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The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) is targeting the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in public service, as more than 80 per cent of federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) now have functional websites.

Director-General of the bureau, Dr Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Team (IMTT) for the 2026 Federal Government Websites Ranking Exercise.

Arabi said the proportion of MDAs with functional websites had risen from less than 30 per cent when the ranking began, adding that the bureau was targeting 100 per cent within the next one to two years.

‘We are not looking at only paperless. We are looking at the adoption of the use of AI in delivering public service,’ he said.

He added: ‘We’re hoping that in the next one or two years, all of us will be there. So everybody’s going to score 100 per cent.’

Arabi explained that the website ranking exercise was introduced to make government information and services more accessible to citizens.

‘The quickest and the easiest way for citizens to engage with government is through their website,’ he said.

He noted that MDAs were expected to provide accurate information, working telephone numbers and email addresses, as well as platforms for citizens to make Freedom of Information requests electronically.

Arabi said the government also wanted Nigerians to transact business with MDAs online without travelling to government offices.

He explained that the 2026 ranking would use automated technology to assess MDA websites, adding that the exercise would also help government generate data on its activities, achievements and plans.

He noted that the exercise, now in its seventh edition, would involve private-sector participation in the assessment process.

Director of GovTech Africa, Mr Fortune Toma, said the automation would allow MDA websites to be assessed continuously over several weeks rather than through a one-off manual assessment.

He explained that the system would record findings while allowing IMTT members to review areas requiring human judgment.

Toma noted that increased digitisation also required stronger cybersecurity measures to protect government infrastructure.

‘Obviously, the attacks will now move from physical attacks to cyber attacks,’ he said.

He added that MDAs needed to set standards, monitor their digital infrastructure and conduct compliance checks to protect government systems.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted a consignment of endangered wildlife and arrested three suspects along the Kano/Daura Road.

The consignment contained chimpanzees, baby gorillas and caracal wild cats.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the command, CSC Tahir Balarabe, the operation followed credible intelligence and was conducted under Section 55(1)(i) of the NCS Act 2023 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Assistant Comptroller Muhammad Zanna, Acting Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, said the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe the officers but their efforts were rebuffed.

‘Our patrol team intercepted the endangered wildlife and apprehended three suspects. Commendably, our officers resisted multiple attempts at bribery. This gallant effort has disrupted the supply chain and will help reduce trafficking of endangered species,’ Zanna stated.

He said a physical examination of the consignment revealed four caracal wild cats, four chimpanzees, two baby gorillas, seven patas monkeys, two galagos (bush babies), one honey badger, two albino alligators, six rock fowls, one civet cat and 19 greater bustard wild birds.

Zanna said the suspects and the intercepted animals had been handed over to the Special Wildlife Office of the NCS Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.

He commended Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for their support, while reiterating the command’s commitment to combating wildlife trafficking.

‘We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to disrupt this illegal trade that undermines biodiversity,’ he added.

An environmental expert and Chief Executive Officer of Engineering and Environmental Management Services Limited (EEMS Limited), Dr Mamoud Bello Abubakar, has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to move beyond reactive emergency response and adopt a more anticipatory, climate-resilient approach to managing recurring floods in the capital.

In a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Dr Abubakar, a chemical engineer and environmental and social safeguards specialist, said the flooding currently affecting parts of the FCT should not be viewed simply as a rainfall problem, but as the result of a convergence of factors including climate change, rapid urbanisation, encroachment on natural drainage corridors, poor waste disposal, and weaknesses in development control and infrastructure maintenance.

‘Abuja’s continuing expansion and changing climate require us to move progressively from a predominantly reactive approach towards anticipatory, risk-informed and climate-resilient urban management,’ he said, while commending the FCTA, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) and other agencies for their ongoing flood sensitisation and emergency preparedness efforts.

He identified development on floodplains and waterways, inadequate drainage capacity in fast-growing districts, blocked drains, rising impervious surfaces from urban construction, and poor coordination among planning, environmental and emergency agencies as key drivers of the city’s vulnerability to flooding.

