Category: PM News

Mary-Brenda Akoda, winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI), has showcased her award-winning innovation, GenScanAI, an artificial intelligence-powered medical imaging technology capable of reducing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan times by up to 90 per cent.

The innovation was presented to medical practitioners, healthcare professionals, researchers, academics, students and technology stakeholders at Vibranium Valley, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 13, as part of efforts to demonstrate its potential to improve diagnostic services and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

Developed to accelerate MRI image reconstruction while maintaining or improving image quality, GenScanAI offers a potential solution to some of the challenges confronting medical imaging, particularly long waiting times and limited access to diagnostic services.

The technology is designed to work with existing MRI infrastructure, meaning hospitals and diagnostic centres could potentially examine more patients without the immediate need to invest in additional MRI equipment.

By reducing the time required for MRI examinations, the innovation could improve scanner utilisation, shorten patient waiting lists and support faster diagnosis and treatment.

The public presentation provided an opportunity for stakeholders to explore the science behind GenScanAI, examine its potential applications and consider how the innovation could help address practical challenges in healthcare delivery.

Presenting her work, Akoda explained the problem that inspired its development, the technology underpinning the innovation and its potential applications in medical imaging.

The engagement also allowed medical practitioners and researchers to examine its possible practical uses, while students gained insights into how scientific research and technological innovation can be harnessed to solve real-world problems.

Speaking at the event, Sophia Horsfall, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, said GenScanAI addressed an important healthcare need, particularly as population growth continues to place increasing demands on diagnostic services.

‘Medical imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis and treatment, but the time required for MRI examinations can create delays for patients and limit the number of people healthcare facilities can serve. Innovations such as GenScanAI demonstrate how advances in artificial intelligence and computing can be applied to address practical healthcare challenges and improve the efficiency of existing medical infrastructure,’ Horsfall said.

She described the public presentation as an important opportunity to take the winning innovation beyond the Prize adjudication process and encourage engagement with the medical and research communities.

‘This presentation allows healthcare professionals, researchers and students to engage directly with Mary-Brenda’s work, understand its potential and consider how it could contribute to healthcare delivery. The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation recognises scientific excellence and encourages solutions to national challenges. Creating opportunities for wider engagement with winning innovations is an important part of bringing their potential benefits to public attention,’ she said.

GenScanAI’s potential to reduce MRI acquisition time by up to 90 per cent could be particularly beneficial to hospitals and diagnostic centres managing high patient volumes.

Faster examinations could enable healthcare facilities to serve more patients within the same period, improve equipment utilisation and reduce waiting times without requiring immediate investment in additional MRI machines.

The technology’s potential to accommodate patient motion and improve image quality could also support more effective imaging. However, its practical benefits and performance in clinical settings remain subject to appropriate clinical evaluation and validation.

GenScanAI, also known as GenMRI/C-MORE, uses artificial intelligence to reconstruct MRI images. Its approach seeks to address the time-consuming nature of conventional MRI acquisition and reconstruction while preserving the quality needed for medical interpretation.

The innovation is particularly relevant to healthcare systems where access to MRI services is constrained by the cost of equipment, limited infrastructure and growing demand for diagnostic examinations.

In Nigeria, where expanding access to specialised diagnostic services remains an important healthcare challenge, technologies capable of improving the efficiency of existing facilities could offer an additional means of increasing service capacity.

Rather than requiring hospitals to immediately acquire more scanners, GenScanAI seeks to make existing infrastructure more productive by reducing the time needed to conduct examinations.

Akoda emerged as the winner of the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation following a rigorous evaluation of a record 237 entries, the highest number received since the inception of the Prize.

The competition was organised around the theme, ‘Innovations in Artificial Intelligence or ICT or Digital Technologies for Development,’ reflecting the growing role of digital technologies in addressing societal challenges and advancing national development.

Her selection followed an independent assessment by the Prize’s panel of judges, chaired by Dr Omobola Johnson, and the endorsement of the NPSI Advisory Board.

Akoda’s achievement is particularly notable in the history of the Prize, as she became the first woman and first millennial to win it as an individual recipient.

She is a First-Class graduate of Computer Science from Goldsmiths, University of London, and holds a Master of Research with Distinction in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Imperial College London, where she was a Google DeepMind Scholar.

She has also worked as a software engineer and artificial intelligence research scientist at Microsoft, including at the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Research Lab in Cambridge.

