As the Tinubu administration approaches  the one year mark, it is important to  effect a review  of what has transpired  in the last twelve months.

At the level of sheer policy postures and pronouncements, much has been done and so much is also  being done, such that it is almost impossible to keep  pace .

In this narrative however, I have decided  to dwell on an unusual aspect of the last twelve months.

On this note, the thrust of my argument is this: Nigeria is a lucrative honeypot for external  actors and their local collaborators. It is a situation in which every achievement of  this administration translates into a loss for  external actors and their interests. These indeed are the various indices of the opposition which will continue to stalk this administration.

At the instinctual level, and unfortunately, the average reader is likely to view the opposition in terms of predictable variables like the: PDP, LP and possibly the various indices of civil society.

But this piece is not preoccupied with these.

Rather our attention  is focused on  the implications of the evolving dynamics  of Air Peace (AP) and the competition in the aviation industry.

It is instructive to recall here that, as soon as  AP ticked off  on the Lagos-Londonn route, the other  airlines came into some form of self-serving  epiphany. They changed tack through the  process  of fare reductions.

The implications of this on-going process are deeper than one may think. As long as Nigeria  was absent on the Lagos-London route the  route was something of a honey pot for the other airlines. It  was a sybarritic  situation in which all the other  airlines were busy enjoying themselves at the expense of Nigerians and Nigeria.

In my innocence I  thought  that the  only airline that  was benefitting from this bazaar of the Lagos- London  route was British Airways (BA) whose ancestors were  the original predators of what  passes for the Nigerian state. Little did I know that other Airlines like Airmaroc and Egyptair were also partakers of this largesse.

On this note, the mind remembers the goggled General, Sanni Abacha. In the light  of the inclement  interplay between his regime and Britain, British Airways was banned from Nigeria. But as  soon as  he died, BA resumed its lucrative foray into Nigeria. One can imagine how much BA must have lost in the light of that move by the General.

The  implication is that  for every omission or commision on the part of Nigeria, someone out there is smiling home with huge profits. Such forces and individuals constitute at one level the opposition that anyone who  occupies

Aso Rock, has to contend with.  Needless to say, our Nigeria is  a huge honeypot since we are  talking here of a huge  market  of 200 million Nigerians

The situation also partly explains why the naira will continue to go south since for most of, even our basic needs we depend heavily on the external realm. It also explains why anybody who occupies Aso Rock is not just up against the  usual opposition  at the domestic level, he is  also up against  the various indices of  opposition beyond Nigeria.

And here we are talking about hard-headed interests and zero-sum games in which what one entity loses, is gained by another  one.

This  brings to mind another major area in which over time, Nigeria continues to be a spectator in the scheme  of things.

Our specific reference here is the Nigerian oil industry. Nigeria continues to be passive in this industry. So passive that as an oil producing country there are  no backward linkages like refineries and petrochemicals. Even as I write, there are rumblings to the effect that, there are jitters out there. This is because, should Nigeria succceed in bringing on stream her own  refineries, very many jobs will be lost by refiners  in places like Rotterdam and South Korea. These are some of the entities who import refined oil to an oil producing  Nigeria. Again as regards petrochemicsks, should Nigeria come into her own in this vital  area, then out imports of raw  will redice drastically. In the light of what is  happening to Air Peace, we should expect a fight-back from relevant interests out there.

Very much the same thing can be said for our steel industry. Till date, it remains comatose. No thanks to international conspiracy ably aided by a wayward ruling class. This is invariably a  sad feature which stretches far back  to the dawn of our polirical independence.

Again, Nigeria’s attempts to come into her own in this vital  area will be resisted and vigorously too by  the relevant and extertnal forces out there in collaboration with their internal allies. So as PBAT  Tinubu settles into his second year in office, he will do well to remember and appreciate that he will be contending with various indices of the opposition at the external level. In various ways these have their tongues and fingers in the Nigerian honey-pot. They will not give up easily. Which is why, the  Tinubu presidency should give these self-serving and external forces a good run for their greed and avarice.

There is some hope however. This cautious optimism lies in the fact that, in  the course of  that historic outing in Abeokuta where Tinubu openly staked his claim to the Presidency he also pronunced with equal  gravity  on his place  in history. Specifically he opined that he would not want to be a footnote to the Nigerian narrative. So all said and done, it   is possible to contend  here that in the light of what can be regarded  as his self-conscious place in history; PBAT has his work cut out for him in critical and vital  areas of our national life like: the steel industry, our oil industry and of  course the Aviation  sector.

