Former militant leader and Niger Delta activist, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has once again taken center stage in Nigeria’s public discourse

after donating a staggering ₦10 billion to the Delta State Security Trust Fund.

The move, which dominated conversations across social media on Wednesday, has been hailed by some as an unprecedented act of patriotism

and by others as a calculated power statement from one of the most influential figures in the region.

The donation was made through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), Tompolo’s firm currently contractd by the Federal Government to secure oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

At the relaunch event held at the Government House in Asaba, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori unveiled the new phase of the Security Trust Fund,

describing it as a bold step toward building a safer Delta driven by collaboration between government, private businesses, and local stakeholders.

Tompolo, also serving as the Chief Launcher, made a rare public appearance and stunned the audience with his ₦10 billion pledge

an amount many described as a “game changer” in the state’s ongoing battle against insecurity.

Furthermore, Governor Oborevwori explained that the Trust Fund would support the acquisition of modern security equipment, patrol vehicles, and communication tools,

as well as training for local vigilante and law enforcement agencies across Delta’s 25 local government areas.

He alsl added that the state would now allocate 0.5 percent of its monthly internally generated revenue (IGR)

to sustain the initiative, encouraging more private donors to follow Tompolo’s example.

The event attracted several business and political heavyweights, including Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede,

who chaired the launch and pledged ₦100 million on behalf of himself and his wife,

and also Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank, who praised the fund as a visionary response to Delta’s evolving security challenges.

Tompolo Donates N10Billion Naira To Delta Security Fund; Patriotism Or A Power Move?

Meanwhile, Representing Tompolo, Tantita’s managing director Keston Pondi emphasized that the donation was “not charity,

but an investment in peace,” stressing that sustainable development is impossible without stability in oil-producing areas.

Yet, while many have applauded Tompolo’s generosity, critics have been quick to question the motive behind such a massive donation.

Some political observers argue that it could signal a strategic attempt to cement his influence in Delta’s security landscape

and maintain leverage over state and federal authorities.

Others see it as a genuine effort by a man who once fought against the system to now protect it,

proof of how far he has come from his days as a militant commander.

Either way, Tompolo’s gesture has reignited conversations about the balance between private power and public governance in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

It also raises broader questions about the sustainability of security funding and the transparency of the management of such massive donations.

For now, the ₦10 billion pledge stands as both a headline-grabbing show of wealth and a potential turning point in Delta’s long fight for peace and stability.

Whether it becomes a lasting legacy or a fleeting spectacle, only time and accountability will tell.

Famous Nigerian gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has revealed a large new facility for his annual Hallelujah Challenge praise concert.

The gigantic two-story edifice, built in just eight months, has a large welcome space, elegantly adorned rooms, chandeliers, flowers, and well-organized lighting.

A mesmerising video published on Instagram depicted the transformation of a barren plot of ground into a bustling center of worship.

Bassey expressed his profound appreciation to God, saying

“Baba, we thank you! You have entered your new life in Jesus’ name!”

The video triggered an outpouring of joy online, with followers thanking God for His faithfulness and praising Bassey for being an inspiration.

The Hallelujah Challenge, a global praise and prayer movement with millions of participants, is projected to have a greater impact with the new venue.

Popular Clergy, Rev. Uma Ukpai Passes On At 80

The structure will serve as a centre for worship, prayer, and community events, creating a sacred space for believers to interact with God and one another.

The Christian community in Nigeria and beyond is mourning the loss of one of its most revered figures, Evangelist Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, who passed away on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.

His family, in an official statement titled “Glorious Transition,” described his passing as a triumphant homegoing and a peaceful completion of his earthly mission.

Early Life and Calling

He was born on January 7, 1945, in Asaga, Ohafia, Abia State.  Uma Ukpai’s journey was marked by humble beginnings and early adversity.

Losing his father at a tender age, he faced significant hardship but remained determined to continue his education through perseverance and hard work.

