Fola Badmus

NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Portal, Urges Caution Online

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has issued a strong warning to students and the general public about a fraudulent loan application portal and deceptive messages currently circulating on social media platforms. In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND, clarified that the information suggesting that President Bola Tinubu ordered the reopening of the student loan portal is entirely false. “The attention of NELFUND has been drawn to a fraudulent message currently circulating online, falsely claiming that President Bola Tinubu has directed the reopening of the NELFUND Student Loan portal,” the statement read. The misleading message includes a link to a fake website:https://nelfund-student-loan-2025.po-rt-al.com/NELFUND/“This website is FAKE, and the information contained in the message is false and misleading,” Oluwatuyi emphasized. She urged students, parents, and guardians to only rely on the official portal for student loan applications, which remains:🔗 https://nelf.gov.ng To protect applicants, NELFUND advised against clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal and financial information on unverified platforms. The Fund reiterated its commitment to transparency, safety, and fairness in the loan application process. For complaints or reports of suspicious activity, Oluwatuyi encouraged individuals to contact NELFUND via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or through its verified social media handles: The agency assured the public that all official announcements would be made through these platforms.

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Scores of PDP, Omoluabi Members Defect to APC in Osun Ahead of 2026 Polls

In a major political realignment ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election, scores of members from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Rauf Aregbesola-led Omoluabi Progressive Group have defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection ceremony took place over the weekend in Ejigbo Local Government Area, where hundreds of defectors were officially received into the APC at a well-attended event held at Ilupeju Multipurpose Hall. Ejigbo APC apex leader and former senator, Mudashiru Husain, welcomed the new members, hailing their decision as a reflection of the growing appeal of the APC despite being in opposition. Husain, a leading contender for the APC’s 2026 governorship ticket, pledged fairness and inclusivity while describing the defections as a “product of purposeful and collective leadership.” “The defection of these numerous members from the PDP and Omoluabi Tendency shows that our grassroots strategy is working. Our goal is to build a broad-based movement to ensure APC’s victory in 2026 and deliver President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda in Osun,” Husain stated. He added that his ambition to govern the state was driven by a commitment to progressive ideals, party discipline, and grassroots mobilisation. “It’s not a do-or-die affair, but I’m optimistic that I’ll emerge as the APC candidate and lead us to reclaim Osun,” he said. Leaders of the defecting factions expressed their motivations for switching camps. Hon. Wole Olajire, speaking on behalf of the Omoluabi group, said their move was “from uncertainty to certainty,” while PDP defector Hon. Kareem Mubarak decried his former party’s lack of internal democracy and performance. The event also featured remarks from local APC leaders, including Ejigbo LG Chairman Hon. Ayegbayo Gbolahan, West LCDA Chairman Hon. Olayanju Kolapo, and APC Ejigbo Chairman Hon. Lateef Adegoke, who praised the defectors and committed to strengthening the party’s base ahead of the crucial polls. Ask ChatGPT

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Death Toll in Gaza Rises to 45 Amid Intensified Israeli Strikes on Sunday

At least 45 Palestinians have been killed today as Israeli airstrikes intensified across the Gaza Strip, according to local medical sources. Twenty-nine of the deaths occurred in Gaza City and northern Gaza, with the heaviest bombardments reported in the Tuffah neighbourhood and Jabalia. Reports from the ground indicate that at least 10 homes have been destroyed in these areas. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue amid the rubble, and as Israeli military operations show no sign of slowing.

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CAF to Launch New Trophy for Women AFCON

Ahead of this weekend’s kick-off of the highly-anticipated CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 on Saturday, the Confederation African of Football (CAF) will launch a new trophy for the Competition as part of the effort to elevate Women’s Football in Africa. The new CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Trophy will be launched on Wednesday, 02 July 2025 in Morocco, the host nation for this year’s event. The new trophy is part of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe’s vision to grow and develop Women’s Football in Africa. CAF will launch the trophy on its digital pages in the afternoon followed by an activation event with sponsors, TotalEnergies on the same day in the evening. The CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morrocco 2024 will kick-off on Saturday, 05 July 2025 at Olympic Stadium in Rabat when hosts, Morocco play Zambia at 21h00 local time (20h00 GMT/ 23h00 Cairo/ 22h00 Lusaka). Details of the new trophy and its designed will be unveiled on the day.

