During the week, an X user (formerly Twitter) posted a video of Imo state governor Hope Uzodinma. The post claimed that the governor had promised to relocate 4,000 people to Europe and Canada through job creation. He wrote, “A governor is promising 4000 youths japa. A state governor o. No! This is the height. I’m...
Category: Trending Topics
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All you need to know about the Wagner group’s operations in Africa
With the widely reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner group, and later enstranged ally of Russian President Vladmir Putin, there has been a groundswell of online interest about the group, particularly its activities in Africa. Online speculations have also been rife about which African countries are currently hosting the mercenary group and...
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FACT CHECK: No More Black Soot in Port-Harcourt?
The Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantitta Security, Warredi Enisuoh, was recently featured on AriseTv, where he spoke on the continuous effort of the security services in covering crude oil theft in Nigeria. When asked about the impact of burning crude which will definitely damage the environment and the ecosystem of the Niger...
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FACT CHECK: Is Nigeria ranked as the 4th largest consumer of sugary drinks globally?
The recent formation of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms by Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, has generated controversies due to the appointment of Taiwo Oyedele, a fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), as the chairman of the committee. The issue of conflict of interest has been raised by...
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FACT CHECK: Did Bola Tinubu offer Mmesoma scholarship over UTME result forgery?
Over the weekend, a Twitter account purporting to belong to Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, posted that the federal government was offering a scholarship to an embattled candidate of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Ejikeme Mmesoma, who has been at the centre of controversy regarding the forgery of her UTME result. According to the...
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FACT CHECK: 50% fee reduction claim in Taraba State University true?
A screenshot of a memo said to be from the Taraba State University registrar’s office has been making the rounds on social media, particularly WhatsApp. The memo informs the university community about reduction in fees, which will take effect from the 2022–2023 academic year. It states that the 50% slash in fees was approved by...
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FACT CHECK: Did unknown gunmen enforcing sit-at-home shoot at Ebonyi market?
Multiple social media users, especially on WhatsApp and Facebook, have shared a video on July 4, 2023, that shows gunmen dressed in red shooting sporadically in a market. The gunmen were each adorned in red regalias and apparently arrived the scene in a brown Sienna car as they randomly shot at individuals on the street. ...
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FACT CHECK: Is the Nigeria Restructuring Bill 2021 ready for NASS endorsement?
Social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp, have been buzzing with a viral message claiming that the one month old administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finalized the “Nigerian Economic Restructuring Bill 2021.” The heading of the message reads “STATE OF THE NATION………. NIGERIA RESTRUCTURING BILL CONCLUDED READY FOR RATIFICATION:” The broadcast message ended with “A...
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FACT CHECK: Has Ebonyi Airport been abandoned by commercial airlines? Here’s all we know…
A viral image circulating on Facebook claims that the newly commissioned Ebonyi Airport has been abandoned by commercial airlines and transformed into a motor park. This news is gaining attention a few months after the airport’s inauguration. Claim: The Ebonyi airport has been abandoned by commercial airlines Verification: On April 27, 2023, the Muhammadu Buhari...
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Fact Check: Tinubu orders immediate re-opening of all Nigeria borders?
A video, attached with the caption “Breaking: President Asiwaju Tinubu orders immediate opening of all Nigeria borders. #The renewed hope is here” trended during the week. The viral video which trended on various social media platforms comes almost two weeks after the President made crucial announcements including the removal of fuel subsidy. Claim: Did Tinubu...