By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division, under its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department.

The commission disclosed this through Mr Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Thursday in Abuja.

Olumekun said that the division was to allow the commission to continue to harness the positive aspects of AI and mitigate its negative impact on elections.

He said that the commission at its Thursday regular weekly meeting, among other issues, considered the increasing relevance of AI to elections and electoral activities in Nigeria and across the world.

The national commissioner said that recently, INEC attended several conferences with colleagues around the continent, on the impact of AI on elections.

He said that the interactions were not only motivated by the concern over the use of AI to spread fake news or manipulate content online, but also to utilise its benefits for data-driven decision-making, risk detection and mitigation.

Olumekun said that AI had also helped in deepening voter services automation and geo-spatial intelligence, in support of logistic optimisation for better material distribution and polling unit allocation.

“Consequently, the commission approved the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Division under the ICT Department, to continue to harness the positive aspects of AI and mitigate its negative impact on elections.

“The division will enable the commission to better coordinate and maximise existing technology investments, through centralised AI governance.

“It will also enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, risk management and voter engagement.

“Furthermore, it will strengthen electoral credibility through predictive analytics, automation and intelligent safeguards,” he said.

Olumekun said that the initiative put the commission in the forefront of institutionalising AI capabilities within its ICT infrastructure.

He also described it as an important step in INEC’s ongoing reform of the electoral process, in areas that only required administrative action by the commission. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Folasade Adeniran

By Okon Okon

The Federal Government has refuted insinuations in certain quarters that President Bola Tinubu is being controlled by cabal and shadowy inner circle in his government.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, denied this in Abuja on Thursday while delivering an address at the APC National Summit with the theme “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far.”

The minister said that the President, rather, welcomed a wide range of perspectives, and took informed decisions solely in the best interest of Nigeria.

“You need to study the president very well. You can have your voice; you can say what you want to say; he will listen to you but his decision is ultimately his own. I think it’s important for us to recognise that,” he said.

Speaking on the theme of the summit, Idris said President Tinubu remained committed to transforming Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as a bold, people-first blueprint turning obstacles into opportunities.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda is about positively impacting the lives of the people of Nigeria through bold decisions designed to unleash the full scale of Nigerian potential, in a way that has never been seen or done before,” he said.

The minister recalled that Tinubu inherited a nation at a crossroads and immediately moved with clarity and courage.

“Among the first decisions the President made were the removal of petrol and foreign exchange subsidies, which had been amongst the biggest impediments to Nigeria’s progress, costing us billions of dollars in losses and waste,” he said.

Idris noted that “true leadership involves the ability to make decisions that might be tough in the short term, but are guaranteed to deliver lasting returns.’”

He said the outcomes of the president’s reforms were now evident across all sectors through large-scale infrastructure, social investment programmes, revamping of the nation’s mining and petroleum sectors among others.

“At the federal level, the increased revenues have set a new standard for ambition and execution of large-scale infrastructure projects,” Idris said.

He highlighted four signature highways — the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, and Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Highway.

Idris said the four signature highways totalled more than 2,600km and linked communities and economies across the country.

“Another flagship project driving regional integration is the Kano-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway.

“This vital corridor is a key component of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation plan and is being delivered as a priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

In the housing sector, the minister said the administration launched the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Projects, “an ambitious intervention aimed at addressing the nation’s housing deficit while stimulating job creation and urban renewal.”

To support the growing digital economy, Idris said that the Federal Government deployed 90,000km of fibre optic cable nationwide.

He described the on-going project as “unprecedented scale of broadband infrastructure which will not only bridge Nigeria’s digital divide but also support smart governance.

He added that the fibre optical cable project would attract digital investments, and enable secure e-services in education, healthcare, commerce, etc.

Idris said about 300,000 Nigerian students are now benefitting from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while workers are accessing the new Consumer Credit Scheme to buy essential goods.

On security, Idris said, the military neutralised and arrested thousands of terrorists and bandits and rescued nearly 10,000 hostages.

He said, more than 25 new aircraft had been acquired, and the Navy had taken delivery of four new vessels.

He hailed the president for establishing the Ministry of Livestock Development and Regional Development Commissions across the six geo-political zones.

The Minister emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda is holistic and people- centred. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has attributed the growing support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its achievements in less than two years in office, assuring Nigerians that the country will not become a one-party state.

At the APC Renewed Hope Agenda Summit, held at the State House Conference Centre on Thursday, Tinubu addressed party leaders, the National Working Committee, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which comprises 22 governors.

All collectively endorsed him for a second term.

“A one-party system is not suitable for democracy. We are one party ruling and carrying on with the aspirations of Nigerians. You don’t expect people to remain in a sinking ship without a life jacket.

