In a statement issued on Thursday, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND’s director of strategic communications, described the reports circulating on social media and online platforms as false, misleading, and intended to create panic among beneficiaries and the public.

 Oluwatuyi said the publications included a fabricated statement falsely attributed to the agency and an AI-generated newspaper front page purportedly from the Nigerian Tribune.

She added that no directive had been issued by either the federal government or NELFUND regarding the suspension of upkeep allowances for students benefiting from the scheme.

According to the NELFUND’s spokesperson, the viral publications did not originate from the agency or any authorised government communication channel.

“The newspaper cover currently being shared is AI-generated and does not represent a genuine publication from The Nigerian Tribune,” the statement reads.

She added that the fund remains committed to the transparent and efficient disbursement of student loans and upkeep support in line with its mandate.

Oluwatuyi urged beneficiaries, stakeholders, and members of the public to disregard the publications and rely only on verified information shared through NELFUND’s official communication channels and credible media platforms.

She also advised Nigerians against sharing unverified information capable of spreading misinformation and causing anxiety among students and parents nationwide.

The post NELFUND denies suspending students’ upkeep allowance payments first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Truth Watch is a public interest column dedicated to exposing false claims, spotlighting ethical concerns in journalism, and equipping the public with tools to navigate today’s fast-changing information landscape.    

The feature is part of a wider effort to strengthen truth and accountability in media.

Top false claims of the week

Nigeria crowned Africa’s most educated country. A wish, not a reality?

The claim first appeared as a colourful chart making the rounds on WhatsApp: “Nigeria is Africa’s Most Educated Country.” The message spread fast. Uncles shared it proudly with captions like “We dey lead at last!” Aunties turned it into their status.

Soon it moved from WhatsApp to Facebook and X, gathering likes and cheers. For a while, it felt like Nigeria had been crowned number one through a phone screen.

But the numbers in that meme had no basis in reality. Fact-checkers at Dubawa and FactCheckAfrica found that no credible source—UNESCO, the African Union, or the World Bank—had ever published such a ranking. In truth, Nigeria’s literacy rate is about 62 percent, well behind countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Seychelles, where literacy is in the 80s and 90s. On years of schooling and enrolment too, Nigeria trails far behind.

So why did so many people believe it? Because it felt good. Nigerians abroad often excel in schools and careers, building a reputation for brilliance. That personal experience made the claim sound believable. And in a country where bad news dominates, a burst of good news, even fake good news, can be irresistible.

This is not new. In 2021, a viral post declared Nigeria home to the world’s most beautiful women. In 2023, another claimed Nigeria was the “happiest country in Africa.” Both were false, but both spread quickly because they fed national pride.

The real danger is that these sweet-sounding lies can be harmful. Nigeria still has 10.5 million children out of school. Public universities are often shut by strikes. Celebrating a fake ranking may feel harmless, but it distracts us from the urgent work of fixing our education system.

Media ethics spotlight

The post the government Is trying to erase

On September 3, 2025, activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore is notified by X, the platform still widely called Twitter, that Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), is demanding that one of his posts be removed.

The post is blunt: Sowore calls President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” for declaring that corruption no longer exists in Nigeria. The DSS is furious. It brands the tweet as hate speech and a threat to national security, giving X just 24 hours to delete it.

But Sowore is refusing to back down. The very next day he posted again, insisting he would not delete it and describing the DSS request as “despicable.” His lawyers are standing with him, writing to X’s legal team that the DSS has no legal authority to silence a citizen’s opinion.

Amnesty International and other rights groups are weighing in, warning that this is not just about Sowore but about whether Nigerians can speak freely without being censored by force.

The law at the centre of this drama is the Cybercrime Act. First passed in 2015 to tackle online fraud, it is now being stretched far beyond its original purpose. The 2024 amendments are giving security agencies even more sweeping powers.

They can intercept calls and online messages without court approval, and telecom companies are forced to store citizens’ data for access. Instead of being a shield against fraudsters, the law is turning into a sword against critics.

The Sowore case is not happening in isolation. In May 2024, investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu was picked up and held for over a week without trial after exposing a corruption scandal.

In December, writer and lawyer Dele Farotimi is arrested for “cyberbullying” after criticising the judiciary, his bail set at fifty million naira. Others like Luka Binniyat and Agba Jalingo have also faced lengthy detentions, all under the same law. None of them are hackers or scammers—their “offence” is speaking out.

Civil society is pushing back. In May 2025, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) are demanding reforms, describing the amended Act as a “sledgehammer against dissent.”

They highlight cases where journalists are moved across states without warrants, detained without knowing their accusers, and kept longer than the constitution allows. Editorial boards are also adding their voices. Punch warns that the law is now being used to suffocate dissent, while international press freedom rankings continue to show Nigeria sliding further down the table.

The numbers keep climbing. Since 2015, at least twenty-five journalists have faced prosecution under the Cybercrime Act, and the trend is not slowing. Sowore’s case shows how deep the problem runs. If one tweet can be treated as a crime, then anyone’s voice can be silenced.

