Author: Nouman Ali

The US Open will offer the biggest prize fund in Grand Slam history with a total of $108 million (£79.2m) on offer – marking a 20% increase on last year.

The singles’ champions will receive $5.5m (£4.03m) each in a 10% increase on 2025.

First-round losers will take home $140,000 (£102,667) – which is $30,000 and 27% more than last year.

The prize pool includes a $2m (£1.47m) contribution to a welfare fund, which leading players have been demanding from all the Grand Slams.

The four Grand Slam tournaments have also jointly announced the formation of a Grand Slam Player Council. This was another key request from players, some of who limited media appearances at the French Open and Wimbledon to 15 minutes to highlight their grievances.

Their other main demand is for each Grand Slam to dedicate 16% of its revenue to prize money, with the figure rising to 22% by 2030.

It is possible the US Open has become the first Slam to hit that target, but the US Tennis Association (USTA) has not yet published its financial statement for 2025.

Player representatives have also not seen the figures. However, if you allow for 10% growth to the $559.7m (£410.5m) the US Open generated in revenue in 2024, then prize money of $98.5m would have be in line with player expectations.

The USTA says the financial statement will be published before the start of the main draw.

Chief executive Craig Tiley, who previously headed up Tennis Australia, described the offer as ‘a significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes’.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the domestic steel industry after executing a major sub-lease and operations pact to unlock over $1.3 billion in private-sector investment for the full revival of the dormant Delta Steel Company.

The agreement, signed between the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO), Itakpe, and Premium Steel and Mines Limited (PSML), marks a decisive step towards reactivating the Ovwian-Aladja steel complex in Delta State.

Under the operational framework, the Federal Government is resolving longstanding raw-material supply bottlenecks by guaranteeing sustainable iron-ore access from NIOMCO to power the steel plant’s operations.

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, emphasised that the resuscitation forms a core pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at accelerating local manufacturing, driving import substitution, and creating high-value jobs.

‘The revival of Delta Steel Company is not merely about bringing an old industrial facility back to life,’ Minister Audu stated. ‘It is about restoring Nigeria’s capacity to produce steel locally, creating opportunities for our young people, supporting downstream industries, and strengthening the foundation for sustainable industrialisation.’

Commissioned in 1982 as an integrated greenfield complex with a capacity to produce one million metric tonnes of liquid steel annually, the Delta Steel Plant suffered years of operational decay-peaking at just 25 per cent capacity before shutting down entirely.

Efforts to privatise the asset in 2005 were stalled by financial distress, leading to its acquisition by PSML via the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2015. The facility has remained inactive as a fully integrated plant ever since.

Under the newly executed agreement, PSML has committed to injecting over $1.3 billion into raw-material exploration, site rehabilitation, and modernising the production lines. Commercial operations are targeted to resume within 18 to 24 months, returning the complex to its full capacity of 1 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum.

The Ministry outlined key economic deliverables expected from the deal, including a capital injection of over $1.3 billion in direct foreign/private investment into Nigeria’s real sector, creating about 5,000 direct jobs and over 20,000 indirect jobs across logistics and fabrication chains.

The deal is expected to ensure immediate upstream commercial reactivation of NIOMCO and the expansion of the Ajabanoko iron-ore deposits, target a push of 10 million tonnes of annual liquid-steel capacity by 2030, and increase freight transport along the Central Rail Line and the full deployment of the DSC Jetty for maritime logistics.

The Minister noted that the government will closely monitor progress to ensure the firm adheres strictly to the 18 to 24-month timeline.

‘The Federal Government is committed to working with responsible private-sector investors to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria’s steel sector, while ensuring that investments are supported by the necessary raw materials, infrastructure, policy coordination, and an enabling business environment,’ Audu added.

The Ministry of Steel Development commended the strategic collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in finalising the agreement, reiterating that actualising local steel production remains central to positioning Nigeria as an industrial hub across Africa.

The Premier League season begins this weekend as defending champions Arsenal begin their title defence, while City, Liverpool, United and Chelsea also start their campaigns. All the action will be live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv.

