Six eye-opening documentaries on Netflix

There are films you watch, and then there are stories that haunt you long after the screen fades to black.

These five Netflix documentaries from 2025 are your perfect watch list. From gripping true-crime tales to powerful stories of survival and redemption, these documentaries offer a mix of thrills, insight, and emotion that will keep you glued to your screen this weekend.

1. The Perfect Neighbor

This chilling documentary uses unfiltered police body-camera footage to reveal how a long-running dispute between neighbours in Florida turned fatal. With no dramatization, the film forces you to ask: What happens when fear, prejudice and laws collide in our own backyard?

2. My Father, the BTK Killer

Here is a story of betrayal, identity and trauma: the daughter of the notorious serial killer Dennis Rader confronts what she and her community lost. It’s intimate, disturbing, and a reminder that evil can hide behind the mask of normalcy.

3. Surviving Black Hawk Down

A gritty three-part look at the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, told from both the U.S. soldiers’ and Somali fighters’ perspectives. It’s war stripped down: chaotic, human and deeply reflective. You’ll see how one mission spiralled and how assumptions about heroes, villains and victims blur in conflict.

4. Beauty and the Bester

This one flips what you expect: not your typical crime doc, but a story of power, obsession and the strange interplay between fame and deception. It asks how far people will go to be seen – and what they become in the process.

5. Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey

This beautiful yet urgent documentary tells how a conservationist rescues a baby pangolin trafficked in South Africa. It’s a tale of nature, redemption and our role in the world’s most silent crises.

RH-NHGSFP flags off breakfast initiative for schools in Kano

The Renewed Hope-National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP) has flagged off the ‘Snacks for Thought’ Breakfast Initiative in selected primary schools in Kano State.

The motive of the initiative, which is a special pilot under the RH-NHGSFP, is to ensure that every child starts the day with nourishment, focus, confidence, and the freedom to dream.

The selected pilot schools in Kano State for the ‘Snacks for Thought’ Breakfast Initiative are Sumaila Special Primary School, Kofar Nasarawa Primary School, Ganduje Nomadic School and Magwan Primary School.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremon at Kofar Nasarawa Primary School in Kano State, the National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope-National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places children at the center of national transformation.

She said: ‘This is more than food. It is love. It is dignity. It is a loud declaration that the Nigerian child matters. Every day, too many children sit in classrooms with empty stomachs. Hunger becomes the first lesson of the day. So I asked myself a question: How can a child learn effectively when hunger is already winning the battle? ‘Snacks for Thought’ answers that question. It ensures every child starts the day with nourishment, focus, confidence, and the freedom to dream.

‘At the federal level, we continue the core school lunch programme that empowers smallholder farmers, supports women food vendors and engages youth in monitoring and evaluation. The PBAT Feeds Breakfast is a complementary initiative that embraces CSR, philanthropy, private-sector leadership, and community participation. Development becomes truly sustainable only when everyone joins hands.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places children at the center of national transformation. Every breakfast served here today builds human capital, strengthens education outcomes, and invests in the productivity of tomorrow’s workforce.

‘Great leaders rise from simple classrooms like these. Our duty is to make sure every pupil finds a pathway from hunger to hope. So today, we officially launch the ‘Snacks for Thought’ Breakfast Initiative. Let this moment spark a national movement. Let every stakeholder rise and say, ‘No child should learn on an empty stomach!’

Princess Adebowale also commended public and private organisations for supporting the initiative. ‘We deeply appreciate our partners from NIMC, TechnoServe, and the committed leaders from the business community. Your response to this call affirms that progress is fastest when communities drive the wheel of change.

‘We also celebrate the unwavering support of the Kano State Government. Kano represents the heart of learning and commerce in our nation. When a programme scales in Kano, the rest of Nigeria feels the impact,’ Adebowale said.

JUST IN: Tinubu decorates Service Chiefs with new ranks

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decorated the new Service Chiefs with their new ranks in the military to suit their new positions.

The newly decorated handlers of the nation’s Armed Forces include Lieutenant General, now General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, as Chief of Defence Staff; and Major General now Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiendeye Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI).