Nigeria already has laws for libel and defamation. What it does not need is a cybercrime law that punishes criticism like a crime.

Until Section 24 is rewritten and unchecked surveillance powers are curbed, the Cybercrime Act is not protecting citizens. It is being used to silence them. And when citizens cannot speak freely, democracy itself is under attack.

Tool of the week

Media literacy workshops prepared Lagos youth for July 2025 elections

From July 1–3, 2025, 14 youth-led organisations partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Foundation to train over 250 young voters in Lagos on recognising and resisting misinformation.

Participants practiced verifying images, questioning viral claims, and cross-checking updates with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Surveys showed 70 percent felt more confident spotting false content, and on election day, trainees used WhatsApp groups and local-language infographics to spread accurate information.

The UNESCO called the workshops “a critical investment in Nigeria’s democratic culture,” and organisers confirmed similar programmes are planned in Anambra and Kano. The Lagos training proved how even small groups, once empowered, can help protect communities against election misinformation.

Quote of the week

“A hungry journalist is a dangerous person.”
— Dora Nkem Akunyili, former Minister of Information and Communications of Nigeria (2008–2010)

The post The Times Fact Check: Dr. Kayode Olanorin’s Media Police first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Truth Watch is a public interest column dedicated to exposing false claims, spotlighting ethical concerns in journalism, and equipping the public with tools to navigate today’s fast-changing information landscape. 

The feature is part of a wider effort to strengthen truth and accountability in media.

This week’s top false claims

 Dangote Refinery clarifies shutdown rumour

On 9 August, social media was flooded with claims that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery had shut down operations, suspended truck loading, and was on the brink of triggering a nationwide fuel shortage.

The speculation, carried largely by unverified blogs and WhatsApp chains, spread fast enough to unsettle market watchers.

In a swift response, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery’s group chief branding and communications officer, dismissed the rumour as baseless.

Speaking on behalf of management, Chiejina reaffirmed that the facility is “fully operational,” delivering over 40 million litres of premium motor spirit (PMS) and steady volumes of diesel daily. He explained that the intermittent sale of residual catalytic oil (RCO) is part of normal business operations and that routine maintenance activities do not disrupt supply.

No evidence has emerged to support claims of a shutdown, and as of 15 August, deliveries remain uninterrupted. The rumour, Chiejina stressed, is the work of “unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals” hoping to undermine Nigeria’s energy independence. “In truth, it was a baseless industrial falsehood with the potential to cause unnecessary market panic,” he added.

Lafia flyover collapse claim unravels under fact-check

 Social media lit up with a flurry of dramatic photos and shaky videos, each claiming to show the spectacular collapse of Nasarawa’s brand-new N10 billion Lafia flyover.

The posts, amplified on X and Facebook, sparked public outrage. Commenters seized on the alleged collapse as a damning symbol of wasteful spending and substandard workmanship, with some demanding investigations into the contractors and state officials.

AFP Fact-Check’s investigation quickly punctured the narrative. The structure itself had never collapsed; rather, a single beam gave way during ongoing construction, resulting in localised damage but no structural failure.

To make matters worse, some of the most widely shared visuals were not even from Nasarawa state—they were recycled from unrelated incidents in other locations. The misleading imagery fed into the false perception that the entire bridge had crumbled.

Published on 12 August 2025, AFP’s report confirmed that the flyover is fully intact and operational, effectively restoring calm. The episode stands as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can corrode public trust in infrastructure projects, and how important it is to verify viral claims before concluding.

Media ethics spotlight

Retraction demands over NNPC GMD story remain unanswered

The Peoples Gazette’s August 2 report alleging that Bayo Ojulari, the group managing director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was abducted and coerced into resigning by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked a high-profile media ethics dispute.

The story also linked the alleged plot to a woman close to the president, drawing widespread attention in the oil and gas sector.

Both agencies reacted swiftly: the DSS issued a 48-hour ultimatum on 5 August for a public retraction, followed by the EFCC on 6 August. Yet, as of 15 August, The Peoples Gazette has not amended or removed the story, leaving the matter unresolved and in the public eye.

In a 3 August statement, Bayo Ojulari dismissed the claims as false. He confirmed his resignation was voluntary, following official consultations after an oil and gas conference in Kigali.

“I was neither arrested nor forced out,” he said, adding that NNPC operations remain uninterrupted. Ojulari also refuted allegations involving Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the EFCC, Adeola Ajayi, director-general of DSS and British-Nigerian businesswoman Olatimbo Ayinde, calling the report “fictional” and more suited for a Nollywood thriller than credible journalism.

Media Police will continue to follow up on this story and provide updates as developments unfold.

Tool of the week

 Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA)
The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA), launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa regional office, unites fact-checkers, media, civil society, and public health bodies to detect, correct, and counter harmful health misinformation across Africa.

Its network includes Africa Check, PesaCheck, Dubawa, FactCheckHub, UNICEF, Africa CDC, and UNESCO, enabling rapid cross-border collaboration. AIRA focuses on early detection, coordinated debunking, and public education, playing a vital role in safeguarding health and trust.

