Nigerian gospel artists Nathaniel Bassey, Mercy Chinwo, and Moses Bliss ranked among the most-streamed Nigerian acts on YouTube Music for the first quarter of 2025, surpassing some afrobeats artists.

According to data compiled by Debut Hub, Nathaniel Bassey was the highest ranked gospel artist with 52.8 million streams, Mercy Chinwo followed closely with 46.4 million, and Moses Bliss with 41.5 million.

While Mercy Chinwo’s most popular track, “Excess Love,” has garnered 133 million plays, making it one of her standout songs, Nathaniel Bassey’s best-performing songs like “Yahweh Sabaoth,” amassed 25 million plays, “TOBECHUKWU” (featuring Mercy Chinwo Blessed) reaching 39 million plays, and “Jesus Iye,” which has earned 32 million plays to date.

On the top 20 ranking, Nathaniel Bassey ranked 13, Mercy Chinwo ranked 17, and Moses Bliss came in at 19 above afro beats singer BNXN.

Afrobeats artist Rema ranked number one in Nigeria in the Q1 2025 rankings, continuing his dominance with other leading afrobeats artists, including Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and Ayra Starr.

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He also made significant appearances in the top 20 most-streamed artists. Rema’s hit “Calm Down,” featuring Selena Gomez, gathered an impressive 223 million streams and has now reached a groundbreaking 2.5 billion plays. Burna Boy came second with 171 million streams.

Ayra Starr came in third with 169 million streams, beating Davido by some margin after the ‘Assurance’ singer amassed 113 million streams. Davido’s numbers were enough to stave off rival Wizkid, who came in fifth with 102 million streams.

Below is the full ranking of the top 20 most-streamed Nigerian artists globally on YouTube Music in Q1 2025:

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Rema — 223M

Burna Boy — 171M

Ayra Starr — 169M

Davido — 113M

Wizkid — 102M

Omah Lay — 96.7M

Kizz Daniel — 67.9M

Ruger — 65.7M

CKay — 64.6M

Asake — 63.4M

Tems — 60.4M

Fireboy DML — 59.1M

Nathaniel Bassey — 52.8M

Oxlade — 52.4M

Tekno — 50.8M

Tiwa Savage — 45.3M

Mercy Chinwo — 46.4M

Victony — 42.5M

Moses Bliss — 41.5M

BNXN — 41M

Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has finally addressed his missing persons report to security agencies, which his mother made.

Recall that a few weeks ago, 2Baba’s mother wrote to the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking help in locating the singer, whom she claimed the family did not know his whereabouts.

Although the singer has been sighted in public on several occasions since the missing person’s report, 2Baba has now addressed it.

The singer spoke on the controversy while performing at a recent comedy show.

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Speaking sarcastically, 2Baba said the show is to help raise ransom for his kidnappers to release him.

He said, “Allegedly I have been missing. Allegedly I have been kidnapped. So as we come Acapella show, this show is to generate money for the kidnappers to release me.”

The singer’s statement comes weeks after his new love, Natasha Osawaru, also responded to insinuations that she is keeping him against his will.

She pointed out that he was an adult who came to her after choosing her. She also spoke about the controversial bead the singer has in his hands and insisted that it was not diabolical.

2Baba and Natasha have continued to make public appearances together despite being targeted for criticism by the public.

Recently, comedian Justice Nuagbe aka Ushbebe called for national prayers for 2Baba over his relationship with Natasha.

In a video, Ushbebe questioned the dynamics of their relationship, suggesting there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Ushbebe expressed unease about how 2Baba follows Natasha around, likening it to a “schoolboy” behaviour.

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In addition to the national prayers he called for, the comedian also urged 2Baba to “free himself” from Natasha’s influence.

He said, “I like minding my business, but on this particular issue, I have to speak up. Which one is all these rubbish na? Which one be all these see finish na? You go dey hold legend’s hand, dey carry am waka like person wey you wan go drop for school. Let’s just call for prayers for legend o!

“Dem go hold legends hand dey carry am waka like tata wey dem wan go drop for school. Legend supposed be legend o, 2Face free yourself. Emancipate yourself o! I like keep quiet before but [dis one] go hard me.”

Nollywood actress and media personality, Omotunde Adebowale-David, also known as Lolo 1, has said she was raped by a male colleague in the broadcast industry six years ago.

The media personality who co-anchors News Central’s breakfast show, Jasiri, made the claim on her podcast, Say My Piece.

While not naming her attacker, Lolo explained that naming him now will only make people criticise her for not speaking out when it happened six years ago, but instead waited until the person became established in the industry.

The actress said she is still traumatised by the attack six years later, noting that she goes into a momentary panic whenever she sees her attacker; something she says happens ‘every other day’.

Her words: “I hardly ever say this, and I am not even ready to tell the full story. The stories of sexual assault. When I discussed it with my daughter yesterday, she held my hand and said, ‘Mummy, you’ve gone through so much.’ And I said I had.

“I remember how many of those things I have to relive. I have been raped only once in my life, and a colleague raped me. I see him every other day. Do you know how traumatised I am? When I see him, I just get into this momentary panic.

“But if a woman of my calibre named him, he’s an established person in the broadcast industry, won’t people say, ‘How come I didn’t speak about it for all these six years until now that he’s taking a prominent TV position?’

Lolo added that women often respond to sexual assault with denial and self-blaming, highlighting the complexities of trauma and recovery.

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