He gave his life to Christ in 1958, a decision that set him on a lifelong path of service to God and humanity.

From a young age, Uma Ukpai experienced profound spiritual encounters that deepened his faith and shaped his calling.

One of the most defining moments of his childhood was the miraculous healing of a mentally challenged man,

which he later described as the event that launched him into ministry.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, is currently trending amid reports of a sudden illness that has forced him to step back temporarily from public duties.

The Presidency has however confirmed that Edun is indisposed and recuperating,

but dismissed rumours that he suffered a stroke or has been flown abroad for treatment.

According to government sources, Edun is recuperating in his Abuja residence under the care of Nigerian doctors. 

A senior official described his condition as “somewhat serious,” but emphasised that it is not stroke-related. 

With Wale Edun unable to attend, the Presidency has tapped Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2025 World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. 

The substitution underscores efforts to maintain continuity in Nigeria’s representation on the global economic stage.

Meanwhile, Despite speculation, officials assert there is no plan to replace Edun in the cabinet. 

Presidential spokespersons maintain that his medical leave is temporary, and that his role in the economic management team remains intact. 

Edun, aged 69, is well known as a key figure in President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms,

including efforts at fiscal policy realignment and exchange rate unification. 

His absence comes at a sensitive moment, raising questions about the administration’s capacity to sustain momentum on critical economic issues.

As Nigerians await further updates, all eyes are on how the government will manage key meetings and maintain fiscal stability in his absence.

The University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, has been named Nigeria’s top university in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.

According to the ranking released on THE’s website on Thursday, UI secured a global placement between 801 and 1,000, reclaiming the top national spot it last held in 2023.

The 2026 rankings evaluated 2,191 universities across 115 countries, using 18 performance indicators in five key categories — teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

UI rose from fourth place in 2025 to become Nigeria’s best for 2026, displacing Covenant University, which had led the rankings in 2024 and 2025.

Rounding out the top Nigerian universities are the University of Lagos (second), Bayero University (third), and Covenant University (fourth).

The 2026 edition also reflected significant changes in global higher education, analysing 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications and drawing on survey responses from over 108,000 scholars worldwide.

In specific performance areas, the University of Lagos achieved the highest research quality score in Nigeria, earning 66.7 points.

BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.

Out of 51 Nigerian institutions featured in THE 2026 ranking, only UI and UNILAG fall between 801–1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001–1200; while five schools—Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria—stand globally between 1201–1500.

2026 University Ranking List; UI Dethrones Covenant University, Ranks 1st; Full List Here!

Also, 14 Nigerian universities were categorised above 1501, and 27 institutions were not ranked.

See the full list

1. University of Ibadan (801–1000)
   
2. University of Lagos (801–1000)
   
3. Bayero University (1001–1200)
   
4. Covenant University (1001–1200)
   
5. Landmark University (1001–1200)
   
6. Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)
   
7. Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)
   
8. University of Ilorin (1201–1500)
   
9. University of Jos (1201–1500)
   
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)
    
11. Babcock University (1501+)
    
12. Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)
    
13. Ekiti State University (1501+)
    
14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)
    
15. Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)
    
16. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)
    
17. Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)
    
18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)
    
19. Lagos State University (1501+)
    
20. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)
    
21. Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)
    
22. University of Benin (1501+)
    
23. University of Calabar (1501+)
    
24. University of Port Harcourt (1501+)
    
25. Admiralty University of Nigeria
    
26. Akwa Ibom State University
    
27. Al-Hikmah University
    
28. Augustine University
    
29. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
    
30. Bauchi State University, Gadau
    
31. Bayelsa Medical University
    
32. Baze University
    
33. Bells University of Technology
    
34. Bowen University
    
35. Evangel University, Akaeze
    
36. Federal University of Lafia
    
37. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
    
38. Fountain University
    
39. Godfrey Okoye University
    
40. Igbinedion University Okada
    
41. Kaduna State University
    
42. Lagos State University of Education
    
43. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
    
44. Lead City University
    
45. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
    
46. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
    
47. Redeemer’s University
    
48. Rivers State University
    
49. Thomas Adewumi University
    
50. University of Cross River State
51. University of Delta

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has called out United Kingdom Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch.

