A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.

The order also kicked against the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

DAILY POST earlier reported that the reinstatement was consequent upon a bill earlier passed by the State House of Assembly on Thursday.

The court, however, directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante pending the determination of the suit filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi on Thursday.

Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their concurrent originating motion, as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

The defendants in the suit include the Kano State Government, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services.

Justice Liman ordered that “in view of the Constitutional and Jurisdictional Issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the Court on same at the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.

“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.”

The Judge adjourned the case to June 3, 2024, for hearing.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on Thursday officially announced the re-appointment of Emir Sanusi.

[DailyPost]

The Kogi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has scheduled judgment for Monday in the petition by Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Kogi, Murtala Ajaka.

Ajaka and his party are challenging the declaration of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election held on November 11, 2023.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, announced the date yesterday in a message communicated to counsel to the parties through its Secretary, David Mike.

Hearing in the case, which commenced in December last year, ended on May 13 when the SDP, Ajaka, the APC, Ododo and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adopted their final written addresses, after which the tribunal reserved judgment.

INEC, the APC and Ododo urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for being unmeritorious.

INEC’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN) argued that the petition lacked merit and was incompetent.

He urged the tribunal to either strike it out or dismiss it.

Agabi said: “It is our humble submission that your work in the determination of this petition is simplified in recent judgments by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

He noted that the Court of Appeal has decided that if the grounds of a petition are inconsistent with one another, and are not consistent with the reliefs, it should be struck out.

Agabi added that the evidence led by the petitioners were grossly insufficient, citing a Supreme Court decision in a case of Tonye Cole against INEC.

He said the Supreme Court’s decision in that case “is to the effect that once the evidence called is grossly insufficient, there is no evidence.

“In that case, the petitioner filed 305 witness depositions, but only adopted 40 of them. The petitioner only adopted about 13.1 per cent of the witness depositions.

“In this case, (the petition by the SDP and Ajaka) the depositions adopted represent just about 3.6 per cent of their witness depositions,” Agabi said.

He noted that the petitioners only called 25 witnesses, adding that in mathematical calculation of evidence, 3.6 per cent of Ajaka’s witness deposition adopted in the petition amounted to a failure and therefore, ought to be dismissed.

[TheNation]

Laolu Afolabi writes on the dethronement of five Emirs in the Kano Emirate and the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who was deposed four years ago

On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly heard the motion on the Kano State Emirate Council Amendment Bill and eventually repealed the 2019 Law that allowed for the creation of the five separate emirates from the old Kano Emirates.

The development paved the way for the historic return of Emir Lamido Sanusi, who was dethroned on March 9, 2020.

The proposed amendment to the bill was brought to the floor of the House of Assembly on Monday, May 20, 2024, and the bill was considered and passed on Thursday, after successfully scaling its second and third readings.

The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Butu, speaking on the amendment, said, “Repealing the law that divided the Kano Emirate into five separate entities would help revive the lost glory of Kano.’’

He further stated that “The division of the Kano Emirate into five reduced the capacity and dignity of the state at the national level.”

Immediately after he signed the act of the parliament at exactly 5.10 pm, Governor Kabir Yusuf of Kano State announced the reappointment of Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano, four years after he was deposed.

The emirs of the five defunct emirates who were affected by the new law and finally deposed were Alhaji (Dr) Aminu Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano; Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, Emir of Bichi; Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar II, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Ibrahim Ibrahim, Emir of Gaya and Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, the Emir of Rano.

The governor, after signing the bill, asked the deposed traditional rulers to vacate palaces immediately.

Beyond the repeal of the law, “reviving the lost glory of Kano,” and “the division reducing the capacity and dignity of the state at the national level,” there had been intrigues and political dimensions to the Kano Emirate and whoever occupies the position of the Emir of Kano.