Quote of the Week

Journalists have a duty to report facts, not rumours.  Publishing unverified stories damages trust faster than any scandal, and sensationalism might grab eyeballs, but it erodes credibility.

The post The Times Fact Check: Dr. Kayode Olanorin’s Media Police first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Media Police

Truth Watch is a public interest column dedicated to exposing false claims, spotlighting ethical concerns in journalism, and equipping the public with tools to navigate today’s fast-changing information landscape. 

The feature is part of a wider effort to strengthen truth and accountability in media.

This week’s top false claim

Claim: The 2025 WAEC and NECO exams have been cancelled due to widespread malpractice.

A fake press release recently went viral on WhatsApp and social media, falsely claiming that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) had cancelled ongoing public exams due to rampant malpractice.

Media Police fact-checked the claim and found it to be entirely false.

In an official press statement dated 20 July 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education debunked the rumour, confirming that all scheduled exams were held as planned. While some centres experienced isolated malpractice incidents, these were swiftly addressed, and no general cancellation was ever issued.

Advice: Always rely on official sources such as waecnigeria.org, neco.gov.ng, or education.gov.ng. Avoid forwarding unverified exam information, especially during peak exam season.

Tool of the week

Name: Airtel Nigeria’s spam alert service
What it does: Helps customers detect and report fraudulent messages or scam calls.

In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly via SMS and mobile platforms, Airtel Nigeria has introduced the Spam Alert Service to help users identify and report suspicious messages, including phishing links and financial scams.

To report a spam message, customers can simply forward the suspicious SMS to 993 — a toll-free number. Airtel uses the data to block offending numbers and protect other users.

Tip: Use this tool to protect yourself from malicious links and digital fraud, especially messages claiming to be from banks, exam bodies, or government agencies.

Media ethics radar

Headline: New report highlights escalating attacks on journalists in Nigeria

A new report released by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on 28 July, 2025 paints a worrying picture of declining press freedom in Nigeria. Covering incidents from 2023 to mid-2025, the report documented:
– 141 media rights violations
– 43.3% perpetrated by the Nigeria Police
– 5% by the Department of State Services (DSS)

Violations ranged from arrests and online surveillance to intimidation and abuse of cybercrime laws, with Dele Farotimi’s case cited as a high-profile example.

Media Police Take: Press freedom is not just an ethical obligation—it is a democratic necessity. Harassment and state-enabled intimidation of journalists undermine public accountability.

Quote of the week

“We understand that spam messages are more than just an annoyance — they pose real threats to individuals and businesses. So, our Spam Alert Service is part of a broader effort to ensure a safer and more secure digital experience for our customers.”
— Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria

The post The Times Fact Check: Dr. Kayode Olanorin’s Media Police first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said Akume remains the SGF.

There has been no change in the status of His Excellency, Senator George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation,” the statement reads.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, currently in Saint Lucia, has not made any new appointments.

“The information circulating about Akume’s replacement is untrue. Agents of mischief fabricated it. The Presidency advises Nigerians to disregard the fake news.”

This is coming on the heels of reports that the former governor of Benue stepped down as SGF to become the APC national chairman following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday.

On Friday evening, the leadership of APC accepted Ganduje’s resignation and directed Ali Balori, deputy national chairman (north) to take over as acting national chairman till December.

The post ‘It’s fake news’ — presidency denies Akume’s appointment as APC national chairman first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday to unveil the app, JohnBull Igwe, founder of iShot-It App Integrated, said the innovation will also rewards users in the business of creating contents.

Igwe said fake news and misinformation are twin problems that have continued to cause reputational damage in the digital space.

He noted that the iShot-It App is a proven solution in the fight against fake news, adding that when it is used to capture photos and videos, it authenticates the content with geo-location coordinate, date and time.

Igwe said the App supports organic content generators as they can sell their products to media houses or get directly rewarded by the app developer through new features which are being onboarded in coming days.

“At its core, iShot-It is about ownership and trust. Every photo and video you capture through the app is embedded with precise geolocation coordinates, date, and time stamps,” he said.

“This creates a digital seal of authenticity that cannot be changed, ensuring your content, whether it’s a breaking news report or a personal blog post, carries the weight of verifiable truth.”

“With iShot-It, your audience can experience the real narrative, tied to the exact place and time it happened.”

He added that journalists, bloggers, and everyday citizens will gain unassailable evidence to strengthen their credibility while using the App.

“It also enables users to share authentic experiences and connect with others honestly, while business owners can showcase their products and services transparently, building trust with customers,” Igwe added.

Blessing Ogwo, a media executive and a partner of iShot-It App Integrated, described the innovation as a tool that bridges credibility gap in digital storytelling.

“At its heart, iShot-It App is about ownership and trust. The app empowers users, journalists, bloggers and everyday citizens go authenticate their stories with unassailable evidence,” Ogwo said.

The App, which is said to have features such as likes, comments, shares, direct messaging and others allows users to interact with their data secured.

The post ICT firm launches app to combat fake news, reward content creators first appeared on The Times of Abuja.