This comes over her claim that she cannot pass Nigerian citizenship to her children because of her gender.

During an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, Badenoch asserted that she cannot pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because of her gender. She suggested that it is easier for Nigerians to acquire British citizenship than for foreigners to become Nigerians.

She said, “It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.

“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period, acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”

Reacting in a statement issued on Monday, Falana described Badenoch’s statement as “a display of utter ignorance” and accused her of misinforming the British public to score political points.

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Femi Falana said, “In her desperate attempt to impress the British electorate, Kemi Badenoch keeps running down Nigeria.

“Contrary to her misleading claim, her children are Nigerians because she is a Nigerian. Her assertion that she cannot give Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman is not in consonance with Section 25(b) and (c) of the Nigerian Constitution which provides that every person born in Nigeria after independence, either of whose parents or grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria, or any person born outside Nigeria to a Nigerian parent, is a citizen.

“Furthermore, by virtue of Section 42(2) of the Constitution, no citizen shall be subjected to any disability or deprivation merely by reason of circumstances of birth, gender, or class. Therefore, her two children are Nigerian citizens. The fact that she may not want them to claim it is irrelevant. For now, they are dual citizens of Britain and Nigeria.”

Falana also faulted her assertion that Nigerian citizenship is impossible for foreigners to obtain, noting that “Sections 26 and 27 of the Constitution clearly state that foreigners can acquire Nigerian citizenship through naturalisation or registration once they meet the legal conditions.”

He, however, acknowledged gaps in the law, saying that “A woman married to a Nigerian man can be registered as a citizen, but the same privilege is not extended to a man married to a Nigerian woman, which reflects the patriarchal nature of the law. This should be urgently amended.”

Online rumours that the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams will not be held have been refuted by the Ministry of Education.

The ministry called the remark “false and misleading”

and urged the public to ignore it in a press release issued on Sunday, July 20.

A statement allegedly signed by “Dr. Aisha Lawal” and posing as a “urgent notice” from the federal ministry of education had gone viral online.

According to the announcement, rampant examination misconduct, including question leaks up to 72 hours prior to planned exams,

led to the nationwide cancellation of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

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Kemi Badenoch Again Comes For Nigerians, Says She Cannot Tranfer Her Nigerian Citizenship To Her Kids

The education ministry, however, rejected the report in a statement issued Sunday evening,

Further claiming that the 2025 WAEC exams were “successfully concluded”

and that there had only been a few isolated instances of misconduct that were quickly resolved.

Ministry Of Education Assures Nigerians That The 2025 WAEC Examinations Will Still Hold

Additionally, it indicated that as of the time of publication, there had been no reports of malpractice

and that the current National Examinations Council (NECO) exams were proceeding without incident.

The federal ministry of education has not received any official communication or report from WAEC, NECO, or any examination body regarding widespread malpractice in either of the examinations,” the statement read.

The ministry also advised students, parents, school administrators, and the general public to “disregard the fake press release currently in circulation,”

describing it as “entirely fabricated, misleading, and intended to cause unnecessary panic and confusion.”

The public is urged to seek information only from verified sources,

including the official websites of the federal ministry of education (www.education.gov.ng), WAEC (www.waecnigeria.org),

and NECO (www.neco.gov.ng), as well as other reputable media outlets.

The ministry further said it is committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of all public examinations,

vowing to work with examination bodies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

It also warned that individuals found spreading false information would be reported to security agencies for investigation and prosecution.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, has criticised the UK’s too lax immigration laws and asserted that she is unable to grant her children Nigerian citizenship due to her gender.

In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, July 20, Badenoch made the claims while talking about UK immigration laws and how Britain differs from nations like Nigeria.