Others are Major General, now Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff (COAS); Air Vice Marshal, now Air Marshal Kevin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Rear Admiral, now Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

Tinubu last Friday announced the replacement of the Service Chiefs, a move that has been attributed to the need to refocus and strengthen national security.

While commenting on his action, President Tinubu, in a post on his verified X handle, charged the new military chief helmsmen to ‘deepen professionalism, vigilance, and unity within our Armed Forces as they serve our nation with honour’.

Be pre-emptive, innovative, courageous, Tinubu orders new Service Chiefs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday charged new Service Chiefs to change the direction of ongoing security campaigns by staying pre-emptive of terrorists and criminal gangs.

Tinubu gave the charge of while decorating the new military chief henchmen at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, tasking them to deploy technology and superior joint planning to ‘defeat the enemies’ and end the insecurity that has dogged the country since 2009.

‘I charge you also to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace, freedom and stability. Let us deploy technology where necessary. We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. It is time to defeat the enemies,’ he said.

Underscoring urgency, he told the commanders: ‘Nigerians expect results, not excuses. We are in a hurry to celebrate peace.’

Tinubu said the ceremony ‘is beyond symbolism of decoration,’ describing it as ‘the beginning of our renewed effort to ensure the peace and security of all Nigerians,’ and stressing that security is the essential element without which everything is rendered meaningless.

‘There cannot be sufficient development if this fundamental aspect of human need is unmet. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the benefit of governance and democracy,’ he stated.

While saluting the military’s sacrifices and past gains, the President warned that threats are mutating, with the ‘recent emergence of new armed groups in the troublesome areas of North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.’

He directed the high command to be decisive and proactive: ‘We must not allow these new threats to fester. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.’

He hailed troops for reclaiming once-occupied territories: ‘In dark times, when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land, that time is over. You. rose to the challenge and reclaimed those occupied territories. Thank you for the rescue mission. Those areas previously under siege have been rescued, countless kidnapped citizens [freed], and you have significantly diminished the capacity of the terror groups.’

The President paid tribute to fallen heroes and thanked their families: ‘The sacrifices will not be in vain.’

He also extended appreciation to the spouses and families of the newly decorated officers: ‘My deepest thanks and gratitude on behalf of this grateful nation. The security is improving; the sacrifices you make will not be in vain.’

Calling for tighter inter-service and inter-agency coordination, he directed: ‘Work together, compare notes, exchange your information effectively and follow up proactively, work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all. We need to clean them up, clear them out.’

He pledged sustained backing: ‘I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.’

President Tinubu decorated the new military chiefs to match their appointments: General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence; Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kevin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

The changes, announced last Friday, form part of a strategic reset to refocus and strengthen national security.

Shortly after his decoration, the Chief of Defense staff, General Oluyede reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ loyalty to the Constitution and the President, promising an intensified campaign to secure the country.

‘We will do our utmost to rid Nigeria of all forms of criminality and make our nation safer so socio-economic endeavours can flourish. We pledge our loyalty to Mr. President, and we will continue to support our flourishing democracy,’ he said, while urging continued public support: ‘I thank all Nigerians for the support they have given the Armed Forces, and I expect that they give us more so we can make Nigeria safer.’

Some of those in attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara/NGF Chair); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; other ministers and senior military officers.

SDP State chairmen drag Gabam to EFCC, Police over alleged embezzlement

The travail of the former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Gabam seems to be unending as the Forum of State Chairmen of the party called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force to urgently investigate and recover nearly ?1 billion allegedly misappropriated under his watch

The Chairman of the Forum and the Lagos helsman of the party, Femi Olaniyi (Ferrari), made the call at a press conference at party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Olaniyi said the decision to invite the anti graft agency was reached at a crucial meeting attended by 31 state chairmen.

He alleged that the misappropriated funds, which rightly belonged to state chapters, were diverted through fraudulent practices, extortion, and gross abuse of office.

According to him: ‘Seventy-five percent of the embezzled funds belong to the states as stipulated by our constitution. We need our money back and can not forgo it. We are calling on the EFCC and the Police to investigate, prosecute, and recover these stolen resources.’

