Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Nigeria Tops Africa’s AI Ranking Nigeria has emerged as the leading African country in the second edition of the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI). The Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Communications to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Isime Esene, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Esene said that Nigeria also ranked 38th globally and first in Africa with an overall index score of 45.93. “This marks a remarkable improvement from the inaugural 2024 edition of the Index, in which Nigeria ranked 80th globally with a score of 7.21, representing a rise…

Lagos Assembly Endorses State Police The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday endorsed the establishment of state police, urging nationwide constitutional reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. Lawmakers also called on the 36 State Houses of Assembly to expedite consideration and approval of the Constitution Alteration Bill on state policing. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion titled ‘Support for the Establishment of State Police in Nigeria,’ moved by Majority Leader, Noheem Adams. Adams said the proposed legislation aligned with Federal Government efforts to decentralise policing, strengthen security architecture and better protect lives and property nationwide. “Lagos Assembly…

BPP, Reps Committee Begin Talks on Review of Public Procurement Act The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has commenced discussions with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement on the proposed review of the Public Procurement Act, 2007. A statement issued by Zira Nagga, BPP’s Head of Media and Public Relations in Abuja on Thursday, said the discussions were held at a strategic retreat with the House committee members in Abuja. The statement said the collaborative session underscored the shared commitment of the BPP and the House Committee to drive reforms that would improve governance, promote sustainable development, and…

ExxonMobil’s Usan Project to Generate $1.2bn for Nigeria ESSO Exploration and Production Nigeria says its one billion-dollar Usan Infill Project in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 138 is expected to generate 1.2 billion dollars in revenue. Jagir Baxi, Managing Director, ESSO  Exploration and Production Nigeria, ExxonMobil’s affiliate, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week. Baxi said the development would unlock an additional 40,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from Nigeria’s deepwater assets, marking ESSO’s return to deepwater drilling after almost a decade. The project, which has secured funding from partners…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission

WHO Warns Global Cancer Cases May Hit 35m by 2050 The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent global action against cancer, warning that annual new cases could reach 35 million globally by 2050. WHO said on Wednesday that cancer causes more than 26,000 deaths daily, with 20.6 million new cases yearly worldwide. The organisation said reversing the trend required a people-centred approach prioritising health needs and experiences of affected individuals globally. The warning is contained in the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, developed jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The report assessed…

NUPRC Hands Petroleum Prospecting Licences to 12 Firms The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has executed concession contracts and commenced the issuance of 19 Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) to successful bidders in the 2024 Licensing Round. The exercise, conducted on the sidelines of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week 2026 on Wednesday in Abuja, covered 12 awardees across deep offshore, shallow water and continental shelf acreages. The signing was presided over by the NUPRC Chairman, Sen. Magnus Abe, Conmission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Legal Adviser and Commission Secretary, Olayemi Adeboyejo, alongside other Commission officials. Among the recipients…

Osinbajo Emerges NCF BOT President, Vows Stronger Climate Action Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has pledged to strengthen environmental conservation and climate action following his emergence as President of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF). Osinbajo pledged on Wednesday while delivering his acceptance speech at the Foundation’s 37th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos. He paid tribute to the founding fathers of the NCF, particularly its President Emeritus, Chief Philip Asiodu, for their foresight in promoting environmental conservation decades before climate change became a global concern. The former vice president also acknowledged the contributions…

El-Rufai Demands ICPC Retraction Over Alleged Court Order Breach Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has rejected allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that he abused medical privileges and violated a court order. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai described the ICPC’s July 7 statement as inaccurate in both facts and law. The statement said El-Rufai’s absence from court on July 6 resulted from unresolved health concerns already communicated to the ICPC before the hearing. It alleged that his personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, was denied…

UBA Foundation Partners Slum2School to Equip Pupils with Financial Literacy Skills …Introduces the Money Explorers Book to Inspire a Culture of Saving UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa(UBA) Group, has strengthened its commitment to financial education by partnering with Slum2School Africa to deliver a hands-on financial literacy workshop for underserved children, equipping them with essential money management skills from an early age. At the heart of the initiative was the UBA Money Explorers Book, an engaging learning companion designed to introduce children to the fundamentals of financial literacy through interactive stories, practical money…