Success  in these various  areas can only mean that the Great Black Hope is ready to come into her own.

Crude oil theft in the Niger-Delta region has been a long-standing and challenging issue in Nigeria, leading to significant economic losses and environmental damage and degradation. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that revenues from oil are largely responsible for funding the entire country’s budget and development. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address such problems and challenges in other developed climes, and should be of interest to the Nigerian petroleum industry , if it intends to seriously address the long standing menace of crude oil theft, which seems to have defied solutions of past governments. This article explores and supports how the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could guide the industry to leverage AI technologies in tackling this festering crude oil theft effectively.

Nigeria is one of the largest oil-producing countries in Africa, with the Niger-Delta region being the heartbeat of its oil industry. However, the region has been plagued by pervasive crude oil theft for many years, with criminal syndicates siphoning millions of barrels of oil annually. This rampant theft not only leads to massive economic losses and deprivation for the Nigerian government and oil companies but also causes severe environmental damage.

AI analysts have commented on the massive deployment of the nascent technology in multi-sector industries across the world, and highlighting how the race of the deployment of AI in all aspects of production is disrupting technology while spending billions of dollars on AI Research and Development.

Although there is a dearth of the infrastructure such as power and water to support the efficient adoption of AI in Nigeria, but it is still imperative that the public, private sectors and the education institutions should collaborate on the effective adoption of AI and the supporting infrastructure put in place would that go along with it in Nigeria, in order to make the AI initiative realizable in ensuring that it curbs the loss of revenue accruing to the country.

For the government to seriously embark on putting a permanent end to this organized criminality of crude oil theft in Nigeria, it must as a matter of urgency consider the use of AI through some of the following mechanisms which the use of AI can enhance, such as detailed here under:

Monitoring and Surveillance: AI-powered drones and satellite imaging can be used to monitor oil pipelines and detect any anomalies or unauthorized activities in real-time. By analyzing the data collected by these technologies, authorities can identify potential theft hotspots and take proactive measures to prevent it.

Predictive Analytics: AI algorithms can analyze historical data on oil theft incidents, weather patterns, and social factors to predict future theft activities. By leveraging predictive analytics, law enforcement agencies can deploy resources more effectively and deter potential thieves before they strike.

Enhanced Security Systems: AI can be used to develop sophisticated security systems that can detect and track suspicious activities around oil installations. For example, facial recognition technology can help identify known criminals, while smart sensors can alert authorities to any unauthorized access to restricted areas.

Collaboration with Tech Companies: Nigeria can partner with local and international tech companies, some of whom participated in the recent National Artificial Intelligence Strategy session for Nigeria, that specialize in AI and cybersecurity to develop customized solutions for combating oil theft in the Niger-Delta region. By leveraging the expertise of these companies, Nigeria can stay ahead of sophisticated criminal networks and protect its oil resources more effectively.

Some of these technologies are not in any way a reinvention of the wheel, or blazing new trails. They are not new, but are already being used effectively in other oil producing countries like, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and the USA.

In Mexico, AI-powered drones have been used to monitor oil pipelines and detect illegal tapping, leading to a significant reduction in oil theft incidents.
The United States Coast Guard has employed AI algorithms to analyze maritime data and predict potential oil theft activities, allowing them to deploy resources more efficiently and combat illegal oil smuggling.

Saudi Arabia, as one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world, employs a variety of technologies and strategies to monitor its crude oil production effectively. The country has a sophisticated monitoring system in place to ensure the smooth operation of its oil fields and to prevent any disruptions or unauthorized activities. Here are some of the key methods Saudi Arabia uses to monitor its crude oil production:

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems: Saudi Arabia utilizes SCADA systems to monitor and control its oil production facilities in real-time. These systems collect data from various sensors and equipment across oil fields and pipelines, allowing operators to monitor production levels, detect any abnormalities, and respond promptly to any issues that may arise.

Remote Sensing Technologies: Saudi Arabia leverages remote sensing technologies, such as satellite imaging and drones, to monitor its oil fields and infrastructure from a distance. These technologies enable authorities to conduct regular inspections, detect any leaks or unauthorized activities, and ensure the security of oil production facilities.