The. Forum commended the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for the final expulsion and dismissal of the former chairman, describing the move as a ‘long overdue corrective surgery’ necessary to restore discipline, integrity, and credibility to the party.

‘These decisive yet fair and just sanctions of removal from office, immediate and final dismissal from the SDP, and expulsion from party membership have been long overdue. We appreciate the leadership’s courage to take this action,’ he added.

The chairmen described Gabam’s expulsion as ‘a new dawn’ for the party, saying it signals a return to accountability and purpose-driven politics.

‘This is a cleansing process to restore the soul of our great party. We are committed to serving Nigeria with honesty and loyalty. Democracy is too important to be left in the hands of the criminally minded,’ the Forum concluded.

The forum also applauded the Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadia Liman-led Disciplinary Committee for conducting a transparent investigation that afforded all accused persons the opportunity to defend themselves before a comprehensive White Paper was issued.

He also revealed that the Forum had representation on the committee through Dr. Kingsley Agbo, the SDP Chairman in Ebonyi State, alongside delegates from the youth and women wings of the party.

The Forum accused Gabam of ‘commercialising the office of the National Chairman,’ saying his alleged misconduct had caused ‘enormous damage’ to the image of the SDP both nationally and internationally

‘Never again shall such an unworthy and untested character as Shehu Gabam be allowed to cast his unstable shadow on the office of National Chairman, once occupied by national icons such as Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Oba Olu Falae, Professor Tunde Adeniran, and Dr. Olu Agunloye,’ Olaniyi declared.

Affirming the Forum’s unwavering support for the ongoing reforms and renewed commitment to credible leadership, Olaniyi expressed their confidence in the new Acting National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, and National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye.

‘We confirm our vote of confidence in the entire NWC. Let us serve the Nigerian people and retire selfish interests once and for all,’ Olaniyi said.

The state chairmen further called for the immediate constitution of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to enhance transparency, ensure internal checks, and strengthen the leadership structure of the SDP.

They dismissed claims that the SDP was shutting its doors to new members, insisting that the party remains open to all Nigerians committed to genuine democracy, transparency, and service.

‘The impression that the SDP is unwilling to accommodate new members is false. What we advocate is openness and sincerity, not hijack or manipulation for selfish purposes,’ the Forum clarified.

Nigeria’s new global gas roles to spur investment, jobs – Minister

Nigeria’s emergence in two top leadership positions in the global gas industry will unlock fresh investment, create jobs, and accelerate the nation’s gas-driven economic agenda, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists after briefing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, Ekpo said the appointments – Nigeria’s Dr. Philip Mshelbila as the next Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and his own selection as President of the GECF Ministerial Council for 2026 – mark ‘a big win for Nigeria’ and will translate to greater investor confidence and project inflows.

‘With us having the Secretary-General, other gas-exporting countries will be interacting with him, and our regulations will become more visible globally. This will attract more projects into the country, create job opportunities, and help us leverage our 210 trillion cubic feet of gas to drive the economy. It is a big deal for our country,’ the Minister said.

Ekpo, who attended the GECF election in Doha on October 23, said Nigeria’s dual victory was made possible by President Tinubu’s prioritisation of natural gas as a key national asset.

He added that the development will help boost gas exploration and supply, including for vehicles converted to run on gas, noting: ‘There is going to be growth in the upstream. It is going to be a game-changer with the position we are attaining.’

According to him, President Tinubu was pleased with the outcome and urged the Nigerian delegation to be ‘good ambassadors’ of the country.

Dr. Mshelbila, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and incoming GECF Secretary-General, said the global significance of the role positions Nigeria at the centre of a bloc that controls around 70 percent of the world’s gas reserves and half of global LNG exports.

‘This gives us the opportunity to coordinate and lead gas-exporting countries. Nigeria has always been seen as gas-rich but has not fully exploited its resources. On the platform of the Decade of Gas, we can now pursue upstream, midstream, and downstream projects that unlock these opportunities, much like Qatar and the United States have done’, Mshelbila said.