He proposed a six-point programme for the FCTA, beginning with comprehensive flood-risk and drainage assessments using hydrological modelling and GIS mapping to identify high-risk areas.

Other recommendations include mapping and protecting floodplains, natural waterways, green areas and drainage corridors; enforcing development-control regulations consistently; upgrading drainage infrastructure on a catchment-wide basis; mandating hydrological assessments for major development approvals; and strengthening community-level early-warning and evacuation systems.

Dr Abubakar also appealed to residents and businesses to stop dumping waste into drains and waterways, while developers must comply strictly with approved planning and environmental requirements, stressing that flood resilience ‘requires shared responsibility’ between government, developers and the public.

He described the FCTA’s ongoing infrastructure renewal programme as an opportunity to embed climate resilience into the city’s development, saying the goal should be to prevent flooding where possible and manage it ‘without catastrophic consequences’ where it cannot be avoided.

Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has called for a radical and comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, stressing that the country must restore respect for law and order, strengthen law enforcement institutions and address the social values influencing citizens’ behaviour.

Fashola spoke while delivering the keynote address at the 12th Triennial National Conference of Jama’at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria, held at the organisation’s mosque in Magodo, Lagos.

The conference, themed ‘Nigeria’s Political Adventure, Insecurity and Need for More Radical Approach to Stability,’ brought together Islamic scholars, members of the organisation’s leadership, women and youth leaders, as well as other stakeholders.

The conference also witnessed the launch of the Jama’at-ul Islamiyya Centenary School Project, aimed at strengthening the organisation’s schools and promoting quality education grounded in Islamic values.

Fashola said insecurity could not be solved simply by deploying more security personnel.

According to him, Nigeria must address the institutional, social and behavioural factors that continue to undermine stability.

He identified the restoration of law and order as the first major step towards achieving lasting security, urging Nigerians to embrace the principle that nobody should be above the law, regardless of political affiliation, religion or ethnicity.

He questioned the values being transmitted to younger generations, particularly attitudes towards law enforcement and obedience to legitimate authority.

He urged citizens to ‘reset’ their mindset and develop greater respect for law and order.

The former governor also noted that misconduct by security personnel could damage public confidence in government because a uniform represents the authority of the state.

He therefore stressed that both security agencies and citizens had responsibilities in building an orderly society.

Fashola explained that government faced an enormous challenge in protecting citizens because it was expected to succeed almost all the time, while criminals needed only one opportunity to cause significant harm.

He said the imbalance demonstrated why government must remain effective in preventing, detecting and responding to crime.

He also identified drug abuse and youth idleness as major factors requiring urgent attention. He called for stronger preventive measures against substance abuse and greater investment in programmes that would engage young Nigerians productively.

Fashola cited the National Youth Sports Festival as an example of an initiative capable of bringing large numbers of young people together for constructive activities.

He argued that leaving hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians without meaningful engagement could create conditions that make them vulnerable to crime and other social problems.

On the proposed establishment of state police, Fashola said the idea should be viewed as an opportunity to build a new professional cadre within the public sector rather than merely increase the number of security personnel.

He advocated proper recruitment, training and professional development for officers who would serve in state police formations. According to him, policing should be treated as a professional career, just as Nigeria has developed professional cadres in engineering and medicine.

Earlier, the President of Jama’at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria, Engr. Hashim Oyekan, described the conference as timely, given Nigeria’s security and socio-political challenges.

He stressed that stability could not be achieved through rhetoric alone but required justice, practical solutions and collective responsibility.

Oyekan said education remained a powerful instrument for social transformation and appealed to members, donors and guests to support the project as an investment in future generations.

The gathering also marked a leadership transition within Jama’at-ul Islamiyya of Nigeria.

Oyekan described leadership as an Amanah, or sacred trust, and expressed appreciation to members, scholars and the Executive Council for their support during his tenure.