Arsenal open proceedings tonight at 9:00 pm when they host newly promoted Coventry City. The Gunners begin their pursuit of consecutive league titles against a Coventry side making its return to the top flight and eager to start with a statement result.

Manchester United are in action on Saturday at 12:30 pm with a trip to Hull City. Both teams will look to make a strong start.

At 3:00 pm, Ipswich Town host Sunderland, while Everton welcome Crystal Palace in the other afternoon fixture at the same time. The Everton-Palace clash will be live on SuperSport Action (GOtv Ch. 66, DStv Ch. 206). Tottenham Hotspur then visit Brentford at 5:30 pm in an all-London contest.

Sunday begins with Manchester City travelling to Bournemouth at 2:00 pm. The fixture marks City’s first Premier League game under new manager Enzo Maresca, following Pep Guardiola’s departure, giving the visitors an early opportunity to show what the new era could bring.

At 4:30 pm, Newcastle United host Liverpool in one of the weekend’s standout fixtures. Liverpool also begin a new chapter under head coach Andoni Iraola, while Newcastle will look to make home advantage count against the reigning Premier League challengers.

All the action will be live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv. All Premier League matches air live on SuperSport Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203). The opening round concludes on Monday at 8:00 pm with Chelsea visiting Fulham in a West London derby.

Senator Salihu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mustapha, one of the 15 aggrieved governorship aspirants following the party’s May 2026 governorship primary in Kwara State, announced his resignation after weeks of consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents across the senatorial district and the state.

Although he has not officially announced his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a photograph purportedly showing a PDP Kwara Central senatorial nomination ticket bearing his name is already in circulation.

In a statement announcing his resignation, Mustapha said recent developments within the APC in Kwara had prompted him to reconsider his political direction.

He said he did not take the decision lightly, adding that politics should be driven by ‘people, principles and purpose’.

Mustapha said it had become necessary to chart a new course when a political platform no longer sufficiently aligned with those convictions and the aspirations of the people.

He thanked the APC leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the relationships and experiences he gained during his years in the party.

The senator, however, assured his constituents, supporters and political associates that while his political platform might change, his principles and commitment to the people would remain unchanged.

‘I remain steadfast in my service to the people of Kwara Central, Kwara State and Nigeria at large,’ he said.

Reacting to the development, the Kwara State chapter of the PDP described Mustapha’s resignation as a ‘devastating confirmation’ that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had failed both his party and the people of the state.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP said the resignation of a serving senator and founding APC figure had exposed what it described as the deepening crisis within the ruling party in the state.

The opposition party accused AbdulRazaq of relying on ‘propaganda, social media optics and image laundering’ to conceal the alleged leadership crisis in the APC.

It described the party as a ‘runaway car heading to doom, yet being controlled by a blind and deaf driver.’

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has directed its candidates nationwide to commence campaigns for the 2027 general elections, in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party also directed its candidates to use its original logo – the two-finger victory sign – since the modified digital version is still undergoing approval by INEC.

It announced plans to inaugurate its various campaign committees as part of preparations for the elections.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC directed its presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly candidates to begin consultations and engagements with stakeholders and constituents in their respective constituencies.

The party urged the candidates to work with state and local chapters to roll out campaign programmes to promote their candidacies and communicate the NDC’s message as a grassroots-oriented party.

‘To all candidates, we are directing that they begin their familiarisation, sensitisation and consultations. Similarly, local campaign events can now continue,’ the statement said.

The party added, ‘The party will soon release the composition of its campaign organs, which will be announced and inaugurated on a date to be announced.

‘We direct all candidates across the country to begin their campaigns. State chapters, local government chapters and down to the wards should organise and draw up itineraries for their own local campaigns.’

The NDC said its campaigns would be guided by its commitment to issue-based politics, stressing that its candidates and supporters must avoid violence, abusive language and inflammatory rhetoric.

‘In keeping with the ideology of NDC, the party reiterates that all campaigns must be issue-based and devoid of violence and foul language. The NDC has no room for violence,’ it said.

The party also clarified the status of its logo, following reports and concerns about the appropriate symbol for its candidates and supporters to use during the campaign.

The NDC said it had, in consultation with INEC, modified its logo and formally notified the electoral commission of the change.