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At Least 38 Killed 28 Injured in Fiery Bus Collision in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Region

At least 38 people have been confirmed dead and 28 others injured following a horrific collision between a bus and a minibus in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region on Saturday evening. The crash occurred in the Sabasaba area after a tyre burst on one of the vehicles, causing the driver to lose control and triggering a fire that engulfed both vehicles. According to a statement from the presidency on Sunday, 36 of the victims remain unidentified due to the severity of the burns. The nationalities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. Six of the injured remain hospitalized, while President Samia Suluhu Hassan extended her condolences to the bereaved families and called for stricter enforcement of road safety measures. Tanzania continues to struggle with frequent road accidents despite ongoing awareness campaigns. The World Health Organization estimated that between 13,000 and 19,000 people died in road accidents in the country in 2016, far exceeding the official government figure of 3,256.

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Museveni Confirms 2026 Presidential Bid Vows $500bn Economy in Five Years

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has officially announced his intention to run for re-election in 2026, potentially extending his nearly 40-year hold on power. The 80-year-old leader, who has ruled the East African nation since seizing power in 1986 after a civil war, made the declaration on Saturday, stating he had submitted interest to become the presidential flag bearer of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Museveni pledged to transform Uganda’s economy from its current $66 billion GDP to a staggering $500 billion within five years — a promise that has raised eyebrows among economists and critics alike. The announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in next January’s elections, with opposition leader and pop star-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, confirming he will also contest. Wine rejected the outcome of the 2021 election, alleging widespread fraud and security force intimidation. Uganda’s political climate remains tense following controversial parliamentary approval of a law allowing military courts to try civilians — a move critics say is aimed at silencing dissent. The Supreme Court earlier ruled such trials unconstitutional, but the government claims they are essential for national security. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have long accused the Museveni administration of using security forces and the judicial system, particularly military courts, to target opposition figures. Museveni denies the accusations. As the nation heads toward another contentious electoral cycle, many Ugandans and observers are watching closely to see whether Museveni’s economic promises and political maneuvers will secure him yet another term in office.

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Trump Doubles Down on Iran Nuclear Claims Amid Doubts Over Strike Effectiveness

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again asserted that recent American and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities significantly crippled Tehran’s capabilities, despite growing skepticism from intelligence sources and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. Speaking on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Trump insisted that Iran was “weeks away” from acquiring nuclear weapons before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes beginning June 13, targeting key facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. He claimed the sites were “obliterated,” and that the operation had “set Iran’s nuclear ambitions back by decades.” However, this narrative clashes with multiple intelligence reports and assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which found no conclusive evidence that the facilities were permanently disabled. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi stated that Iran could resume uranium enrichment “within months,” raising doubts about the long-term impact of the strikes. An IAEA report last month indicated that Iran had stockpiled over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade—enough to produce multiple nuclear weapons if enriched further. Meanwhile, Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is strictly for civilian use. Trump dismissed media reports contradicting his version of events as “fake news,” claiming the bomb strikes penetrated the heavily fortified Fordow site with ease. “The bomb went through it like butter,” he said. He also denied reports that Iran had evacuated its enriched uranium from the facility ahead of the attack. On the geopolitical front, Trump revealed that U.S. trade negotiations with Canada were paused over a controversial digital tax. He also confirmed that he had found a group of “very wealthy people” to acquire TikTok, promising to reveal the buyer in two weeks after extending the app’s ban for another 90 days. Trump’s continued defiance on the Iran issue comes as Washington attempts to balance military posturing with diplomatic efforts in the aftermath of the recent 12-day conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the U.S.

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Al-Quds Brigades Claim Attacks on Israeli Forces in Khan Younis

The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting Israeli forces in southern Gaza. In a statement released on Saturday, the group said its fighters destroyed an Israeli military vehicle using a barrel bomb in the Abasan al-Kabira area, located east of Khan Younis. The Brigades also reported launching coordinated mortar attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles in multiple positions across southern Khan Younis, in joint operations with the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. The attacks come amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, with both sides trading fire in what has become an intensifying and prolonged conflict in the region.

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