Category: Business Day

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta, destroying several clusters of illegal crude oil refining sites hidden deep within the creeks of Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State.

According to a statement released on Friday, by Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, the operation took place on 7 October 2025 as part of ongoing counter-oil theft missions under the Air Component of the joint security efforts in the region.

NAF said that the precision airstrikes were conducted following credible intelligence that identified active illegal refining activities concealed in a densely forested area near Owaza.

‘Surveillance confirmed the location was isolated, with no visible human presence, before the aircraft engaged the targets and successfully neutralised the illegal sites.

‘These strikes form part of the sustained efforts of the Nigerian Air Force to combat economic sabotage and environmental degradation caused by crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta,’ the statement read.

However, following the operation, a local group alleged that the airstrikes may have affected a gin distillery in Umuebele community, though no casualties were reported.

In response, NAF activated its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) to verify the situation.

It emphasised that the service remains committed to transparency, accountability, and adherence to international best practices in all its operations.

‘The Nigerian Air Force operates with precision and utmost care to avoid civilian harm. In keeping with our commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians, we will thoroughly investigate the allegations and take appropriate actions,’ NAF added.

The NAF reaffirmed its determination to continue supporting other security agencies in combating criminal activities across the country while maintaining its constitutional role of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the reopening of its student verification portal for a final 48-hour period to allow tertiary institutions that have yet to complete their student verification exercise to do so.

According to a statement signed by Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director, Strategic Communications, NELFUND, the portal will be accessible from 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, to 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

NELFUND explained that the extension is aimed at ensuring that all eligible students are duly captured and verified by their respective institutions as part of the ongoing 2024/2025 loan application process.

The Fund urged all institutions to take advantage of this final opportunity, warning that failure to complete the exercise within the stipulated period would lead to forfeiture of participation in the current loan cycle, a situation that would ultimately deny their students access to the education loan scheme.

‘This extension is intended to ensure that all eligible students are duly captured and verified by their respective institutions as part of the ongoing 2024/2025 NELFUND loan application process.

‘Institutions are strongly advised to make full use of this final opportunity. Failure to complete the verification process within the stipulated period will result in the affected institutions forfeiting participation in the current loan cycle, a situation that will, regrettably, disadvantage their students who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the loan scheme.

‘In the interest of transparency and accountability, the list of defaulting institutions will be published alongside this press release.,’ the statement reads

Reaffirming its commitment to equitable access to higher education, the Fund emphasised that it remains dedicated to ensuring efficient, transparent, and inclusive management of the Nigerian Education Loan Scheme to support students across the country.

Let’s be honest, not many people have wardrobes that never runs dry, and wearing the same outfit twice is not the scandal people make it out to be. The real trick lies in disguise: how you rewear what you already own in a way that looks fresh. Changing the context, adding small twists, or shifting the overall presentation can make a familiar outfit feel entirely new.

No matter the event, these tips will help you repeat clothes without anyone noticing.

Play with layering

Layering is fashion’s easiest disguise, it is about reinventing what you already own. Throw a crisp shirt under a sleeveless dress or throw a corset over a shirt you have worn before. Layers create depth, shift proportions, and make even the simplest piece look like something new. If done right, you could wear the same base outfit three times in one week and no one would notice.

Swap accessories

Accessories are the easiest way to transform an outfit’s mood. A neutral dress with gold hoops and heels says ‘evening,’ but the same dress with trainers and a tote bag says ‘weekend.’ Switch your jewellery, bag, or shoes, and suddenly it looks like you have put together something new. The secret is contrast, if you went bold the first time, go minimal the next.

Rework with outerwear

A jacket can change everything. Throw on a structured blazer to sharpen your look or a kimono for something relaxed and easy. Even a simple denim or leather jacket can disguise a repeat outfit instantly. The trick is to let the outerwear become the new talking point, it draws attention while the base outfit quietly does its job underneath.

Tuck, tie, or roll

Sometimes, all an outfit needs is a small tweak. Tie your shirt at the waist instead of tucking it in, roll up your sleeves, or half-tuck a blouse for a looser, lived-in look. These little adjustments shift proportions and make a familiar outfit feel fresh without spending a naira.