The incoming GECF chief pledged to leverage the forum’s influence to support Nigeria’s gas growth strategy and deepen international cooperation in the sector.

NILDS trains 700 National Assembly staff

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has commenced the training of 700 staff as part of a major capacity-building drive to strengthen the professionalism and effectiveness of National Assembly staff.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop in Abuja, NILDS Director-General Professor Abubakar Sulaiman said effective legislative work depends not only on elected lawmakers but equally on a competent and principled bureaucratic workforce.

‘The success of any legislature depends not solely on the elected representatives, but equally on the efficiency, competence, and professionalism of the bureaucratic structure that supports them,’ Sulaiman said.

He described the training series, which runs from October to December 2025, as a practical programme that blends conceptual frameworks with comparative best practice to improve performance across the Assembly.

The NILDS chief urged participants to engage actively with facilitators,

a mix of scholars and practitioners, and to return to their posts as ‘ambassadors of excellence’ who drive legislative quality and better governance for Nigerians.

He said the training modules would cover lawmaking and legislative drafting, official reporting, library and information management, financial management, procurement, audit and compliance, pensions, research and publication, and office management.

He said that NILDS expects more than 700 National Assembly staff from diverse departments to participate over the October-December cycle.

Sulaiman commended Senate President Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for their support of the Institute’s programmes, saying their leadership has been pivotal in prioritising institutional capacity development.

Representing the Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, Deputy Clerk Bashir Yero urged participants to take the training seriously and to uphold integrity in public service.

‘Capacity without character threatens institutional integrity,’ Yero warned, calling on staff to combine professional competence with the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.

Ogunlana praised the partnership with NILDS, saying the collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to building a modern, efficient and accountable legislative bureaucracy.

His endorsement, delivered through the Deputy Clerk, underscored the National Assembly leadership’s backing for sustained staff development and institutional renewal.

One dies, eight rescued as three-storey building collapses in Lagos

One person has been confirmed dead and eight others rescued after a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed at 28 Baale Alayabiagba Street, Ajegunle, Apapa area of Lagos.

The building, which was said to be undergoing manual demolition, caved in around 11:09 am on Thursday, trapping some of the workers under the rubble.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), eight adult male workers were rescued alive while one adult male was recovered dead from the debris.

Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed the incident, said emergency responders swiftly moved to the scene following a distress call.

He said: ‘Upon arrival, it was observed that a three-storey building with a penthouse undergoing manual demolition collapsed, trapping some workers under the rubble. Eight adult males were rescued alive, while one adult male was recovered dead’.

Oke-Osanyintolu added that the injured victims were treated on-site by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital for further medical attention.

Responders at the scene included LASEMA, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), LASAMBUS, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigeria Police.

As of press time, search and rescue operations were still ongoing.

FG launches NIPOST paystack portal

The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) paystack customs duty payment portal for parcels coming into the country from across the world.

The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, launched the portal in his office in Abuja on Thursday.

He was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Rafiu Adeladan.

The Minister said the digitalised payment portal would reduce human-to-human contacts, eliminate delays, and inefficiencies within the period of transactions based on global standards and best practices.

He said the launch represented a solution that is at the heart of Mr. President’s priorities for Nigeria’s digital economy, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

He said: ‘For years, too many Nigerians importing small parcels or business goods have faced the same frustrations – hidden customs charges revealed only at pickup, long queues at post offices, and endless social-media complaints about inefficiency.

‘These are not just customer-service problems, they are barriers to trade, to e-commerce, and to the daily hustle of small businesses trying to compete in a global economy. When citizens lose time and money navigating inefficient systems, we all lose value as a nation.’

He however expressed optimism that with the launch by NIPOST, the narratives would changed, as citizens would get value from NIPOST services, while the government would raise its revenue profile from the solutions.

The Minister who praised NIPOST for the digital solution said NIPOST together with the private sector have ‘built an ecosystem that reduces friction, restores trust, and turns government into a platform for innovation. This is indeed a milestone to a digitally-enabled Nigeria.’