Reservoir Monitoring: Saudi Arabia employs advanced reservoir monitoring techniques, such as downhole sensors and well logging tools, to assess the performance of its oil reservoirs and optimize production processes. By continuously monitoring reservoir conditions, Saudi Arabia can make informed decisions to maximize oil recovery and extend the lifespan of its oil fields.

Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence: Saudi Arabia has also started incorporating data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its oil production monitoring efforts. By analyzing large volumes of data generated from production operations, Saudi Arabia can identify trends, predict equipment failures, and optimize production processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.

If there is a serious and deliberate commitment and the willingness to invest in the enumerated AI strategies highlighted above, Nigeria would have the unique opportunity to leverage AI to tackle crude oil theft in the Niger-Delta region effectively. It is also important to mention here that the insecurity in the region should also be addressed at the same time. Furthermore, by investing in AI technologies, enhancing surveillance and security systems, and fostering collaboration with tech companies, as earlier stated, Nigeria can protect its oil installations, resources, and effectively promote sustainable development in the entire country and meet its OPEC quota, which it has not been able to achieve in a long time.

Sonny Iroche is in Post Graduate Studies in Artificial Intelligence for Business at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, England, and was one of the participants in the recent Nigeria National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Workshop organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria, in Abuja, April 15-18, 2024

The Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday asked kingmakers to name a new Emir sequel to its annulment of the 2019 emirate law enacted under the former state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration.

The state lawmakers, during plenary passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024.

Recall that in March 2020, Ganduje deposed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano over alleged disregard to lawful instructions from the office of the governor.

Ganduje, using the power in the 2019 law, divided the emirates into five and deposed Sanusi.

Aminu Ado Bayero was then crowned as the new Emir of Kano

However, today, Lawan Yan Gurasa, who sponsored the amended bill, told newsmen that Ado Bayero is no longer the Emir of Kano with the passage of the new legislation.

Gurasa said: “The bill has been sent to the governor for assent. Now, there is no longer an active Emir in Kano in all the five emirates — Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye.

“The law now provides the governor to call on the traditional kingmakers to choose a new king.”

The Department of State Services (DSS) have taken over the palace of the Emir since the amended bill was passed by the lawmakers.

ChatGPT maker, OpenAI has signed a deal valued at over $250 million with a media conglomerate, News Corp, to access content from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), The Sun, New York Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and other news outlets owned by News Corp.

According to a statement from the parties, New York-based media giant News Corp will provide OpenAI access to its news content. This will allow the chatbot to base its answers to users’ queries on reliable news sources.

The deal gives OpenAI access to current and archived content from News Corp’s major news and information publications, including Barron’s, MarketWatch, Investor’s Business Daily, FN, The Sunday Times; The Australian, news.com.au, The Courier Mail, The Advertiser, and Herald Sun; and others.

In addition to providing content, News Corp will share journalistic expertise to help ensure the highest journalism standards are present across OpenAI’s offering.

The deal’s value

While OpenAI’s statement was silent on the value of the deal, which came as the biggest for any AI company, The Wall Street Journal, which is one of the media under the conglomerate put the value at over $250 million.

“The deal could be worth more than $250 million over five years, including compensation in the form of cash and credits for use of OpenAI technology, according to people familiar with the situation,” the platform reported.

Commenting on the deal, the Chief Executive of News Corp., Robert Thomson, said the historic agreement will set new standards for veracity, for virtue and value in the digital age.

“We are delighted to have found principled partners in Sam Altman and his trusty, talented team who understand the commercial and social significance of journalists and journalism. This landmark accord is not an end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship in which we are jointly committed to creating and delivering insight and integrity instantaneously.”

CEO of OpenAI, Sams Altman said the partnership with News Corp is a proud moment for journalism and technology.

“We greatly value News Corp’s history as a leader in reporting breaking news around the world, and are excited to enhance our users’ access to its high quality reporting. Together, we are setting the foundation for a future where AI deeply respects, enhances, and upholds the standards of world-class journalism,” he said.

More insights

The media content deal signed by OpenAI came as the AI race heats up with players trying to take the lead. OpenAI’s main rival, Google, also recently announced some major updates to its LLM, Gemini recently as the former unveiled ChatGPT-4o. However, OpenAI seems to be ahead in terms of content deals with media platforms.