The 2026 edition of the Prize followed a 2025 competition in which no winner was declared because none of the entries met the required standard. The return of a winner in 2026, after the competition attracted a record number of submissions, underscored the organisers’ emphasis on scientific quality, innovation and practical impact.

The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation seeks to recognise outstanding scientific and technological achievements and encourage solutions capable of delivering meaningful and sustainable benefits to society.

NLNG facilitated the Lagos presentation to provide a platform for Akoda’s innovation to be shared with relevant stakeholders and encourage dialogue about its potential applications.

The engagement at Vibranium Valley reinforced the importance of connecting scientific discovery with the professionals, institutions and communities that could help translate innovation into practical benefits.

Through the presentation, healthcare professionals, researchers and technology stakeholders had an opportunity to engage with a Nigerian-developed innovation that applies artificial intelligence to a critical healthcare need.

As GenScanAI progresses towards practical application, its potential to shorten MRI scan times, improve image quality and increase the efficiency of existing diagnostic infrastructure could make it a significant contribution to ongoing efforts to expand access to medical imaging, subject to clinical validation and implementation requirements.

The Edo State Government has announced traffic diversion and temporary road closures in Benin City ahead of the visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

In a statement issued by the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, the diversion will be in effect from 6 am to 6 pm on the day of the visit.

According to the statement, Senator Tinubu will be in the state capital to commission the fleet of new CNG buses purchased by the Edo State Government and to empower 5,000 Edo women under her Renewed Hope Initiative.

Roads to be temporarily closed include Joromi Junction by Ekewan Road and Stadium Road by Ekewan Road Junction, with motorists advised to use alternative routes to avoid gridlock.

Meanwhile, preparations for the high-profile visit have heightened activities across the metropolis, with ongoing renovation works at the iconic Ring Road and its environs.

Edo State workers have been seen giving the city centre a facelift, including clearing, cleaning and refurbishing public spaces around Ring Road to give the capital a befitting outlook ahead of the First Lady’s arrival.

Similarly, there is ongoing painting and beautification of road dividers and kerbs along Airport Road and other major corridors leading to the event venues.

The beautification exercise, though aimed at improving the aesthetics of Benin City, has added to traffic build-up in some areas.

Residents and motorists have lamented the inconvenience caused by the combined road closures, ongoing painting works and last-minute renovation activities, which have led to heavy congestion during peak hours.

EDSTMA however appealed for understanding, assuring that all vehicles coming for the programme have been directed to park inside the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ekehuan Campus, to ease traffic flow, and urging residents to plan their movements early.

The Federal Government on Tuesday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and dualisation of the 401-kilometre Lambata-Bida-Mokwa-Makera-Kontagora federal highway in Niger, at the cost of N1.8 trillion.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, explained that the project would be executed through the Dangote tax credit scheme using reinforced concrete pavement.

The the project will involve the construction of a dual carriageway in partnership with the Dangote Group.

Umahi said the project was qualified to become the fifth legacy project of President Bola Tinubu, considering its size and the commitment of the President to complete the road.

The minister appreciated President Tinubu for being intentional in the total development of all the states.

‘In this North Central alone the President is constructing both new and ongoing projects of a total of 5,500 kilometres; Niger alone is having 1,055 kilometres.

‘In North Central alone, all the projects that we have completed are a total of 162 kilometres and 150 metres in length of bridges.

‘I assure you with your support for the second coming of the president, all these roads will be completed,’ Umahi said.

According to him, the President has added 400 km to the initially approved 750 km of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway to connect the east-west roads that have been affected by climate change.

He further stated that there was an addition of 410 km to the Akwanga-Jos-Bsuchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri road.

‘So there is no change in any of the alignment; what the President is doing is addition,’ he said.

Also speaking, Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger, commended the President for taking a bold step in fixing road infrastructure across the country to facilitate socio-economic growth and development.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said that the reforms of President Tinubu were bearing fruit.

He said the massive infrastructure taking place in the country was unprecedented.

‘This is indeed an expansion and the beginning of the activation of the economic activity of the people of the state,’ he said.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Dangote Group, Mr Mansur Ahmed, said the road was very central to the economy of the country.

‘We assure you that by the time this road is completed, this corridor will be one of the most economically active corridors in Nigeria.