Change your hairstyle and makeup

When you repeat clothes, let your hair and makeup tell a new story. A ponytail and red lipstick will make the same outfit look different from when you wore it with curls and nude tones. People notice your overall appearance first, so if your face and hair feel new, they are less likely to notice you have worn that top before.

Mix it up on camera

If your concern is social media, play with angles, lighting, and backgrounds. Take your outfit photo indoors the first time, and outdoors the next. A mirror selfie looks different from a street-style shot.

When Michael Olagunju talks about roads, he doesn’t just see layers of asphalt and stone. He sees stories of innovation, sustainability, and a deep conviction that engineering can change lives.

The transportation engineer, now with MacArthur Associated Consultants in Oklahoma, has charted a path that bridges the digital and the physical, technology and infrastructure in Nigeria and the United States.

‘I’ve always been a civil engineer at heart,’ Olagunju said. ‘Technology was something I stumbled into, but civil engineering was always my foundation.’

That foundation was laid at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated among the top five in his class. During his undergraduate years, curiosity pushed him beyond the drafting board.

What began with AutoCAD and Orion design tools led him into UI/UX, graphics design, and eventually software development. By his final year, Olagunju was working remotely as a front-end developer and later as a product manager for a startup, earning about N2.3 million monthly.

Yet, even as his tech career accelerated, something kept pulling him back to the tactile world of bridges and pavements. ‘My passion for civil engineering never went away,’ he recalls. ‘I wanted to see the physical impact of what I was building, not just on a screen, but on communities.’

Engineering with Purpose

That conviction took him across the Atlantic to Oklahoma State University, where he earned his master’s degree in civil engineering with a specialisation in transportation engineering. There, Olagunju immersed himself in asphalt pavement research, investigating performance issues like rutting, cracking, and moisture susceptibility problems that plague roads worldwide, from the highways of the U.S. Midwest to the corridors of Lagos and Abuja.

His research focused on one of the most pressing questions in infrastructure today: how to make roads more sustainable and longer-lasting. A central theme was the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), a recycled material that helps reduce waste, lower production costs, and cut carbon emissions.

‘The use of RAP supports global sustainability goals,’ Olagunju explains. ‘It aligns with SDG 9 on infrastructure, SDG 12 on responsible consumption, and SDG 13 on climate action.’

By integrating recycled materials without compromising durability, Olagunju’s work pushes forward a new vision of road construction, one that is smarter, greener, and more cost-effective.

Redefining pavement standards

In one of his projects, conducted in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Olagunju proposed new, more accurate criteria for evaluating asphalt mixes. This achievement has earned him recognition within the U.S. transportation research community.

Traditionally, engineers measured rutting resistance using a metric called the Total Rut Depth (TRD). But as Olagunju observed, the TRD failed to distinguish between rutting caused by plastic deformation and that caused by stripping when moisture weakens the bond between asphalt binder and aggregate.

He proposed the adoption of the Corrected Rut Depth (CRD), which isolates plastic deformation from stripping to yield more reliable results, using this parameter. (The CRD which was developed by a researcher called F.Yin at NCAT.

‘It’s a simple shift in measurement,’ he explains, ‘but one that improves how we interpret performance data and, ultimately, how we build stronger roads.’

He also provided performance criteria for using the Stripping Number (SN) as a replacement for the inconsistent Stripping Inflection Point (SIP) used to assess moisture susceptibility. The SN provides a clearer signal for when moisture damage begins, helping engineers make better material and design choices.

Even more compelling, his team evaluated a faster, field-friendly testing device, the Indirect Tensile Test at High Temperature (IDT-HT), which can deliver results in under three minutes, compared to the six-hour testing window required by traditional methods.

From the lab to the podium

Olagunju’s findings were not just confined to the lab. Earlier this year, he presented his research at the prestigious Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., the world’s largest gathering of transportation experts.

His paper, co-authored with ODOT’s Asphalt Branch Manager, delved into evaluating Oklahoma’s asphalt mixes using the newly proposed metrics and the correlations among the various rutting parameters.

