Times, the NAN agency and the NTA, with content in Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo.

Iwe Irohin, Abeokuta's first newspaper in 1859

The history of the Nigerian press goes back to Iwe Irohin, a Yoruba-language paper launched in 1859 in Abeokuta by the missionary Henry Townsend. In the twentieth century, nationalist titles such as Nnamdi Azikiwe's West African Pilot accompanied the march to independence in 1960.

Punch, Vanguard, Guardian, ThisDay: the major dailies

The Punch and Vanguard, both published in Lagos, are among the most widely read dailies. The Guardian, founded in 1983, targets business and academic readers, ThisDay covers politics and finance, while The Nation and Leadership complete the national landscape.

English, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo

English dominates the Nigerian print press. Hausa is very present in the North, notably through Aminiya, the Daily Trust group's weekly, and the BBC Hausa service. Yoruba and Igbo are heard mostly on regional radio stations.

The North, Lagos and the Delta: different presses

Daily Trust and Leadership, based in Abuja, cover the North extensively, from Kano to Maiduguri. Vanguard and The Punch focus on Lagos and the South-West, while the Niger Delta is followed by Port Harcourt newspapers and national correspondents.

Premium Times, Sahara Reporters and online journalism

Premium Times, founded in 2011 in Abuja, made its name through investigations. Sahara Reporters, launched from New York, publishes news that is often critical of the authorities. TheCable and other digital outlets produce a steady stream of articles widely shared on X and WhatsApp.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The News Agency of Nigeria, created in 1976, is the country's public news agency, headquartered in Abuja. Its dispatches cover the federal government, the 36 states and economic news, and are widely picked up by the dailies.

NTA, Radio Nigeria and Channels TV

The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, known as Radio Nigeria, form the federal public broadcasting service. Private channels such as Channels TV, AIT and Arise News are closely watched for news and political debate.

How does the Nigerian diaspora keep informed?

The Nigerian diaspora, very large in the United Kingdom and the United States, reads Lagos and Abuja websites every day. For coverage in their host countries, see the British press online and the United States press.

BusinessDay, the naira and football

BusinessDay is the leading business daily, alongside the finance pages of ThisDay and The Guardian on the naira, oil, the Central Bank and the Lagos stock exchange. Football, driven by the Super Eagles, dominates sports titles such as Complete Sports.

A vigorous press in a sometimes tense climate

Nigeria has a large and often highly critical private press, shaped by the struggle against military regimes until 1999. Journalists have nevertheless been arrested under the 2015 cybercrime law, and Twitter was suspended in 2021.

Reading about Nigeria in French and cross-checking

Nigerian media publish in English, but the press of neighbouring Niger and the African press online offer French-language articles on Nigeria. To cross-check, always compare a Lagos daily, an Abuja title and NAN.

Paywalls and free access to Nigerian newspapers

Most Nigerian websites, from The Punch to Vanguard, remain free thanks to advertising. BusinessDay and some other titles offer premium content or digital editions paid in naira, while print newspapers are sold by street vendors.

Keeping up with Nigerian news from abroad

1. Choose a Lagos daily such as The Punch and an Abuja title such as Daily Trust to cover both South and North.
2. Add Premium Times for investigations and NAN for announcements from the Nigerian federal government.
3. Watch Channels TV or the NTA live to follow political debates and official statements in Abuja.
4. Listen to the BBC Hausa service or Radio Nigeria for news from the North in a local language.
5. Read BusinessDay before any decision linked to the naira, Central Bank rates or the oil sector.
6. Check the date and source of screenshots of Nigerian articles, often doctored or taken out of context on WhatsApp.

Access and subscriptions for Nigerian media

Practical pointers on Nigerian media

• Languages: English, with media in Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo
• News agency: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
• Public broadcasting: NTA and Radio Nigeria (FRCN)
• Major dailies: The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian, ThisDay
• Business title: BusinessDay
• Time zone: UTC+1, Lagos and Abuja time
• Currency: naira (NGN)

Traps to avoid in the Nigerian press

• Confusing The Guardian of Lagos with the British Guardian, which misrepresents the origin and viewpoint of the article.
• Mistaking a fake site imitating Punch or Vanguard, with a slightly altered domain name, for the real Nigerian newspaper.
• Believing a quote attributed to a Nigerian governor or minister circulating as a screenshot without finding the original article.
• Ignoring a newspaper's regional slant: an Abuja title and a Lagos title can present the same conflict very differently.
• Reading an old article on the naira exchange rate or fuel prices as though it described the current situation.

Your questions about Nigerian newspapers