“I am happy with what we have accomplished and expecting more people to come; that’s the game,” he said.

President Tinubu said citizens had the constitutional right to choose between associations.

“I thank every one of you. I am thoroughly inspired. We are just halfway through the journey that started 24 months ago,” he said.

The President thanked members of the Federal Executive Council for courageously pursuing the vision of a better Nigeria.

He also thanked the party’s leadership and National Assembly for their support.

“Together, we pledged to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding the trust, fostering prosperity and restoring our nation’s economic quest.

“Today, I am proud to affirm that our economic reforms are working. Nothing good comes easy in life. All of you have been through life, and sometimes, only hard decisions can make things easy in the future.

“Through our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.

“How fast could you have rebuilt this country? If you allow the arbitrage in the exchange rate to continue, that is the grandfather of corruption. You could see the EFCC recover over seven hundred and fifty-something houses from one person,” he said.

The President admitted that the reforms were tough decisions but assured Nigerians they were necessary.

“Yes, we encountered challenges when we assumed office in May 2023, but we have made progress by implementing difficult, long overdue but necessary economic reforms.

“We have eliminated the arbitrage-driven multiple foreign exchanges, and our far-reaching tax reforms are coming.

“Because of the reforms, our country now attracts foreign direct investments that will ultimately create jobs and produce much-needed goods and services that will significantly improve the standard of living of our people,” he said.

The APC convened the summit to review the administration’s two-year performance across key economic sectors.

The President said his administration’s focus on economic reforms for long-term gains had continued to receive positive reviews from within and outside the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Salif Atojoko

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, endorsed President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate of the party in the 2027 Presidential election.

Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the Chairman of the party, and members of the committee, announced the endorsement at the party’s National Summit held in Abuja.

He described the endorsement of the NWC as the mother of all endorsements, following earlier endorsements by the Progressive Governors Forum and the leadership of the National Assembly.

“We thank the Governor of Progressive Governors Forum, the leadership of the National Assembly, and all other stakeholders who joined various sectors of our party for the endorsement.

“As the Chairman of the party, and on behalf of the National Working Committee, I hereby affirm the various endorsements and declare President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate of APC,” said Ganduje.

According to him the party’s NWC is the only recognised platform, legally; the only recognised platform to field a candidate in any election.Earlier, Gov. Hope

Uzodinma of Imo and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum had endorsed Tinubu as APC’s sole candidate in the 2027 Presidential election.

“Nigerians are saying that because you have done a difficult job well, that it is time to reward you by sending you back to the Presidency for a second term in office,” he said.

Akpabio said the endorsement was based on the political sagacity of President Tinubu, whom he said had been able to set Nigeria on the path of growth as confirmed by the International Monetary Fund.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abass, said he stood on behalf of 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, and all the 36 speakers and their members, to second the motion raised by the President of the Senate. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Salif Atojoko

The Progressive Governors Forum on Thursday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit held in Abuja endorsed President Bola Tinubu as sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The endorsement, which was moved by Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the forum Chairman, was seconded by Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State.

Uzodimma, who spoke on behalf of the forum, emphasised commitment to mobilising resources and ensuring victory for Tinubu in their respective states.

The governors expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and reforms, promising to deliver their states in the upcoming elections.

This endorsement follows similar moves by other APC regional leaders, including the North Central governors who recently passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s administration, praising his developmental strides and inclusive governance approach. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Naomi Sharang

A bill to establish Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State, has scaled second reading in the Senate.

This followed the presentation of the lead debate by the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, during plenary on Wednesday.

Leading the debate, Dandutse said that the bill was read for the first time on Feb. 6.

He said that the bill sought to, among other things, establish the university as a hub for inclusive learning, with particular focus on medical and health sciences.

“The university, when established, is to be located in Funtua, Katsina State.

“The choice of Funtua as the proposed site of the university is deliberate, as it is central and more accessible to neighbouring states like Zamfara, Sokoto and others.

“It is instructive to also note that among the three senatorial districts in Katsina State, Funtua senatorial zone is yet to have a tertiary institution established in it,” he said.

The senator further stated that the establishment of the specialised university would provide opportunities for Nigerians in the North-West zone and other parts of the country to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills in the medical field.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that the financial support for the institution had already been provided by the governor of Katsina State.

“It means they won’t have issues of facilities and all that. Medical sciences, medical studies can be very costly and medical equipment can also be costly.

“But of course, judging from the preparation, we look forward to the outcome of the training of these children.

“And we pray that they will come out to assist Nigeria and Nigerians and the global community,” Akpabio said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Editted by Abdulfatai Beki/’Wale Sadeeq