‘And it will be one that will create opportunities for businesses and young people to get jobs. It will open up the agricultural sector for food distribution across regions.’

In their goodwill messages, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, and Rep. Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House Committee on Works, commended the Federal Government’s efforts towards improving road infrastructure across the country.

They said that the National Assembly would continue to provide the needed legislative support that would ensure successful execution of projects across the country.

Mr Yiltong David, Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, said the project represents a significant investment in strengthening economic linkage.

According to him, the project will connect farmers to markets, businesses to customers, and communities to broader commercial opportunities.

‘On completion of this road, it is expected that it will improve traffic flow, enhance road safety, and facilitate the efficient movement of people and goods.

Also speaking, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, described the road project as gigantic, commending the Federal Government for approving it.

He noted that the project would greatly improve economic activities and reduce travel time.

Some of the community members who spoke with NAN thanked the Federal Government for the road, saying it was going to bring rapid development to their communities.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

Bishop Leonard Umunna, General Overseer of Bible Life Church Cathedral, has lamented what he described as worsening living conditions in Nigeria, citing hunger, insecurity and economic hardship in the country.

He said the country has failed to translate its abundant resources into greater prosperity for its citizens.

Umunna spoke during an interview with journalists at his church in Lagos, where he expressed concern about the country’s development and the difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians.

Asked whether life in Nigeria had improved, the cleric said he believed conditions had not become better for many people, arguing that the effects of government policies were central to the country’s challenges.

‘Generally, no, things are not better now,’ he said.

Umunna argued that Nigeria’s difficulties should not be blamed on a lack of resources, insisting that the country possesses substantial natural and human resources that could support national development and improve the welfare of its people.

He questioned why a country with such endowments continued to depend on external assistance instead of using its resources and capacity to strengthen its economy and improve its international standing.

According to him, Nigeria has the potential to contribute significantly to other African countries but has not adequately used its resources to address domestic needs.

The bishop linked the country’s development challenges to policy choices and leadership, arguing that the right people must be given opportunities to serve in positions of responsibility.

He called for leaders who are principled, capable and committed to the public interest, warning against corruption and ethnic considerations in the selection and conduct of public officials.

Umunna said Nigeria had people capable of providing effective leadership but needed to create opportunities for such individuals to emerge and contribute to national progress.

He also argued that sensitive national institutions should operate independently of political parties and government executives, maintaining that institutional independence was essential to improving governance.

The cleric’s comments extended to the challenges of insecurity and economic hardship, which he referenced while discussing the difficulties facing Nigerians. He maintained that principled leadership and better policy choices were necessary to address the country’s problems.

He urged Nigerians to look beyond superficial adjustments and focus on solutions that tackle the underlying causes of persistent national difficulties.

He maintained that Nigeria could make greater progress if its resources were better harnessed and public institutions were led by people committed to integrity, effective governance and the welfare of citizens.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) has approved guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections across West Africa.

The permanent secretary of ECONEC and head of the Electoral Assistance Division at the ECOWAS Commission, Serigne Ka, announced this on Tuesday during a visit by the network’s delegation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

Ka said the guidelines were designed to protect democracy in West Africa as the use of AI continues to grow in public administration and election activities.

He explained that the guidelines were finalised during a two-day meeting in Abuja involving technology experts and electoral officials.

The meeting followed recommendations made at the ECONEC Symposium held in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2025.

Ka described the guidelines as necessary, noting that artificial intelligence had become an important part of modern administration.

He added that a special working group was established after the Dakar symposium in 2025 to develop rules for the use of AI in elections.

Ka also called on the international community to support the implementation of the guidelines across ECOWAS member states.

In his response, INEC chairman Joash Amupitan praised ECONEC for creating a platform where electoral bodies in West Africa could share knowledge, strengthen their institutions and address common challenges.

Amupitan said the use of AI and cybersecurity measures was important for protecting election systems, building public trust and improving services for voters.

He stressed that sustaining democracy in West Africa required independent and professionally managed electoral bodies that operated within the law.

He also noted that political parties, the judiciary, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and citizens all had important roles to play in protecting democracy.

The INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to support other electoral bodies in West Africa through technical assistance, joint post-election assessments and cooperation.

He said such partnerships would help strengthen electoral institutions and maintain democratic standards across the sub-region.

Nigeria’s passport has improved in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, moving from 94th position in 2025 to 92nd in 2026.