She further claimed that many immigrants take advantage of the British system in ways that are unacceptable in their home countries.

She also quickly said “no” when asked if she would allow a Nigerian immigrant to establish a “mini-Nigeria” in the UK for cultural assimilation.

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“That is not right. Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept,” she added.

There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries.”

Kemi Badenoch Continues Her Onslaught Against Nigerians

Using her children’s alleged inability to get Nigerian citizenship to illustrate the stark contrast between Nigeria’s approach and that of the UK, she said:

“It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. “I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents, I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman.”

“Yet loads of Nigerians come to the UK and stay for a relatively free period of time, acquire British citizenship. We need to stop being naive.”

Meanwhile Contrary to Badenoch’s claim, section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution states that a person born outside the country is a citizen of Nigeria if either of their parents is Nigerian.

This means having just one Nigerian parent is sufficient for citizenship by birth.

It is still not clear why Kemi Badenoch is so hell bent at spreading hate towards her country Nigeria

Because at every given opportunity she must have one negative thing or the other to say about her birth country

At first, Nigerians thought it was all an act to show solidarity to the UK that she is fully a citizen

But the constant witch hunting of Nigerians and Smear campaign against Nigeria as a country, is far from just showing solidarity

Meanwhile, watch her speak HERE

According to Captain Byron Bailey, an aviation expert from Australia, the most recent evidence suggests that the captain of the Air India aircraft must have purposefully shut off the fuel control switches.

Recall that Air India Flight 171, which was carrying 242 passengers and crew members,

crashed into a building in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, shortly after taking off.

There was only one survivor on the aircraft.

In a densely populated district, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed for London’s Gatwick Airport crashed,

killing an additional 19 people on the ground.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian national, was the only person to survive the flaming wreckage, fortunately only sustaining minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Three seconds after takeoff, the plane’s fuel control switches were turned off,

this is according to an initial investigation on the disaster from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

Then, because the engines were not receiving enough fuel, the aircraft started to lose thrust.

The results also showed that shortly after the switches were reactivated

and one engine’s power was restored, the Air India plane crashed.

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Furthermore an analysis of black box data suggests pilot-in-command Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, placed the switches into the “cut-off” position,

The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing US pilot sources familiar with the report.

Black Box Recording Reveals Argument Between Both Pilots Of Air India Before Crash

The black box voice recording also indicated a back-and-forth unfolded between the two pilots,

with first officer Clive Kunder – who was flying the aircraft – questioning the senior pilot’s move.

The revelations have now cast a spotlight on the actions of the captain,

as aviation experts claim cutting off the fuel supply could not have been done by accident.

Meanwhile, Speaking to Sky News Australia on Thursday, July 17, about the developments, Captain Bailey was of the view the pilot-in-command made a conscious move to flick off the fuel switches.

“To us aviation people … we believe straight away that the only way this could have happened is if the captain turned off the fuel control switches,” he told Sky News Chief Anchor Kieran Gilbert.

“The first one, which is right by his right hand, three seconds up and lift off – and the second one, one second later.”

Captain Bailey claimed the co-pilot, also known as a first officer, would have had his “hands full” flying the aircraft.

“Both hands would have been on the yoke (control wheel) during this period, so he could not have reached down and turned the fuel cut off switches,” Captain Bailey said.  

“They’re mechanical, they’re not worked by electricity, and they require absolute physical effort to lift the switch up, raise it over the gate and back down. 

“So it had to be done by one of the pilots. But since the co-pilot was the one flying, then of course, the captain was one under suspicion.” 

In his view, Captain Bailey claimed the crash was “suicide by the captain”.

President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says plans are on the way to reduce the price of liquefied petroleum gas, also known as cooking gas.

He also promised to start direct sales of the product to consumers should the existing distributors fail to allow the price crash in cooking gas.