According to the party, administrative processes surrounding the replacement of the existing logo with the modified version are still being resolved.

It therefore directed candidates and members to continue using the existing logo – the two-finger victory sign – for campaign activities until the process is concluded.

‘The NDC, in consultation with INEC, have also modified our logo and notified INEC appropriately, at a meeting INEC themselves attended with us,’ the statement said.

‘For some reasons, however, there have been some administrative details which we’re working round the clock to resolve before the existing logo would be replaced with the modified version.’

‘Until then, however, we enjoin all our candidates and members to continue using the old logo, which is also the two-finger victory sign, for campaign purposes, pending the conclusion of all engagements and arrangements with INEC regarding the replacement.’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer in the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general election.

He made his position known yesterday when he visited Governor Biodun Oyebanji at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti.

Oluyede informed the governor of his decision to work for Tinubu’s victory in the January 2027 presidential election.

He also discussed with Governor Oyebanji issues relating to the development and progress of Ekiti State, as the governor prepares to begin his second term on October 16.

Receiving Oluyede, Governor Oyebanji praised him for an act of statesmanship and his commitment to the progress of Ekiti State and national development.

Oyebanji expressed appreciation for Oluyede’s decision to support President Tinubu, saying his gesture demonstrated a shared commitment to the development of Ekiti and Nigeria.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Bill establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in Obio Akpa, Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He also lauded Governor Umo Eno for promptly releasing the Obio Akpa campus of the Akwa Ibom State University to ensure the smooth take-off of the institution.

Akpabio made these remarks at the funeral service in honour of the former Majority Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the late Hon (Elder) Imo Akpan Ibokette.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio as saying, ‘I look forward to the admission of the first batch of students into the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in this Senatorial District. Let me thank President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill which established the University. Let me also thank our dear Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for releasing a campus of the Akwa Ibom State University for the commencement of academic activities this year.’

‘Late Ibokette, we are laying to rest today, was the first to call and thank me on hearing of the passage of the bill establishing the University. His death is a personal loss to me. The Ibokette family and I share an intimate affinity that spans decades. Even the weight of political differences did not attenuate the relationship we shared. So, I personally mourn his demise,’ he stated.

The funeral service in honour of the late lawmaker was held at the Abak International Nursery/Primary School in Abak Local Government Area and was conducted by the Apostolic Church Nigeria.

Akpabio described him as a patriot, a selfless leader, a loving father, and a hardworking personality who braved the odds to achieve what he did before his demise, saying, ‘He did his best and witnessed the uncommon transformation which he fought and worked for before his departure.’

Strategic think tanks and the intelligentsia must be more deeply integrated into Nigeria’s defence policymaking process to address the country’s increasingly complex security challenges, said strategic studies expert Esther Terwase Ikomi.

Ikomi said Nigeria’s inability to translate strategic research and knowledge into policy decisions has weakened the country’s capacity to respond to emerging security threats and to build sustainable national development.

She spoke at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, while presenting a paper titled ‘The Role of Strategic Think Tanks in Strengthening Defence Policy and National Development: Building Strategic Advantage for Nigeria in an Era of Complex Security Threats’ to participants of the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 4/25.

The participants comprised one Brigadier General, 32 Colonels and 11 Lieutenant Colonels.

Ikomi identified the widening gap between research and policymaking, as well as weak coordination among relevant institutions, as major impediments to effective defence policy formulation.

According to her, Nigeria needs to move beyond producing strategic research to creating institutional mechanisms that ensure such knowledge directly informs national security and defence decisions.

Ikomi proposed institutionalising a Formalised National Security Research-Policy Liaison Framework as the most feasible mechanism for closing the gap.

She also recommended establishing regional Strategic Intelligence-Policy Hubs and a National Security Foresight Hub to improve intelligence analysis, anticipate emerging threats, and provide policymakers with timely evidence for decision-making.

To further strengthen the process, she introduced the Defence Knowledge-to-Policy Model, which she described as a practical framework for translating strategic knowledge into actionable defence policies.

The model, she said, would promote evidence-based decision-making, improve institutional coordination and enhance Nigeria’s strategic advantage in an increasingly unpredictable security environment.

