Witty Global blog

  AI Builds Smart Cities Worldwide: Why Is Nigeria Still In Darkness? In the era of rapid technological advancement, cities worldwide are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance urban living. From innovative traffic management systems in Singapore to AI-driven healthcare solutions in Barcelona, these innovations are reshaping urban environments and improving the quality of life for millions. However, Nigeria, despite being Africa's largest economy and most populous nation, struggles with a fundamental issue: persistent power outages that hinder its progress toward becoming a digital powerhouse. T he Global AI Revolution Cities like San Francisco, Dubai, and Nairobi are at the forefront of the AI revolution, leveraging technology to optimize public services, enhance infrastructure, and drive economic growth. A recent report by Deloitte and ThoughtLab highlights that cities worldwide are racing to integrate AI into their operations, transforming everything from...

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised serious concerns regarding the Complicity of some bank staff in facilitating internet fraud. During a recent address to bank compliance officers in Port Harcourt, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Rivers State, Assistant Commander Adebayo Adeniyi, highlighted alarming practices where account officers act as informants to fraudsters. This behaviour not only undermines the integrity of financial institutions but also hampers the EFCC's efforts to combat economic crimes. Key Points from the EFCC Address:   Caution Against Complicity: Adeniyi urged bank staff to refrain from actions that could assist fraudsters, such as creating multiple accounts for illicit purposes or alerting customers to ongoing investigations by the EFCC. Such actions can severely obstruct investigations and allow fraudulent activities to flourish. National Responsibility: The EFCC emphasized the importance of striking a balance between p...

  Prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, gathered to honour the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a revered leader of the Afenifere group, who passed away on February 14, 2025, at the age of 97. The tribute event, titled "Night of Tributes and Service of Songs," took place at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, where attendees celebrated Adebanjo's significant contributions to Nigeria's political landscape. President Tinubu's Tribute In his heartfelt tribute, President Tinubu described Adebanjo as one of the last nationalists and heroes of Nigeria's independence, emphasizing his pivotal role in laying the nation's foundation. Tinubu stated, "The nation has lost a great leader whose vision and commitment to a united Nigeria will be remembered for generations to come." He acknowledged Adebanjo's unwavering dedication to the principles of democr...

  The U.S. economy has experienced a significant downturn, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrinking by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first contraction in three years. This decline follows a robust growth rate of 2.4% in the previous quarter, underscoring the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade policies on the nation's economic landscape. Economic Overview The contraction in GDP is primarily attributed to a surge in imports as businesses rushed to stock up on foreign goods before the implementation of new tariffs. This frontloading strategy, while initially appearing to bolster inventory levels, ultimately led to a widening trade deficit that subtracted approximately 5 percentage points from economic growth. Imports soared at an annual rate of 50.9%, the fastest pace since 2020, which significantly impacted the overall economic output3[4]. Despite the contraction, some key economic indicators showed resilience. Consumer spending, although...

  The Court of Appeal in Calabar has upheld the conviction of Professor Peter Ogban for electoral fraud, affirming his three-year prison sentence for manipulating election results in favour of Senator Godswill Akpabio. This ruling, delivered on April 30, 2025, reinforces the earlier judgment made by the Akwa Ibom State High Court in 2021, which found Ogban guilty of announcing falsified results during the 2019 senatorial election for Akpabio, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current President of the Nigerian Senate.                                                                     Background of the Case Professor Ogban, who serves as a lecturer in Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was the returning officer for the Akwa Ibom North-West District election. He was convicted f...

  President Donald Trump recently marked the first 100 days of his second term in a tense interview with ABC News, where he defended several controversial policies and actions taken during his administration. The interview, conducted by Terry Moran, highlighted Trump's focus on immigration, economic tariffs, and his administration's approach to political opposition . Key Highlights from the Interview: **  Immigration Crackdown:** Trump highlighted his administration's strict immigration policies as a significant accomplishment. He claimed that the U.S. border is now "totally closed down," asserting that this has drastically reduced the entry of criminals and gang members into the country. He cited a statistic that suggested nearly 11,888 murderers had previously entered the U.S. from various countries, a claim he used to justify his hardline stance on immigration enforcement4. Economic Policies and Tariffs:** The president defended his high tariffs on China, argui...

  The Nigerian naira has recently faced significant depreciation, dropping to N1,615 per dollar in the parallel market as of yesterday, down from N1,610 per dollar on Monday. This decline reflects ongoing pressures in Nigeria's foreign exchange market, driven by various economic factors. In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the naira also weakened, trading at N1,602 per dollar, a decrease from N1,596 per dollar recorded on Monday. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) indicates that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose by N6, highlighting a persistent downward trend in its value. This depreciation has raised concerns among market analysts regarding the stability of the naira and its implications for the broader economy. Market Dynamics and Implications The recent depreciation has narrowed the gap between the parallel market and the NFEM rate to N13 per dollar, down from N14 per dollar earlier in the week. This shift suggests a slight easing of pressures ...

  The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has disclosed that newspaper organizations in Nigeria owe over N1.3 billion in unpaid pension contributions to retired journalists .    This significant revelation was made by the Director-General of PenCom, Omolola Oloworaran, during a recent visit to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) in Abuja. The issue of unpaid pensions has raised serious concerns regarding compliance with the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) among media establishments, prompting urgent action from regulatory authorities. Widespread Non-Compliance with Pension Obligations Oloworaran expressed her alarm over the widespread non-compliance with the PRA 2014, which mandates that employers remit monthly pension contributions into employees' Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAS) no later than seven days after salary payments are made. Many media houses have failed to adhere to this legal requirement, which not only undermines the financial security of journalists but...

Nigerian Presidency Affirms Democracy's Strength; Rejects Claims of One-Party State Under Tinubu  In a decisive statement released on April 27, 2025, the Nigerian presidency has firmly rejected allegations from opposition circles that the nation's democracy is under threat and that it is gravitating towards a one-party state under President Bola Tinubu. The statement, titled "Democracy Strong And Alive in Nigeria," was issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, and aims to clarify the administration's stance amidst a wave of political defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Context of the Statement The presidency's response comes in the wake of significant political shifts, including the recent defections of prominent figures such as Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress...

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking by raiding an 80-room hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, leading to the seizure of illicit substances valued at over ₦1 billion. The operation took place between April 25 and 26, 2025, at a hotel known as The Hook Hotel, which also operates under the names Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge, located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street.  Details of the Raid Seized Substances: During the raid, NDLEA agents recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms. The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at ₦ 1.042 billion. This seizure highlights the scale of drug trafficking operations that can be hidden in seemingly legitimate businesses. Arrests Made: Three suspects were apprehended during the operation: Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh. Two additional suspects, identified as Noble Philip...

  The United States government has recently issued a critical report highlighting significant trade barriers posed by Nigeria, particularly concerning the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). This assessment is part of the 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, published by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The report underscores ongoing challenges that hinder American agricultural exports and complicate trade relations between the two nations. Key Issues Identified in the USTR Report Delays in Import Permits: The USTR report emphasizes that Nigeria has consistently delayed the approval of import permits for U.S. agricultural products. This situation is described as a longstanding trade barrier that restricts American access to the Nigerian market. Despite numerous attempts by U.S. exporters to secure market access since 2019, many requests regarding food and agricultural imports remain unresolved4. Corruption and Ineff...