‘To get accepted for a podium presentation at TRB, your paper has to go through a rigorous peer-review process,’ he said. ‘It was a proud moment to share research that could help improve real-world infrastructure performance.’

Building on a tradition of excellence

At MacArthur Associated Consultants, where Olagunju now works as a transportation engineer, he’s applying those insights directly to field projects. One that stands out is the Lindsey Street project in Norman, Oklahoma, a corridor that had long suffered from flooding and traffic congestion.

Olagunju’s team is currently redesigning the roadway with integrated stormwater drainage solutions, transforming a problem-plagued area into a model of resilience.

‘For us, excellence isn’t just about technical precision,’ he said. ‘It’s about designing systems that respond to community needs and stand the test of time.’

Despite his growing footprint in the U.S., Olagunju remains deeply connected to Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges. He believes the country’s biggest roadblocks are not in technical capability but in planning, accountability, and maintenance.

‘Many Nigerian roads fail not because they were poorly built, but because they were never maintained,’ he said. ‘Timely resurfacing, like micro-surfacing or overlays, could save billions. But we wait too long and end up rebuilding from scratch.’

His message to Nigeria’s policymakers is clear: plan beyond political cycles and commit to preventive maintenance.

And to young Nigerian engineers dreaming of global opportunities, he said, ‘See international exposure not as an escape, but as a platform to learn and give back. The real value lies in applying what you’ve learned to solve problems at home.’

Engineering for home and the future

Looking ahead, Olagunju envisions becoming a licensed professional engineer leading large-scale, sustainable transport projects, bridging research and practice in both the U.S. and Africa.

But beyond titles and accolades, his mission remains to mentor younger engineers and champion a culture of lifelong learning.

‘Engineering is demanding,’ he admits. ‘But knowing that your work directly impacts people’s lives, that’s what keeps you going.’

Quoting philosopher Eric Hoffer, he adds: ‘In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future.’

For Michael Olagunju, that future is already taking shape layer by layer, road by road, from Oklahoma to Nigeria, one sustainable pavement at a time.

Members of the Udo Udoma and Belo-Osagie (UUBO) have advocated stakeholder collaboration in implementing the Nigerian Data Protection NDP Act.

They spoke at a Data privacy breakfast held in Lagos recently.

Themed, ‘the GAID in practice: Navigating Nigeria’s New Privacy Directives,’ Managing Partner at UUBO Jumoke Lambo, in her welcome remarks, disclosed the event was organised to provide opportunity for regulators, policymakers, in-house counsel, data protection officers, and industry leaders exchange insights on the implementation of the Nigerian Data Protection (NDP) Act General Application and Implementation Directives (GAID).

Saying the NDP landscape continues to evolve, she added the regulator, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), continues to set the pace as one of the most active data protection authorities across the continent.

In his presentation, Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) described the GAID as operational blueprint for NDP Act, 2023, issued by the Commission on March 20th 2025.

With the aim of providing clarity and practical guidance on implementation of the NDP Act, 2023, he disclosed the Act takes effect from September 19th 2025, replacing the NDPR 2019 as the nation’s principal regulatory guide.

Specifically, Olatunji spoke on Principles of Data Protection; NDP Act Compliance Audit Returns; Data Protection Officer’s Assessment; Data Privacy Impact Assessment; Guidance on Cross-Border Data Transfer; Data Subject Vulnerability Indexes; legitimate Interest Impact Assessment Template; Data Subject’s Standard Notice to Address Grievances and NDP Act Compliance Audit Returns Filing Fee.

Speaking further, he added complying with the NDP Act GAID is not just a regulatory requirement, but a strategic enabler for trust, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Concerning Data Protection Officers (DPO), he said their contact must be publicly available and communicated to the Commission; annual credential assessment of DPOs will be conducted to ensure they maintain requisite level of professionalism to carry out their responsibilities; the DPO is required to submit a semi-annual report to management on the data protection status within the organization; the DPO should have unrestricted access to personal data and processing activities to effectively fulfil their role; the DPO must operate independently, free from undue influence to ensure objectivity; the DPO must maintain confidentiality regarding their work.’