The Kano Emirate Council is important to the North and, since it was formed in 1903, after the British pacification of the Sokoto Caliphate, it has continued to maintain its relevance in the political and religious affairs of the country. The Emir of Kano is a first-class monarch and one of the great Islamic rulers in Nigeria. The leader of the emirate is among the four leading Islamic authorities, to wit, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Kano and the Emir of Gwandu.

To the Kano people, the attempt by the former governor of the state and now National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, to create five emirates out of the old Kano Emirate had reduced the political and religious power of the emirate in national affairs.

Kano holds the ace in determining the emergence of most leaders in the political history of the country. From the days of the First Republic till the last general election conducted in 2023, the votes from Kano had always influenced whoever wins the presidency,

In the build-up to the 2015 political season, the former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, ran into troubled water after he axed the then-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi. The reforms carried out by Sanusi in the CBN had received both criticism and appraisal from the industry. The Banker magazine recognised him as the 2010 Central Bank Governor of the Year, for his reforms and leading a radical anti-corruption campaign in the sector – the first of its kind during the financial crisis.

By December 2013, Sanusi, in a leaked letter to then-President Jonathan revealed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit $48.9bn of government oil revenue to the CBN. The disclosure led to a series of public investigations and raised the alarm on the $20bn NNPC scandal. Sanusi was suspended as CBN governor and in April 2014, he won a court case against the Federal Government, after he was detained and his international passport confiscated by the Department of State Service.

The suspension of Sanusi by the former president opened doors for a campaign against his return in the 2015 election. Latching on to the political advantage, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party at the time to the newly-formed All Progressives Congress, the then governor of the state, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, moved to install Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, following the death, on June 6, 2014, of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, who reigned for over five decades.

By June 8, 2014, Sanusi, a grandson of former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi I, and holder of the traditional title of Dan Majen Kano (son of Emir-Maje), had emerged the new Emir of Kano and he was crowned on June 9, 2014. His ascension then led to widespread protests from supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Chiroman Kano (Crown Prince), the son of the late Emir Ado Bayero.

By the time the electioneering of 2015 took full shape, Sanusi had been firmly established as the Emir of Kano and his opposition to the government of Jonathan at the time gave the candidacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari an edge, not only in Kano State, but its spiral effects were felt in the North. In the result, the APC candidate polled 1,903,999 votes to defeat Jonathan, who managed to amass 215,779 votes in Kano State. A view of the 2011 election results showed that Jonathan had 440,665 votes, while Buhari, then of the Congress for Progressive Change, had 1,624,543 votes.

After the 2015 election, Sanusi became too powerful for the state. In his six-year reign before he was sacked as emir, Sanusi reinvented himself as a charismatic figure at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. There were many developments in the ancient town during the period, such as the drafting of a new Muslim family law and the construction of a 40,000 books library, among others. He promoted the Durbar festival internationally and was at the centre of Kano modernity, including kicking against early marriage for the girl-child.

He also angered some sections of the town when his daughter represented him at a royal event. Shahida, Sanusi’s daughter, represented him at the inaugural Chibok Girls’ lecture held by the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) group. Shahida, who delivered Sanusi’s speech at the event held in Abuja, said representing the emir would be the first time a non-title holder or woman would do so in the North. In a video message to the group, Sanusi also defended his action and said he chose his daughter to represent him at the event because of her passion for gender issues.

Sanusi also spoke out against government policies, breaking with royal tradition. He criticised the government for misplaced priorities and, by 2017, the Emirate Council was under investigation for financial irregularities. Many believed that the probe was because of his stand against the policies and administration of then-Governor Ganduje. The investigation was later called off by the state legislature, following intervention by the ruling class.

The rift with Sanusi made the governor lose his popularity among the elite in the state. In the build-up to the 2019 election, Ganduje was in the heat, as the political situation was not favourable to him. He believed Sanusi’s opposition was shoring up the base of his opponent. The presidential election saw President Muhammadu Buhari coasting home to a comfortable victory over Abubakar Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party, despite the influence of Kwankwaso in the state. But two weeks later, Ganduje won his return election by sheer luck. The election was termed inconclusive and a rerun was ordered in some local governments. It was not smooth sailing to win the second term. At the end of the day, Ganduje polled 1, 033,695, while his rival, Kabir Yusuf of the then PDP, polled 1,024,713 in a keenly contested election. Ganduje won the election with less than 10,000 votes.