Earlier in April, the ChatGPT maker inked a similar deal with the UK’s Financial Times (FT) to allow the AI company to use its content to train AI models and collaborate on developing new AI products and features.

Before that, OpenAI had signed a content deal with German publisher, Axel Springer, the AP, Le Monde, and Prisa Media in France and Spain respectively.

Last December the New York Times had alleged that its copyrighted content was used by the AI giant to train models without a license. OpenAI disputed that. However, the latest deals with publishers are targeted at reducing the risks of further lawsuits from publishers.

[Nairametrics]

A dramatic scene unfolded at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday when Tigran Gambaryan, a detained executive of Binance, suddenly slumped in court due to alleged ill health.

Naija News understands that this incident occurred shortly after Justice Emeka Nwite called the matter for trial continuation.

As the case was called by the court registrar, Gambaryan failed to step forward to the dock from the back row seat where he was seated.

Justice Nwite then inquired about the whereabouts of the second defendant (Gambaryan), and one of the lawyers in the defense team, who was sitting beside him, assisted him to the dock.

However, as they walked slowly to the dock, Gambaryan fell down, and the lawyer helped him sit in the front row seat.

Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained to the court that his client had been indisposed and that a written application letter had been filed to notify the court of his failing health.

He stated, “My lord, the case may not certainly proceed today.”

Throughout the proceeding, Gambaryan rested on the arm of the seat where he was sitting, appearing visibly unwell.

Recall that Justice Nwite had earlier dismissed Gambaryan’s bail application on May 16, citing that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established that the defendant, who is currently being remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, would likely jump bail if granted.

Additionally, the alleged tax evasion charge filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) against Binance Holdings Limited and Gambaryan could not proceed on Wednesday due to his absence in court.

[NaijaNews]

Real Madrid have been named as the most valuable football club in the world by Forbes for the third year in a row, in view of the club’s fortunes valued at 6.6 billion dollars.

According to the list, Real Madrid are on top with a market value of $6.6 billion (€6.08 billion), with Manchester United closely trailing them at $6.55 billion (€6.04 billion).

Barcelona are an entire billion behind their rivals, sitting at a market value of $5.6 billion (€5.16 billion).

This valuation has certainly dropped across the last few years, especially following the departure of Lionel Messi and other marketable superstars.

Liverpool and Manchester City complete the top five, with their respective market values sitting at $5.37 billion (€4.95 billion) and $5.1 billion (€4.7 billion).

Bayern Munich, PSG, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Arsenal round off the top ten list, with values ranging from $5 billion to $2.6 billion.

No. 1 • $6.6 billion
Real Madrid

No. 2 • $6.55 billion
Manchester United

No. 3 • $5.6 billion
Barcelona

No. 4 • $5.37 billion
Liverpool

No. 5 • $5.1 billion
Manchester City

No. 6 • $5 billion
Bayern Munich

No. 7 • $4.4 billion
Paris Saint-Germain

No. 8 • $3.2 billion
Tottenham Hotspur

No. 10 • $2.6 billion
Arsenal

Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 14th Emir of Kano, on Thursday, shared what he discussed with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.

While speaking at the ongoing Rivers Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, Sanusi, who was the keynote speaker at the event, said he told the governor that a lot of young people with first-class degrees are unemployed because they have not been equipped with the right skills.

He said: “The key to economic development is human capital. Investing in people is paramount. Rivers State needs robust education and skills training programmes that essentially aim to prepare youths to be the future for us.

“I was speaking to the governor today, telling him that I’m sure he, as I do, and all of us, have hundreds of CVs of young people who have first class degrees. Unfortunately, they cannot do anything to get a formal job because they have not been equipped with the right skills for this economy.”

He commended the Fubara administration for seeking to chart a new path for growth and prosperity.

He said as an oil-rich state, the natural resource was not enough to turn the fortunes of Rivers around but such feat could be achieved through purposeful leadership.

The summit is Sanusi’s first public appearance since the news of the move to reinstate to the throne broke.

Daily Trust had reported how the Kano Assembly repealed the law which ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje used to dethrone  Sanusi in 2020.

Former Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas has disclosed the reason behind his visit to Chelsea’s training ground last week.

Fabregas, currently managing Como, also dispelled speculations that he might be in line to take over the managerial role following Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.