In conclusion, he noted, ‘the successful implementation of the NDP Act depends on cooperation among all stakeholders (data subjects, government, businesses, Civil Society Organisations and the media). Through this collective effort, we can transform compliance into opportunity, strengthening governance, improving services, and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.’

Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), in partnership with Johnson and Johnson, has officially kicked off the 2025 edition of its Winning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design (WiSTEM2D) program, designed to inspire secondary school students to explore careers in STEM and equip them with the skills to thrive in the 21st-century workforce.

This year’s program adopts a blended learning approach, combining digital tools with in-person engagements to strengthen problem-solving skills, boost confidence, and bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

? The 2025 program commenced with the National WiSTEM2D Innovation Camp, which brought together 66 top-performing students for a full-day immersive learning experience. Students engaged in career conversations with STEM professionals, explored creativity and problem-solving through design thinking workshops, and showcased their ideas in an ideathon and pitch contest before industry experts-gaining exposure, skills, and confidence for future opportunities.

The innovation and pitch contest produced three outstanding winning teams:

? 1st Place: Festac Senior College, Festac Town, represented by Betiku Adedolapo, Okorocha Mmesoma, Davidson Chioma, and Igwe Mmaduabuchi, for their solution on decentralized waste and recycling stations, bringing disposal points closer to communities.

? 1st Runner-Up: Bola Ige Millennium Senior Secondary School, represented by Giwa Faridat Oluwafunmilayo, Anozie Ngozi Maryolivia, Nnodim Goodness, Enukoha Mary, Omonigho Joy, for their innovative Automated BinBot, designed to separate dry and wet waste, reducing pollution and improving community sanitation. ? 2nd Runner-Up: Lagos State Senior Model College represented by Ezeanya Chisom, Johnchukwu Confidence, Chukwuka Favour, Nnedu Chukwuemeka, for their solution combining health awareness campaigns with practical waste management strategies, encouraging the replacement of single-use plastics with reusable alternatives and turning organic waste into fertilizer.

Speaking at the event, Mr Olaolu Akogun, Assistant Director of Programs, Junior Achievement Nigeria, said:

‘We are excited to continue our collaboration with Johnson and Johnson through the WiSTEM2D program. This initiative breaks barriers in STEM by equipping young leaders with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to succeed. We are confident that it will inspire a new generation of innovators and change-makers to drive Nigeria and Africa’s future.’

Representing Johnson and Johnson Nigeria, Ms. Jaiyesimi Oyefunke, Country Lead, said:

Quote from Johnson and Johnson

While the Innovation Camp has directly impacted 66 students through its immersive, hands-on learning experience, this is just the beginning. The next phase of the WiSTEM2D program, the online STEM Challenge, will commence in the coming week, engaging over 750 additional students across Nigeria.

Through this interactive digital learning platform, students will explore STEM concepts in fun, competitive, and accessible ways, ensuring that the program’s impact goes beyond the Camp. This next stage will broaden participation, spark fresh ideas, and nurture even more young innovators ready to take on real-world challenges.

With this momentum, the program is set to inspire not just a handful of winners, but a nationwide movement of young innovators ready to lead Nigeria into the future.

Abdullahi Danwanka, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State has described the clashes between farmers and herders as an age-old conflict that dates back to the origin of humanity.

He stated this during a press briefing at the Bauchi state police command headquarters.

Danwanka, who is the incharge of the State Intelligence Department (SID) noted that crop farming and rearing of animals are significant sources of income for many people, and while the clashes cannot be eliminated completely, they can be managed.

He emphasised that the police will use their initiatives and tactics to calming down the situation and maintain peace in the state.

According to him, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, the police commissioner, and other security agencies have made significant efforts to maintain peace in Bauchi State. Danwanka commended Governor Bala Mohammed for the successful economic and investment summit, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Center, which he observed will attract local and international investors to the state.

He stated that the police will continue to intervene and manage the situation to ensure peace and stability in Bauchi State.

Danwanka urged residents to support the security agencies in their efforts to maintain peace and secure the state.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a draft guideline on the operations of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), mandating that banks refund customers for failed ATM transactions within a stipulated timeframe.

