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Tinubu: Data Now Nigeria’s “New Oil,” Key to Progress

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President Bola Tinubu has declared data as “the new oil,” emphasising its critical role in governance and Nigeria’s global standing.

He announced a directive for all ministries, departments, and agencies to capture, safeguard, and responsibly release data to drive public value and facilitate international benchmarking.

This strategic emphasis on data comes as Galaxy Backbone launches its 1Government Cloud Academy, an initiative designed to equip civil servants with the essential digital skills for Nigeria’s transition to a paperless public sector.

According to a statement from Galaxy Backbone on Wednesday, the set up of the academy is a strategic move to advance Nigeria’s transition to a paperless civil service and enhance communication across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The announcement was a key highlight of the 2025 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, attended by President Tinubu, members of the Federal Executive Council, the diplomatic community, industry leaders, and civil servants.

In his opening remarks, President Tinubu reinforced the strategic significance of data, describing it as “the new oil.”

He clarified that unlike traditional oil, data’s value appreciates with refinement and responsible utilisation.

The President mandated all MDAs to diligently capture and safeguard data under the Nigerian Data Protection Act (2023), and to release it in ways that generate public value, ensuring strict adherence to international data privacy standards.

“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets locally and share them globally. This will enable international benchmarking and strengthen Nigeria’s standing on the world stage,” he stated.

He further emphasised the need for data sovereignty and privacy to be rigorously protected within local and allied data centers.

Galaxy Backbone’s new 1Government Cloud Academy aims to train selected civil servants and public sector stakeholders in technical tools crucial for successful digital transformation.

This move is a strategic step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital public service and improving communication across MDAs.

The Programme Director of the 1Government Cloud initiative, Mr. Wumi Oghoetuoma, while speaking on a panel at the event, underscored the paramount importance of trust and understanding in the successful adoption of digital tools.

“Many digital solutions have failed not because they were ineffective, but because users didn’t trust or fully understand them,” Oghoetuoma noted.

He lauded the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for her decisive reform efforts in public sector digitalization, highlighting that the academy’s training encompasses both technical competencies and vital soft skills for transformation.

The 1Government Cloud Academy will serve as a central hub for training and certifying government personnel, particularly ECM Project Managers.

These civil servants are selected as “transformation champions” within their departments, acting as in-house digital guides to help colleagues overcome initial challenges and build confidence in new tools.

“This approach builds trust, improves usability, and encourages widespread adoption across MDAs,” Oghoetuoma explained, adding, “Many tools are abandoned not because they don’t work, but due to lack of communication and internal support.”

Oghoetuoma pointed out that even basic issues, like poor WiFi connectivity, often remain unresolved because ministry staff fail to engage with their IT departments, and those departments, in turn, don’t escalate the issues to Galaxy Backbone.

“This silent communication breakdown creates a false perception that the system is broken, when in reality, it’s an unreported or unresolved issue,” he said.

To tackle this, the academy is also offering specialized certification courses for IT departments to boost responsiveness and cross-functional collaboration.

He stressed that the challenge isn’t a lack of digital literacy, as most civil servants are proficient with smartphones and social media. Instead, it’s a matter of “mindset, motivation, and ongoing support.”

Oghoetuoma emphasized, “Digital transformation hinges on people, processes, and technology.”

He concluded, “With strong personnel and well-documented processes already in place, the missing link is often technology adoption, and the glue that holds it all together is communication. Sustainable digitalisation in the public sector requires making people feel like active participants, not passive users.”

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, highlighted that Nigeria’s digital reforms as a model for other nations.

She cited the automation of processes through the Enterprise Content Management system, the introduction of a Performance Management System, and the deployment of ServiceWise GPT, which aligns individual roles with national priorities.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, commended Nigeria’s reform agenda under President Tinubu, stating,“

These are bold and necessary steps for long-term development.”

He underscored that the success of these reforms hinges on efficient service delivery and integrity within the civil service.

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Crime

Joint Security Forces Nab 12 Kidnap Suspects, Rescue Victims in Kogi/Kwara Operation (Photos)

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Twelve suspected kidnappers and one informant have been arrested in a coordinated security operation carried out across parts of Kogi and Kwara States.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo through a press statement made available to newsmen.

He said the suspects were apprehended during a series of raids jointly executed by the Hybrid Force from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Officers and Men of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe.

The operations covered Isanlu-Esa and Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Patigi, Lafiagi and Gbugbu in Kwara State.

The statement identified the suspected kidnappers as Mainasara Abubakar, Sadik Abubakar, Jude Sani, Sanda Abubakar, Lawali Usman, Tukur Shehu, Hassan Abubakar, Kabiru Surajo, Makiri Dodo, Bala Hassan, Umaru Sanda, and Ruwa Abubakar. Also arrested was Rabiu Makeri, who is believed to be an informant for the gang.

According to the statement, the security forces engaged the suspects in a fierce gun battle, during which some of the kidnappers fled, abandoning their motorcycles and kidnap victims. Several kidnapped women were successfully rescued during the confrontation.