He prayed for wisdom, strength and guidance for the incoming leadership as it takes the organisation forward.

Nigeria suffered a disappointing start at the ninth Lagos International Badminton Classic, with seven players eliminated from the women’s singles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nigeria Institute of Sports, Lagos.

The competition, which began on Wednesday, is scheduled to end on Saturday at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Nigeria’s number-one ranked player, Ruth Ebere, opened proceedings but lost 21-15, 21-10 to India’s Surya Tamiri.

Tamiri won the women’s singles title at the 87th edition of the competition in Vijayawada, India.

Tolulope Oluwadamilola also exited after losing 21-6, 21-4 to Czech Republic’s third seed, Petra Maixnerovau.

Kadijat Emiola suffered a 21-8, 21-11 defeat against eighth-seeded Czech Republic player Van Coppenolle.

Ifeoluwa Ojo was beaten 21-5, 21-10 by fourth seed Prakriti Bharath, while Precious Oluwagbotemi lost 21-6, 21-4 to India’s M. Mareddy.

Peace Jonah also departed after Saudi Arabia’s Khadijah Kawthar defeated her 21-6, 21-10 in their Round-of-32 encounter.

Nigeria’s Naomi Tanko completed the difficult day for the hosts, losing 21-10, 21-10 to second seed Disha Gupta.

Ebere said the gulf between Nigerian players and established international competitors remained difficult to bridge.

‘The game has been encouraging, probably with the fact that there have been so many tense and tough moments,’ she said (NAN).

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, a Mauritanian diplomat and former foreign minister, was elected secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday.

The election was held at an extraordinary meeting of OIC foreign ministers in the Saudi city of Jeddah, which also discussed the issue of Palestinian statehood and recent developments regarding Jerusalem.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed, 66, succeeds Chad’s Hussein Ibrahim Taha, who has served as OIC secretary-general since late 2021 and whose term will officially end in November.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed served as Mauritania’s foreign minister from 2018 to 2022, and as the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for Yemen from 2015 to 2018.

He also previously served as deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General, and as resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for the UN Support Mission in Libya in 2014.

From 2012 to 2014, he served as UN humanitarian coordinator and UN Population Fund representative in Yemen, later holding the same positions in Syria from 2008 to 2012.

In addition to Arabic, Ould Cheikh Ahmed speaks both French and English.

The OIC is the world’s second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN, boasting a total of 57 member states.

It focuses mainly on issues affecting the Muslim world, including the Palestinian national cause and Jerusalem. (Anadolu Agency)

The families of missing persons in Adamawa State have urged stakeholders in all strata of life to continue supporting the search for their loved ones who are missing, even as officials said 3000 people remain missing in the state.

Millions of Nigerians have been displaced due to armed conflicts or natural disasters, while thousands have gone missing, especially in the North Eastern part of the country as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, which has been lingering since 2009.

State Secretary of the Missing Persons Families Association, Mr Joshua Audu, in his speech at the 2026 International Day of the Disappeared ceremony held in Yola on Thursday, said that the day was not set aside as a remembrance day only, but it is a day of courage, solidarity, advocacy, and renewed commitment for the families of the missing persons.

Audu explained that the theme for this year’s occasion, ‘Keep Our Case Alive’, captured the reality of families who continue to live with unanswered questions, noting that when a loved one goes missing, the pain does not end with the passage of time.

Speaking at the commemoration event, Emeline Montel, Protection of Family Links Delegate, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Mubi stressed that the issue of missing persons has an immense impact on families and society.

‘Our Red Cross Movement registered 500,000 missing people across the world. In Nigeria, the ICRC continues to maintain contact with the families of 17,000 missing persons, but in Adamawa State, we registered more than 3,000 families whose loved ones went missing.

‘And we know that these numbers are only fractions of the reality, as we do prevention, tracing and reunification of the missing people ‘.Montel said.