The improvement means Nigerian passport holders can now travel to 45 destinations without obtaining a visa before departure, compared with 44 destinations in 2025.

The Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without getting a visa in advance. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

List of 45 destinations Nigerians can visit without a visa in advance

According to the report, Nigerian passport holders can visit the following destinations without obtaining a visa before departure:

Barbados

Benin

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Cape Verde Islands

Chad

Comoros

Cook Islands

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

Fiji

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Haiti

Iran

Kenya

Kiribati

Lebanon

Liberia

Madagascar

Maldives

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Micronesia

Montserrat

Mozambique

Niger

Niue

Palau Islands

Rwanda

Samoa

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

St Kitts and Nevis

The Gambia

Timor-Leste

Togo

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Nigeria’s passport ranking over the years

Nigeria’s position in the global passport ranking has changed several times over the years.

The country ranked 62nd in 2006 but dropped to 76th in 2010 and 87th in 2012. It improved to 78th in 2013 before falling to 95th in 2015.

Nigeria ranked 94th in 2018, 95th in 2019 and 94th in 2020. Its position dropped to 103rd in 2021 before improving to 98th in 2022, 97th in 2023 and 95th in 2024.

In 2025, Nigeria ranked 94th before moving up to 92nd in 2026.

What the improvement means for Nigerian travellers

The latest ranking shows a slight improvement in Nigeria’s international travel access, with the number of destinations Nigerians can visit without obtaining a visa in advance increasing by one.

However, travellers should confirm the entry requirements of their destinations before making travel plans. Some countries may require visas on arrival or electronic travel authorisation, while others may have conditions relating to passport validity, supporting documents and the length of stay.

The ranking also does not mean Nigerians can automatically obtain permission to work, study or live permanently in these countries. Such activities may require separate visas or permits.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Adeyemo Mukaila, over the alleged defilement of a minor in the Ilupeju area of Ikire.

According to a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the suspect was a friend of the victim’s grandmother, whom the girl lives with, and was a frequent visitor to their home.

The statement said the abuse began in September 2026, when Mukaila lured the victim to his house under the pretext of sending her on an errand. On arrival, he allegedly dragged her into his room, removed her underwear and had carnal knowledge of her.

The suspect struck again on October 2, the victim’s birthday. The girl, excited about her special day, informed Mukaila and asked him for a gift. He gave her N1,000, but then demanded a gift in return. The victim went to buy him biscuits and delivered them to his workshop in the Ilupeju area of Ikire.

Mukaila allegedly dragged her into a nearby bush and assaulted her a second time. When he noticed that passersby had seen them, he fled into the bush.

Commuters who had witnessed the incident attended to the victim and asked what had happened to her. She narrated her ordeal, after which they pursued the suspect, arrested him and handed him over to the police.

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, has ordered a thorough investigation into the case.

The command urged members of the public, particularly parents and guardians, to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious movements and criminal activities to the nearest police station or through established police emergency channels.

Two persons identified as Victor Barry and Maruf Bello have been arrested over alleged involvement in human trafficking and illegal medical practice in separate operations in Kwara State.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the spokesperson of the Command, Mr Ayoola Shola, said in a statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.

According to the statement, 22-year-old Victor Barry was arrested for allegedly trafficking a 17-year-old girl from Amoyo, Kwara to Mali, under the pretext of securing employment for her in Senegal.

‘The case was reported by the victim’s mother at the NSCDC Amoyo Division on Oct. 9, before being transferred to the State Headquarters in Ilorin,’ Shola said.

Shola disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the suspect allegedly met the girl at his shop on Oct. 5, when she wanted to purchase noodles and subsequently offered her an opportunity to travel to Senegal for employment.

‘The suspect reportedly took the girl to Lagos on Oct. 7 and handed her over to an unidentified individual at Mile 2 area, for onward transportation abroad.

‘He later informed NSCDC operatives that the girl had arrived in Mali on Oct. 12,’ he said.

The PRO said that the suspect alleged that an agent named Joy, redirected the girl’s destination to Mali, contrary to their initial arrangement for her to travel to Senegal.

He said that the suspect’s parents have pledged to cooperate with the command to facilitate the girl’s return to Nigeria within two weeks.

Shola said that the command would conduct necessary steps to establish the full circumstances of the case and secure her safe return.