“We want to thank the gallant officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser and our men at the FOB, Egbe for their courage and professionalism. We also commend the Kwara State Government for their cooperation, which has yielded this outstanding result,” the statement read.

“Peace has returned to Kogi West as the criminal route from Kwara into our communities has now been disrupted. There will be no hiding place for the criminals. One of the security agents who confronted the kidnappers was shot and he is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Yagba West Local Government Area of the State. The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has offered to cover all the costs of treatment”, he said.

The Commissioner further assured the public that the arrested suspects will face full prosecution after investigations, reaffirming the state’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality.

In a separate remark, the Executive Chairman of Yagba West LGA and ALGON Chairman for Kogi State, Hon. Tosin Olokun, expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing the logistics and support that enabled the success of the operation.

“Governor Ododo promised to restore peace to Yagba West and Yagba as a whole. Today, he has backed those words with decisive action. We can now heave a sigh of relief. The people of Yagba are grateful for his leadership and the results it is delivering,” Olokun said.

The Kogi State Government emphasized its ongoing commitment to working with federal and regional partners to ensure the safety and security of all communities within the state.

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JUST IN: PSC threatens to kick out drug addicts in the system

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The Police Service Commission has vowed to flush out drug addicts in the Nigeria Police Force and has extended an invitation to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to assist the Commission achieve this noble objective.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations said the PSC chairman made the vow during a visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency where it formally met with the Agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive and his Management team.

It said the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, used the occasion to invite the Agency to join the Commission in all the processes of screening prospective Nigerians who are desirous of joining the Nigeria Police Force.

DIG Argungu, who was received by Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the Agency, said there was need for a functional partnership between the Commission and the Agency in the fight to eradicate drug abuse in the Nigeria Police.

He commended the Agency for the assistance in screening intakes of the Police Academy, Wudil Kano which he said has drastically reduced the incidences of drug addiction by students of the Academy.

The PSC Chairman said there was need to upscale this assistance to cover the Recruitment processes in the Nigeria Police Force.

“We want you to help us fish out the drug addicts who obviously should not be allowed to get into and corrupt the system. We want to get it right and get the Police to work “.

DIG Argungu said it was dangerous to give fire arms to drug addicts and vowed that the Commission is poised to flush out such Officers in the Police Force.

The Chairman commended his host for his track record of excellence in the service of the nation.General Marwa, in his response, congratulated the Chairman on his deserved appointment and prayed for his success.

He pledged the Agency’s commitment to assist the Commission sanitize Police Recruitment.” We will try our best to bring the menace to an end, but it requires intelligence, sharing intelligence, training” he noted.

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RULAAC Commends DSS DG’s Human Rights Reforms, Tasks IGP to Emulate Same in the Nigeria Police Force

In stark contrast, the Nigeria Police Force has persistently failed to act on similar cases of abuse, even in the face of clear court judgments and public outrage.

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July 22, 2025 – Lagos, Nigeria:

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has Commended the Director -General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, for demonstrating a rare and commendable commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and institutional accountability.

Okechukwu Nwanguma Executive Director of RULAAC, have the commendation today in a media statement.

The statement reads:

“We note with satisfaction the recent steps taken under his leadership to:-

Release a number of unlawfully detained individuals, including Abdulyakini Salisu, who had been in detention since 2022;-

Pay financial compensation to victims of unlawful arrest, wrongful detention, and mistaken identity;-

Tender official apologies to affected individuals;-

Provide medical support and rehabilitation to victims;-

Take disciplinary action against erring operatives responsible for these violations.

These actions represent a significant departure from the long-standing culture of impunity in Nigeria’s security sector and offer a concrete example of how security agencies can demonstrate — rather than merely tout — respect for human rights and the rule of law.

In stark contrast, the Nigeria Police Force has persistently failed to act on similar cases of abuse, even in the face of clear court judgments and public outrage.

A notable example remains the case of Glory Okolie, a young woman illegally detained by police officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in 2021 for over 150 days, during which she was abused and dehumanized.

Despite a Federal High Court judgment awarding her ₦60 million in damages and ordering her release, the Nigeria Police neither issued an apology nor took any disciplinary or remedial action.

RULAAC therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to:

1. Publicly acknowledge and apologize for past and ongoing human rights violations under the Nigeria Police Force;

2. Comply fully with all outstanding judicial orders, including payment of damages to victims like Glory Okolie;

3. Set up a dedicated human rights audit committee within the Force to review and redress cases of unlawful detention and abuse;

4. Institute disciplinary action against officers who violate human rights, as a deterrent and commitment to reform;

5. Embrace a leadership approach grounded in transparency, justice, and accountability, similar to the path now being charted by the DSS.

The credibility of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on the conduct of its law enforcement agencies.

We cannot continue to condone a culture where police impunity is the norm and citizens’ rights are routinely violated without consequence.

The recent actions by the DSS DG show that reform is possible — where there is the will.

The IGP and the Nigeria Police Force must show that they, too, are capable of change.

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