Speaking on BBC Sounds’ Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas said on Wednesday, “It’s difficult sometimes to acknowledge or have an opinion when you are not there to see what happened.

“Look, I was there actually. Funnily enough, I went to London on the weekend.

“First of all, I had a good relationship with Mauricio. When we played against them I always felt that he was a really nice guy, a gentleman.

“So I felt they won four games in a row, that was Friday [that he visited], two days before the end of the season, so everything was fun and good and relaxed around the training ground, last game of the season.”

[DailyPost]

The Cross River State Police Command on Thursday has cordoned off the State House of Assembly complex.

This was a sequel to the plot on Wednesday by 17 members of the 25-man assembly to remove the Speaker, Elvert Anyambem over allegations bordering on financial malfeasance.

Confirming the development to The PUNCH, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo said the decision to cordon off the Assembly complex by the police was to prevent the breakdown of law and order across the state.

Recall that 17 members of the Assembly on Wednesday purportedly removed the Speaker over sundry allegations, but the Speaker, through his Chief Press Secretary, Matthew Okache, insisted that he remains the Speaker as there’s no vacancy in the office.

Although the 17 lawmakers, as at the time of filing this report have not named a replacement for the allegedly impeached Anyambem, because, according to them, they are waiting for the governor of the state, Bassey Otu.

Ayambem was reportedly impeached in the early hours of Wednesday by his colleagues over “alleged gross misconduct and administrative high handedness,” while the mace, being the symbol of authority of the House, was taken away after the impeachment degenerated into a fracas, leading to a free-for-all in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly.

The PUNCH gathered that over 20 members of the Assembly reportedly signed up for Anyambem’s impeachment; just as it was gathered that members of the House are presently meeting outside the Assembly to elect a new Speaker.

[Punch]

The Federal Government said it is deploying an automated border management solutions across its vast borders in order to tackle cross-border banditry and irregular migration.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja shortly after inspecting the e-border management centre as well as the Command and Control Centre for the electronic gates at the airports. 

According to him, while the e-border project was over 60 percent completed, the e-Gates Command and Control Centre is now 100 percent completed and awaiting commissioning by President Bola Tinubu. Both centres are domiciled in the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing Journalists after the inspection, the Minister said; “On the border management solutions, we have gone very far. At the moment, I think we have done 60 percent in terms of deployment because what we saw the other time had to do with the air border solution, which is the Command and Control Centre, the e-Gates that we have. But we are not just talking about air borders or airports, we are also talking about our land borders and even the land borders as we know are more porous – both land and sea borders.

“What we are doing now is automating the whole surveillance system in our border space and real time, we can view a lot of our borders at this moment and I won’t want to disclose more. But the simple truth is we are automating the whole process and I think by October, the Phase 1 of the whole border surveillance system would have been completed and from here we can view, see kilometres away from the border before people even come into Nigeria.

“Also, there is a solution that enables people in the border areas to communicate directly if there is emergency. They can report issues and there are solutions as to how we just don’t take their reports or complaints but that we can swing into actions.

“We want to make our borders as interactive and safe as possible because in the larger perspective, the belief of Mr President is that a secure border is a secure nation. So, securing our border is very key in terms of securing our nation and the administration of President Bola Tinubu is not leaving any stone unturned in the quest of making Nigeria a safe country for people to be able to sleep with their two eyes closed.

“But I can tell you, anyone who thinks that he can perpetrate illegality within our border space should be prepared for the consequences. We are renewing the hopes of Nigerians in all areas of life. This is just Phase 1 and we will soon start Phase 2. We will do it in such a way that the entire 4,447 kilometres of Nigeria’s border is secured. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. We have started now and we are not going back until Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed”.

On the commissioning of Command and Control Centre for the e-Gates, the minister said the project was already completed and would soon be commissioned.

“We are waiting for Mr President. We have already notified the president and I am happy that the media have seen the place and you know it is 100 percent ready to go”, he stated.

On her part, Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap said the officers and men are well motivated and currently undergoing extensive trainings on the e-solutions.

“We are over 60 percent gone with regards to the border management solutions and our officers and men are also being trained currently. We are ready and our officers are well motivated”, she said.

The CGIS explained that the border communities have been sensitized on how to collaborate with the service, adding that the NIS has opened a communication line with the communities in order to be able to get relevant information from them.

[Vanguard]