In a separate operation on Oct. 13, NSCDC operatives, acting on intelligence, arrested Maruf Bello, 56, for allegedly operating an unauthorised medical facility and performing abortions without recognised medical qualifications.

‘During preliminary investigations, the suspect reportedly admitted to performing multiple abortions but failed to produce any certificate or licence authorising him to practise medicine.

‘Medical instruments suspected to have been used in the procedures were recovered during the operation,’ the PRO said.

He said that the suspect would be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction upon completion of the investigation.

The State Commandant, Abbas Ndah-Mohammed, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives, safeguarding vulnerable persons, and ensuring that individuals suspected of criminal activities are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

Nda-Muhammed urged parents and guardians to exercise caution over overseas employment offers made to young people.

He called on members of the public to promptly report suspected human trafficking, illegal medical practices and other criminal activities to the nearest NSCDC office.

He assured residents of Kwara of the corp’s continued commitment to public safety just as he called for credible and timely intelligence to support its operations.

The Federal Government says it has approved the disbursement of N40.7 billion for healthcare delivery through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) for third quarter 2026.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen at the 16th BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting in Abuja.

Pate said the disbursement reflected increasing government revenue, which he attributed to the macro-fiscal reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

‘N40.7 billion will go to all the states of the federation. That’s the Federal Government’s contribution with the increasing revenues that are coming, and that’s from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF),’ he said.

He said the monthly disbursements into the fund had almost doubled, alongside the amounts received by states, adding that the resources were being channelled towards strengthening Primary Healthcare (PHC) delivery across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Pate, however, said the federal government’s contribution should not be the limit of health financing, stressing that state and local governments must complement the funding.

‘That’s not the limit. States should at least put that alongside the local government and even do more, because these are issues at the subnational level,’ he said.

The minister said the MOC had also deliberated on expanding the number of PHC facilities benefiting from the fund, with an additional 5,000 facilities to be included in the existing network of more than 8,000.

He said the expansion would consider equity, disease burden, population distribution and distance to health facilities to ensure that communities with greater healthcare needs were prioritised.

‘The MOC deliberated on those, noted the progress, and is going to add these 5,000 facilities with equity consideration, so that the burden of disease is considered, distance population is considered,’ Pate said.

He added that the committee discussed measures to improve access to quality and affordable health commodities, including strategies to ensure that Nigerians benefited from increased funding.

On human resources for health, Pate said savings made through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) would be used to recruit frontline health workers.

He said the workers would be transitioned over the next three years, with states expected to assume increasing responsibility for their employment and recruit additional personnel.

The minister also highlighted the need for improved state-level funding to strengthen responses to disease outbreaks, including Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria.

According to him, cholera case fatality is very low overall, although about 95 per cent of reported cases are concentrated in one state, while Lassa fever has recorded a high number of deaths.

Pate said adequate funding by states could help address the outbreaks, while urging parents and caregivers to ensure that children received routine vaccinations against diphtheria.

‘Those children that are vaccinated are unlikely to get the diphtheria disease,’ he said.

He called on civil society organisations, community leaders, the media and the joint task force involving the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the utilisation of the fund.

‘The resources are flowing and we will continue to ensure that the resources get to their intended destinations and be useful for the intended purpose,’ he said.

He said the administration was committed to rebuilding the country’s healthcare system, adding that the federal government was also investing in tertiary healthcare infrastructure, including diagnostic centres and cancer facilities.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the government was prioritising both increased funding and efficient utilisation of resources to maximise their impact.

Salako said the MOC discussed co-procurement arrangements to improve the prices of health commodities supplied to PHC facilities.

He added that collaboration with civil society organisations and the ICPC was part of efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure value for money in the implementation of the fund.

Salako also announced that the committee had decided to extend coverage under the Vulnerable Group Health Insurance Fund to prisoners in Nigeria.

‘Today we took a decision that prisoners in Nigeria will now be covered under the vulnerable health insurance fund. About 90,000 of them through this process will now begin to receive basic health care provision through the enablement of the

President Bola Tinubu-led administration,’ he said.

BHCPF is a government financing mechanism established under the National Health Act. It supports the delivery of basic healthcare services, particularly through PHC facilities and mechanisms for expanding access to essential services.

The MOC provides oversight for the implementation of the fund, including reviewing progress, addressing operational challenges and strengthening accountability to ensure that resources translate into improved access to healthcare.