On May 8, 2019, the then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, having defeated his opponent and a few weeks before his inauguration for a second term, signed the law which allowed the creation of four new emirates; Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye out of the old Kano Emirate. The move saw the partitioning of Sanusi’s traditional domain as Emir.

According to the law, out of the 44 local government areas in the state, Sanusi as Emir of Kano will preside over 10 local government areas; with the four new emirates dividing the remaining 34 local government areas. In March 2020, the state legislature launched a new investigation against Sanusi for what it termed a violation of “traditional practices,” after a high court ruling had restrained the corruption investigation against him.

On March 9, 2020, Sanusi was dethroned by then-Governor Ganduje. The governor also announced in his place the appointment of Dr Ado Bayero, the son of the late emir, as the new Emir of Kano. The Kano State government gave the reasons for the dethronement of Sanusi. Among the reasons, The PUNCH learnt, were alleged insubordination, refusal to attend official meetings and breach of Kano Emirate Law.

Before the announcement, members of the Kano House of Assembly had engaged in a free-for-all over an attempt to remove the Emir, though the government’s statement announcing the dethronement said it was a unanimous decision of members of the State Executive Council.

“This removal is made after due consultation with the relevant stakeholders and in compliance with Part 3 Section 13 of the Kano State Emirate Law 2019 and other reasons stated above. The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the state governor and other lawful authorities, including his persistent refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the government without any lawful justification which amounts to total insubordination. The removal was reached to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion, and prestige of the Kano Emirate built over a thousand years,” the statement was quoted.

Sanusi was reportedly in his private residence in Gidan Rumfa when he learnt of his removal, and while waiting for state officials to formally serve him the deposition letter, a contingent of police, military, and security operatives had stormed the palace. His grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi I, suffered the same fate as he was deposed and exiled in 1963. Sanusi was moved to exile in Awe in Loko, Nasarawa State, against his choice of Lagos. He was escorted out of the palace under heavy guard to a military air base and flown to Abuja, en route to Loko in Nasarawa State, He was relocated to Awe, a remote local government area in Nasarawa State, on March 10, via police helicopter. In March, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the release of Sanusi and he subsequently left Awe together with the then-governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He had been a private citizen since.

The 2023 election saw the return of political control of Kano State to Kwankwaso, as his party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, won the governorship election. Governor Kabir Yusuf did not hide his plan to revisit the Kano law and return Sanusi as emir. Watchers of the event in the state knew it wouldn’t be long before the emirate law amendment conducted by the Ganduje administration would be repealed. Some believed the plan was shelved in anticipation of the judgment of the Supreme Court.

In a live interview on a Hausa programme aired on local radio in Kano State after the Supreme Court victory for Governor Yusuf, Kwankwaso expressly stated that the issue of the creation of new emirates in Kano State by former Governor Ganduje must be revisited by Governor Abba Yusuf. He said the government of Yusuf would definitely review the “dethronement and balkanisation of the Kano Emirate.”

He said, “Honestly, it is one of the things that nobody has sat with me to discuss so far, but I am sure we are going to sit and see how to go about it. Whether it’s going to be allowed, restructured or whatever, it will definitely be revisited. Whatever is supposed to be done will be done. There are a lot of things involved and this might even be a trap, who knows? But the truth is that all these things were not done in good faith, or with good intention. They were done with some bad intentions which every one of you here and our listeners are aware of.

“Sometimes you come with things that are good and they turn out to be bad, while sometimes you bring things that are bad and they turn out to be good. But all I know is that I was not consulted as of now, but we will come to discuss and see what would be done,” he said.