She urged stronger collaboration between strategic research institutions and government agencies, arguing that a well-connected knowledge ecosystem would enable Nigeria to anticipate security threats rather than merely react to them.

If there is one thing Big Brother Naija has mastered over the years, it is the element of surprise. Just when housemates think they have figured out how to navigate the house, Biggie completely shifts the dynamic.

Three weeks into the Show Ya Sef season, the show is proving once again why it remains a massive cultural staple. Rather than relying solely on housemate drama, the franchise keeps finding fresh ways to evolve its own rules, keeping both the contestants and millions of viewers on their toes.

High stakes, new dynamics

Take The Gambit, one of the most talked-about twists this season. By giving Flora and Aikou permanent immunity all the way to the grand finale, the show handed them a major safety net. The catch? They are completely excluded from winning the grand prize money.

They get to stay till the end, but they cannot take home the cash.

That single move changes the social dynamic of the house. How do you form alliances or build trust with housemates who do not have to worry about eviction, but also have no financial skin in the game? It forces everyone to play a completely different kind of strategic game.

Putting a price on performance

Then there is the shift in how weekly accountability works. The N100 million prize money is no longer a guaranteed static figure. Instead, it is directly tied to how well the house performs each week, with N5 million deducted for every failed weekly performance.

This changes the energy during presentations and tasks. Laziness or a lack of effort is no longer just a personal risk for eviction; it directly reduces the final cash prize that everyone is fighting for. When every misstep costs real money, weekly tasks naturally carry a whole new level of focus, teamwork, and prime-time intensity.

Staying ahead of the curve

This constant shift in rules is exactly why the show continues to drive daily conversations across social media. Viewers are not just passively watching people interact; they are actively deciphering the rules and predicting how these twists will play out in real time.

Over eleven seasons, we have seen fake evictions, secret pairings, double houses, and dynamic voting formats. The details always change, but the core strategy remains the same: disrupt the game before it becomes predictable, and give the audience something genuinely exciting to discuss every day.

Politicians and parties have been urged to make their campaigns strictly issue-based and centred on ideas, competence, accountability and service to Nigerians.

The call was made by the Christian Conscience, a non-denominational pressure group, at the conclusion of its monthly meeting in Lagos on Tuesday.

In a statement by its National Chairman Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi and National Secretary-General, The Rev Kolawole Verrals and issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Elder Tunji Oguntuase, the organisation urged political actors to prioritise the issues that directly affect the lives and future of Nigerians rather than resort to personal attacks, inflammatory rhetoric and divisive politics. The group said political campaigns should give Nigerians a clear understanding of what each candidate and political party intends to do to address critical national challenges, including unemployment, insecurity, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic growth.

According to the statement, ‘Politicians should campaign with issues, not insults. Nigerians deserve to know what candidates intend to do about jobs, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and the economy. Campaigns should be about presenting credible ideas and demonstrating the competence to deliver them.’

The Christian Conscience also cautioned Political actors against exploiting ethnic and religious sentiments for electoral advantage.

‘Nigeria belongs to all of us. Political leaders must resist the temptation to weaponise ethnicity or religion. Statements capable of inflaming ethnic, religious or regional tensions have no place in a healthy democracy,’ the group said.

The organisation called on politicians to maintain civility and respect for their opponents throughout the campaign period, noting that political competition should not destroy the relationships necessary for national development.

‘Political disagreement should never become personal hatred. Today’s opponent may become tomorrow’s partner in national development. Politicians must therefore compete vigorously while preserving mutual respect and the unity of the country,’ the statement added.

The group equally appealed to Political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation and the use of political thugs during the electioneering period.

It urged political actors to refrain from mobilising groups to attack opponents or threaten voters, describing peaceful political participation as essential to credible elections and the stability of the country.

The Christian Conscience urged Nigerians to scrutinise the track record, policies, competence and character of candidates and to demand substantive answers to the challenges confronting the nation.

The group expressed hope that the 2027 election campaign would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to engage Political leaders on the future of the country and make informed choices based on issues rather than emotion, identity or intimidation.