Specifically, customers must be refunded for failed interbank (not-on-us) ATM transactions within 48 hours, while refunds for failed transactions on the same bank’s ATM (on-us) should be reversed instantly. In the event that an instant reversal is not possible due to technical issues, a manual reversal must be completed within 24 hours.

The directive was contained in a circular entitled, ‘Exposure of the Draft Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Nigeria,’ which was released to banks, other financial institutions, and payment service providers.

The circular, signed by Musa Jimoh, director of the Payments System Policy Department, is part of CBN’s efforts to strengthen the reliability and safety of the country’s payment systems.

The CBN stated that it is issuing the draft guidelines for public consultation and stakeholder feedback, in line with its mandate to promote a sound financial system and an efficient payments infrastructure. Stakeholders are expected to review and submit feedback within four weeks from the date of the circular’s release.

According to the apex bank, the key objectives of the draft guidelines include establishing minimum standards for ATM deployment, operations, and maintenance; enhancing consumer protection; improving access to ATM services in both urban and rural areas; and aligning ATM operations with global best practices and regulatory expectations.

The guidelines apply to a wide range of stakeholders, including Deposit Money Banks, Independent ATM Deployers, Card Schemes, Payment Service Providers, and the general banking public.

Enhanced Consumer Protection Measures

The draft guidelines lay out detailed operational requirements for ATM deployers, focusing heavily on consumer safety, transparency, fraud prevention, and service availability.

ATM deployers are required to ensure that every ATM is equipped with surveillance cameras that capture and record all activities around the machine. These cameras must capture events such as card insertion, transaction selection, and cash withdrawal, while strictly avoiding the recording of customers’ keystrokes for privacy reasons. Where such cameras are installed, they must be concealed to prevent tampering or removal.

ATMs must be located in areas that guarantee user safety and transaction confidentiality. Those placed outside buildings must be securely bolted and surrounded by protective structures to prevent unauthorised removal. Additionally, ATMs must be equipped with anti-skimming devices to combat fraudulent activities, and network connections used in ATM transactions must ensure data confidentiality and integrity.

Operational Standards and Availability

To ensure continuous service delivery, ATM deployers are required to minimise ATM downtime. Any technical faults must be resolved within 72 consecutive hours, and if not, customers must be adequately informed of the reason for the outage. ATM terminals must also display functional helpdesk contact information, including at least one dedicated and constantly monitored telephone line for reporting faults.

Moreover, the guidelines emphasise the importance of transparency in customer charges. All fees and charges associated with ATM transactions must be fully disclosed, and receipts must be issued upon request for every transaction, excluding balance inquiries. These receipts must clearly show transaction details such as the amount withdrawn or deposited, the terminal ID, and the time and date of the transaction. Screen displays and printed receipts must also be legible.

ATM machines must be regularly monitored and maintained to ensure proper functionality. This includes ensuring that cash is always available, unfit currency notes are not loaded into machines, and the ATM vault is replenished frequently to prevent cash-out situations. The deployers must also maintain online monitoring systems to track cash levels in ATM vaults and to detect the causes of failed transactions.

Security Protocols and Customer Support

The guidelines require ATM keys to be changed at least once a year, and the same keys must not be used across multiple machines. ATM acquirers must also have mechanisms to automatically initiate refunds for failed or partial dispenses without requiring the affected customer or issuing bank to raise a complaint. This measure aims to ensure that customers receive timely redress for service failures.

Furthermore, to prevent the unauthorised use of customer cards and data, ATMs must be configured to issue cash before returning the card. This setup helps reduce the likelihood of customers forgetting their cash. Acquirers are also required to disable the cash-retract function and clearly display this change on the machine or screen.

Additional requirements include the provision of paper disposal bins at ATM sites, the availability of backup power systems (inverters) to ensure uninterrupted service, and the inclusion of PIN change functionality at no cost to customers.

ATM deployers are also mandated to conduct frequent physical inspections of their machines, maintain detailed records of ATM maintenance, and ensure that both the ATMs and the cash they contain are insured. Importantly, deployers must maintain a register of all their ATMs in the country, detailing each unit’s location, identification, and serial number.