Also, while delivering his appreciation speech on his victory during a rally at Fili Mahaha on his return to Kano after the Supreme Court verdict, Governor Yusuf was obstructed severally by supporters, chanting, “Sabon Gwamna! Sabon Sarki!” meaning New Governor! New Emir! They also sang songs and chants calling for the reinstatement of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

On Thursday, May 23, the Kano State House of Assembly officially passed a bill dissolving all the five emirate councils in the state and returning to the old order pre-Ganduje era. The repeal of the 2019 law by the Kano State House of Assembly marks a significant turning point in the state’s political and cultural landscape. By reversing the division of the Kano Emirate into five separate entities, the Assembly signalled a return to traditional structures in a bid to reaffirm Kano’s historical prestige.

As the state transitions back to the old emirate structure and Emir Sanusi returns in the saddle, the implications for Kano’s political, cultural, and religious spheres will be closely watched, and the game for the 2027 election is now unfolding.

[Punch]

OUR Father, we your children in Africa come to you this day, the eve of the May 25, Africa Liberation Day.

We have been enslaved and colonised. We have survived the genocide of our traducers who in Congo alone massacred 16 million of us and wiped out two thirds of our population in Namibia.

We also survived Apartheid and the pestilence of coups and criminal leadership. Thank you for giving us the ability to survive all these, including the continued exploitation and destabilisation of our continent. At this point, we drag before you the institutions of exploitation and dehumanisation in the continent; the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank and, their handmaid, the World Trade Organisation, WTO. Like doctors prescribing the same drugs for all ailments, all they have done for over four decades is force on the continent, subsidy removal, currency flotation, exploitative market forces, higher fuel prices, jobless growth, reduction in education funding and hyper-inflation.

Father, it is not for nothing you made us the source of humanity, the centre of the universe and the depository of natural resources. We do not take for granted the fact that over 4,000 years ago, we had the knowledge and ability to build pyramids with arithmetical accuracy and precision which still baffles the rest of humanity. We know that the founders of Western philosophy and builders of their civilization, including Plato and Herodotus, were pupils of Africa education having graduated from our universities in Ancient Egypt.

We know that the rise of Africans as one of the most educated groups in the United States is not by accident. May we develop the consciousness and ability to utilise such huge assets, to develop our continent.

The God of Nkrumah, Harriet Tubman, Winnie Mandela, Felix Moumie, Dedan Kimathi, Fanon and Malcolm X, lead us to victory over all persons, groups and nations perpetuating iniquities against the African people.

Give us victory over them as Toussaint Louverture and other liberation fighters militarily defeated France, the super power which strived to continue the enslavement of Haitians. Even now, the gangsters, forces of darkness and their minders continue to torment Haiti. May they fail. May African leaders and progressive forces across the universe, have the presence of mind and consciousness to intervene positively in Haiti and the rest of our continent.

Father, when Africans had few people to fight for them during slavery in the United States, you raised John Brown and his sons. When the forces of Apartheid were trying to overrun African countries just as Israel is striving to obliterate the Palestinians, you raised Fidel Castro and the Cubans. May Africa never be short of true allies.

Father, as we mark the 2024 Africa Day, the continent is engulfed in series of armed conflicts. Some, like that in Sudan, are due to prodigal children fed steroids by foreign powers. Some fires as those in Somalia and half a dozen countries in West Africa are set by religious elements dancing on the verge of lunacy. There are also the deliberate wars like that in Libya, engineered and stoked by the West which destroyed the African promise called Libya.

There are over 100 million illegal small arms and light weapons circulating in the continent, almost all manufactured outside Africa. Assist us to silence the guns. Let those who live by the gun, die by the gun. Let those who profiteer from war, know no peace; let them choke on the vomit of their profits. Generally, aid us to overcome the various conflicts and, set Africa firmly on the path of development.

Let there be peace in Africa as it is in Washington, London and Beijing. You said, blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called your children. We pray for all peace makers whether in Tel Aviv or Gaza.