The Postmaster General of the Federation, Engr Tola Odeyemi in her remarks said the solution would enable government track revenues coming from the sector in a transparent manner, stressing that NIPOST launched the product to eliminate perceived inefficiencies, delays and other bureaucratic bottlenecks within the ecosystem.

Odeyemi said:’ Today, we are witnessing a new chapter in NIPOST’s transformation story; one that blends our legacy of public service with the power of technology, fintech, and innovation.

‘For decades, NIPOST has connected Nigerians through letters, parcels, and logistics. But in this new era of digital trade and e-commerce, connection means more than delivery, it means convenience, transparency, and trust. And that is exactly what this new collaboration represents.’

She said with the new technology and partnership with Paystack, Messenger, and Sendbox, NIPOST was stepping boldly into a new era of public service excellence, fintech integration, and trade facilitation.

‘Together, we are creating a seamless system for international inbound items, one that simplifies customs payments, enables online transactions, and delivers parcels directly to your doorsteps. We are solving a long-standing customer pain point: one that has been voiced repeatedly: on social media, in post offices and through customer feedback’, Engr Odeyemi said.

Nigeria, EU seal deals to boost local manufacturing, stimulate health sector

The Federal Government, has gone into partnership with the European Union (EU) in three landmark agreements aimed at strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing, attracting investment, and advancing reproductive health across West Africa.

The agreements, part of the EU Global Gateway Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) initiative and SRHR flagships, are designed to support a new generation of local producers and innovators to build a stronger and more resilient health ecosystem.

The three projects include Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N), Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria), and Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa.

Speaking at the Nigeria-EU Health Investment Forum in Abuja on Thursday, hosted by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Vice President Kashim Shettima said the agreements reaffirm the government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven health economy.

Shettima, represented by Dr. Uju Rochas, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Health, highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order on local production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices as a turning point in Nigeria’s health sector.

‘Through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain and complementary frameworks such as the sector-wide approach, this administration has taken concrete steps to strengthen governance, attract investment, and promote local manufacturing,’ he said.

He emphasised that the Federal government remains steadfast in creating an enabling environment for investors through predictable regulations, strong institutions, and effective public-private partnerships.

‘Our message is clear, Nigeria is open for health investment, innovation, and impact. The President has made it clear that Nigeria’s health transformation will not rely on aid and dependency but on government-led ownership, accountability, and innovation, made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians,’ he emphasized.

Commending the EU, PVAC, and other development partners for their contributions to health security and industrialization, Shettima added, ‘Let this forum mark the beginning of a new chapter defined by shared prosperity, local innovation, and global collaboration.’

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the forum represents Team Europe’s collective effort to strengthen health systems across borders through strategic investments.

‘Working with partners including Nigerian authorities, the United Nations, and the private sector, we must build robust and efficient health systems to ensure prosperity for all,’ he noted.

Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria and ECOWAS, noting its support for initiatives ranging from immunization and polio eradication to family planning and medical research.

He highlighted ongoing EU projects worth pound 45 million in Nigeria and pound 25 million in West Africa, funded alongside the Agence Française de Développement and the Gates Foundation, focused on reproductive, maternal, and child health.

‘We also have upcoming initiatives in digital health and public health systems. More importantly, we want to support the paradigm shift taking place in Nigeria and West Africa, from aid to collaboration, from isolated projects to dynamic investment strategies,’ he said.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, described the agreements as timely, coming at a period when Nigeria is deepening reforms and expanding partnerships to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

‘We are talking about mutual prosperity and mutual gain. Both the EU and Nigeria can win together because the absorptive capacity of the Nigerian economy is vast.

‘The political will to get it right is strong, and the Tinubu administration has taken some of the boldest steps to put the economy on a sustainable path,’ he said.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Olubunmi Aribeana, Director of Food and Drug Services at the ministry, said Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda is anchored on three pillars, strengthening local production of pharmaceuticals, expanding access to essential medicines and vaccines, and advancing reproductive health and rights.

‘Local production of health commodities is not just an economic choice but a strategic health security priority,’ he said, adding that the government is committed to ensuring that made-in-Nigeria health products serve the nation, the region, and the world.