Public Participation Invited

The Central Bank has opened the draft guidelines for stakeholder input and encourages all relevant parties including banks, independent deployers, service providers, and the general public to provide comments and suggestions. Feedback should be addressed to the director of the Payments System Policy Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

With these guidelines, the CBN aims to improve ATM service delivery across the country, boost consumer confidence in electronic banking services, a1nd reduce the rate of transaction failures and customer complaints.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diapaora Commission (NiDCOM) has highlighted that the 2024 diaspora investment summit led to 56 confirmed deals worth N673 million, with the creative sector leading.

The NiDCOM boss made these remarks at a joint press conference in Abuja, preceding the upcoming summit, which is scheduled to run from November 11 to 13, 2025. This year’s theme is: ‘Fast Tracking Regional and National Development By Mobilising Diaspora Investment.’

According to her, the summit of last year saw remarkable engagement, with over 1,500 participants, including 236 investors and 1,197 business owners.

The creative sector led the charge with 39 deals, with infrastructure, real estate, agribusiness, and energy sectors also reporting strong results.

The summit, organised by NiDCOM in collaboration with the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit (NDSI), acted as a key event to unlock diaspora capital and link diaspora investors with local entrepreneurs across key sectors such as FinTech, ICT, creative industries, agribusiness, healthcare,real estate, and energy.

Summit success highlights

Since its inception in 2018, the NDIS has established itself as a reliable platform for facilitating ‘direct, credible and impactful investments’ from the Nigerian diaspora into the domestic economy, according to Dabiri-Erewa.

State governments, including Ondo, Nasarawa, and Borno, had previously leveraged the summit to attract investors and advance key development schemes, notably Ondo’s port initiative which subsequently secured Federal Government approval.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed that NDIS has evolved beyond a mere conference to become a catalyst for enterprise and sustainable development, fostering job creation, youth empowerment, and connecting Nigeria’s vast talent pool to its core development agenda.

Dabiri-Erewa also confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will attend the summit as the Special Guest of Honour. The NiDCOM chief also offered her commendation to long-standing partners, including DTCA, NIPC, First Bank, NNPC, AG Mortgage, and the media, for their continuous support.

Adding to the call for engagement, Badewa Adejugbe-Williams, Chairperson of the Nigeria Diaspora Summit Initiative (NDSI), underscored the conference’s role as a vital link, attracting capital and unlocking the diaspora’s potential for national growth.

Adejugbe-Williams noted that this year’s theme aligns perfectly with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to diversify the economy and drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.

She also issued a call for new sponsors, investors, and media partners to join the initiative.

Dabiri- Erewa also urged Nigerians at home and abroad to seize emerging investment opportunities for the nation’s economic development.

Prospective attendees are encouraged to register online.

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has confirmed that discussions are progressing for a long-awaited showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury, potentially set for 2026.

Fury, who has not fought in 2025, has signalled his intention to return to the ring next year, news that Hearn says has reignited hopes of finally delivering one of the biggest fights in boxing history.

‘It’s exactly what everybody wanted to hear,’ Hearn told Sky Sports.

‘The thing AJ wants more than anything is to fight Tyson Fury. That is the biggest fight in the sport. I’m hopeful. The only thing that comes close for Joshua is winning the world heavyweight championship again, which remains a huge motivation for him.’

According to Hearn, the proposed Fury fight would likely take place in the summer of 2026, with Joshua expected to have one or two bouts beforehand to stay sharp.

‘The plan’s very important,’ Hearn emphasised. ‘We need to make sure AJ is 110 per cent confident and ready to beat Tyson Fury.

‘That means building the right schedule to ensure he’s in the best possible shape for what I believe will be the biggest moment of his career.’

Hearn suggested any late-2025 fight for Joshua would serve as a tune-up rather than a major challenge. ‘If he fights this year, it’ll be a pure run-out – not a top-15 guy,’ he said.

‘He’s either going to have two fights before Fury, if that deal gets made, or one fight in February. We haven’t fully decided yet, but he’s keen to stay active.’