We have not stolen other peoples’ lands, coveted their property or seized their children. We have not sought to own the sun or the moon. All we have tried to do in Africa, is to live on the beautiful land it has pleased you to give us. Our desires are to share salt and pepper amongst ourselves, have schools for our children, roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and medication to take of ourselves when we fall sick.

Father, you are the God that answereth by fire. You said it shall be the fire next time. Consume all those misruling Africa and their principals in the metropolis. Let all powers and principalities that plan to recolonise your beautiful continent be destroyed like the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Those who trouble Africa, trouble them. Those who cause us pains, cause them pains.

Father, a major challenge Africa has today are the attempts to expand military bases in Africa where foreign powers will expand their spheres of influence at our cost. We do not want our continent to be turned into theatres of international wars or test sites for new weapons. We recall the case of Cuba whose 116-square metre Guantanamo Base, the United States leased in 1903 for $2,000. Despite repeated demands in the last six decades, the tenant has refused to leave. While we pray in solidarity with Cuba to regain its territory, we pray that African countries will not fall victims of possessive spirits that roam the universe.

Finally father, we pray that the dreams of our ancestors as retold by Nkrumah on May 24, 1963 that our continent must unite, should come to pass. His words that day, continue to echo across our hills and valleys, especially when he said: “Unite we must. Without necessarily sacrificing our sovereignties, big or small, we can, here and now, forge a political union based on Defence, Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy, and a common Citizenship, an African currency, an African Monetary Zone and an African Central Bank. We must unite in order to achieve the full liberation of our continent. We need a common Defence system with an African High Command to ensure the stability and security of Africa. We have been charged with this sacred task by our own people, and we cannot betray their trust by failing them.” We pray Africans give heed to his words and take ‘Positive Action’ to bring them to fruition.

We pray that you bless Africa and all her well-wishers as we mark Africa Liberation Day, 2024. Ameen.

President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has called for increased investments in the African continent to foster its rapid growth and development.

Speaking at the gathering of private sector leaders in Africa, the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, last week, Dangote emphasized that recent trends underscore Africa’s pivotal role as the future epicenter of global progress. 

In a statement, Dangote cautioned against the continent’s overreliance on raw material exports, advocating instead, for strategic investments that will propel indigenous industries.

He urged African nations to resist the urge to export raw materials but to nurture domestic manufacturing capabilities so as to reduce dependency on imported consumer goods.

Dangote said, “Looking ahead, Africa holds the key to its greatness. I’m not merely investing money but dedicating my entire being to this cause. In Africa, possibilities are boundless. It is like a scratch card; you won’t know what is inside unless you scratch it. For some of us, despite the boom of the capital market in the US, we didn’t really participate, rather we invested in Africa.”

[Punch]

Maimunatu Ibrahima has been sworn in as the first female speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament.

Ibrahima, who hails from Togo, was sworn in on Thursday at the second extraordinary session of the parliament in Kano.

She was nominated for the post by members of the parliament from Togo and was elected unopposed.

The ECOWAS parliament operates a rotational system for the speakership using an alphabetical order of countries.

Barau Jubrin, Nigeria’s deputy senate president, previously held the role before Ibrahima’s succession.

Jubrin was initially elected as the first deputy speaker at the inauguration of the sixth legislature of the ECOWAS parliament last month but had to act as speaker to avoid creating a vacuum of leadership after Togo’s absence at the session.

The French-speaking West African country was yet to conduct elections at the time to enable the nation to send its representatives to parliament.

The position was held last by Sierra Leone.

In her acceptance speech, Ibrahima thanked parliamentarians for electing her and assured that she would bring her wealth of experience to bear on the sub-regional parliament.

She also thanked the presidents of Togo, Nigeria, and the authorities of the heads of state for supporting the parliament.

“My priority is to work harmoniously with my colleagues to advance the integration of the West African sub-region,” she said.

Ibrahima previously served as the third deputy speaker in the fifth legislature of the ECOWAS parliament and has been a member since 2021.

[TheCable]

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]