Nigerian, American and British law enforcement agencies have disrupted major cybercrimes networks operating across West Africa, arresting 28 suspects and identifying 117 trafficking victims in Ghana.

Meanwhile, Ghanian authorities have also confirmed that 120 Nigerians who were trafficked into Ghana and forced to work in cybercrime operations have been repatriated home as part of the operation.

The U.S. Department of Justice and Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George, announced the development in separate statements on Tuesday evening.

U.S Department described the coordinated crackdown as a major disruption of transnational criminal networks operating from West Africa.

It added that the operation, conducted between Oct. 6 and Oct. 9, involved intelligence sharing, coordinated arrests and the removal of millions of fraudulent social media accounts.

According to the department, Nigerian authorities arrested nine suspects during the operation, while Ghanaian security agencies apprehended 19 others.

Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that the Nigerian arrests occurred across Delta State, where investigators seized six laptops, 35 mobile phones and 12 routers.

In Ghana, authorities arrested 19 suspects in Sasaabi, near Accra, and seized 303 electronic devices suspected of being connected to fraudulent activities.

Investigators also identified 117 trafficking victims at the Ghanaian locations.

The operation involved Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Centre and other international security agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Tysen Duva commended Nigerian and Ghanaian security personnel for their contributions to the operation.

‘I am especially grateful to the courageous law enforcement officers in Ghana and Nigeria,’ Duva said.

He explained that cooperation between law enforcement agencies and technology companies had enabled investigators to identify suspects, dismantle fraudulent networks and protect victims.

The Justice Department disclosed that participating technology companies removed more than 3.7 million fraudulent accounts, pages and groups targeting people in several countries.

The companies also provided intelligence concerning more than 30 suspected scam centres, contributing to arrests, cryptocurrency seizures and the identification of trafficking victims.

Investigators identified approximately 11 million dollars in potentially freezable funds linked to suspected fraudulent operations.

The authorities clarified that the identified funds had not necessarily been recovered or permanently confiscated.

The disrupted schemes included cryptocurrency investment fraud, impersonation of law enforcement officers, online extortion and other sophisticated financial scams.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who leads the Scam Center Strike Force in Washington, emphasised the importance of international cooperation declaring, ‘transnational fraud demands a transnational response’..

The NCA disclosed that earlier enforcement operations in Ghana had also uncovered suspected trafficking victims who appeared to have been coerced into participating in criminal activities.

According to the agency, the latest operation demonstrated the growing importance of cooperation between African security agencies, international investigators and technology companies.

The U.S. Justice Department said the participating agencies would continue pursuing individuals and organisations responsible for international cyberfraud and related trafficking offences.

In his own statement posted on his verified X account on Tuesday, George confirmed that 120 Nigerians nationals who were trafficked into Ghana and forced to work in cybercrime operations has been repatriated home.

He expressed deep appreciation to the Ghana Air Force and the Ministry of Defence for facilitating the smooth return of the Nigerians to their home country.

‘My sincere gratitude goes to the Ghana Air Force and the Ministry of Defence for facilitating the repatriation of 120 Nigerian nationals who were arrested during #OperationCyberhunt,’ the minister said.

He confirmed that the sting operation was led by the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana (CSA) in conjunction with other intelligence and security agencies in Ghana, as well as partners from the United Kingdom, Nigeria and the United States.

He explained that the 120 persons had been trafficked to Ghana and compelled to participate in the cybercrime setups before their rescue.

The minister disclosed that the operation led to the seizure of a large quantity of equipment and items suspected to have been used in the illegal activities.

These included 136 mobile phones, 130 laptops, internet connection devices, four motor vehicles – one of which was reportedly stolen from Canada – jewellery, and ten Nigerian passports, among other digital equipment.

George further revealed that eight other individuals arrested in connection with the operation are currently being processed for prosecution.

‘The team is processing 8 other persons for prosecution, and Ghana under President Mahama will remain an unfavourable destination for cyber criminals. For God and Country,’ George stated.

The repatriation comes after a coordinated intelligence-led operation carried out in late September that targeted several suspected cybercrime centres, particularly in the Greater Accra Region.

Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), had earlier confirmed the arrival of a significant number of the returnees, describing them as victims of human trafficking who were forced into online fraud activities.

Officials noted that the returnees are undergoing profiling, counselling and reintegration processes to help them rebuild their lives after the traumatic experience.