However, operators in the sector have disagreed with the plan, saying the businessman was planning to monopolise the LPG sector. They kicked against the move on Monday, as the dealers expressed fear of a possible monopoly.

Dangote stressed that the current price of cooking gas is expensive and not affordable for the common people.

He disclosed that the refinery now produces 22,000 tonnes of LPG daily, and it is ramping up production for distribution into the Nigerian market, especially as Nigerians move towards the use of gas for cooking.

Speaking to members of the Lagos Business School CGEO Africa, at the refinery in Lekki, Dangote said, “The one that we didn’t write, which you must have seen, is LPG. Currently, we do LPG of about 22,000 tonnes per day. You know Nigeria is gradually moving to the usage of LPG. But I believe it is expensive, but right now we’re trying to bring down the price and make it cheaper.”

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Dangote warned that “if the distributors are not trying to bring it down, we’ll go directly and sell to the consumers, so that people will now transit from firewood or kerosene to LPG for cooking.”

Dangote plans to start the direct distribution of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel to marketers nationwide in August, with 4,000 CNG-powered buses procured for the exercise.

Currently, the price of cooking hovers around N1,000 and N1,300 per kilogramme.

Meanwhile, operators in the LPG market are displeased with Dangote’s plan to disrupt the sector.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the former Chairman of the LPG and Natural Gas Downstream Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Godwin Okoduwa, described the plan as monopolistic.

Okoduwa expressed concern that the billionaire businessman should recognise the fact that some investors grew the market from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1 million metric tonnes in 2022, saying collaboration is the way to go.

“I think it’s monopolistic. I think a market should be protected to encourage growth. The LPG industry in Nigeria grew from 70,000 metric tonnes in 2007 to over 1.3 million tonnes in 2022. That was done by collaboration — collaboration with the Federal Government, the NLNG, and offtakers. Everything was done in collaboration. It grew from 70,000 to 250 to 800, and now over a million,” Okoduwa said.

After suffering food poisoning on a movie set, Nollywood actress and producer Mary Remmy Njoku has voiced doubts about the effectiveness of drugs in Nigeria.

In a Tuesday Instagram post, the actress expressed concern about the potential spread of counterfeit drugs after taking Imodium, a prescription that reduces the incidence of diarrhoea.

According to the mother of three, she took the tablet which was purchased from one of the biggest pharmacy chains in Nigeria but the symptoms still persisted after three days.

However, when her husband gave her a tiny tablet of the same Imodium he bought abroad, she felt better within five minutes.

She called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to urgently look into the matter.

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“Let me share a recent experience: I had a bit of food poisoning on a set. Sent a staff to buy Imodium from the arguably one of the biggest pharmacy chains in Nigeria. A medication I’ve used many times before. I took it for three days straight, and nothing changed. The symptoms didn’t stop,” she wrote.

“Then my husband returned from a trip and gave me a tiny tablet of the same Imodium. this time from abroad. I took it, and within five minutes, my stomach calmed down. Just five minutes!”

“This isn’t my first time noticing this kind of difference. So I have to ask: What exactly are we being sold in Nigeria? What’s going on with our drugs? This is a public health risk and NAFDAC must take it seriously. This is dangerous.”

Netizens Blame The East Over Increase In Fake Drugs!

Meanwhile some netizens have blamed the east for the continuous rise in peddling of fake drugs

Some of the comment reads:

“When the same nafdac sealed fake pharmaceutical stores in the east, ur brothers and sisters call it witch hunting”

“We all know those behind the fake drugs industry and we should stand by nafdaq when they took action. No one is witch hunting anybody”

“Mary Njoku,, the answer to your question is not far fetched. Please appeal on behalf of all Nigerians to your evil minded brothers, who are non pharmacists, nor licenced pharmaceutical products manufacturers and importers tó STOP killing Nigerians through importation and manufacturing of fake drugs. Despite all the seizures at the ports and raids on their warehouses in the East, they still are unrelenting in dealing in fake pharmaceuticals in their quest to be wealthy.”