Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has said that an estimated 87 million bribes amounting to N700 billion were paid in  2023 alone.

Aliyu also said that the frequency of bribes is higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

According to him, corruption remains one of the most significant impediments to Nigeria’s development, as it erodes trust in public institutions, undermines the rule of law, and stifles economic growth.

Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke when he delivered a keynote address at the ongoing International Law Conference organised by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The ICPC chairman, who spoke on “Law and Contemporary Societal Issues: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities,”  also pointed out that corruption is not only a legal issue but also a social problem that requires a comprehensive and sustained approach.

According to a recent survey by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, corruption ranked fourth among the most critical problems affecting the country in 2023, after cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.

Aliyu revealed that in 2023, an estimated 87 million bribes amounting to N700 billion were paid and that the frequency of bribes is higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

“Despite these challenges, we are making progress. The rate of citizens reporting bribe payments to official authorities increased from 3.6 per cent in 2019 to 8.6 per cent in 2023.

This is a testament to the growing awareness and willingness of Nigerians to fight corruption,” he further said.

The ICPC chair stressed that abuse of office also remained a form of corrupt practice common in many sectors of the Nigerian public service, saying that sexual harassment is a significant issue in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with studies indicating a high prevalence among female students.

He said that according to the 2018 World Bank survey, approximately 70 per cent of female graduates from these institutions reported experiencing sexual harassment by classmates or instructors.

Aliyu described human rights and social justice as the cornerstones of a fair society, ensuring dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities for all.

“Corruption undermines these rights, breeding inequality and oppression. The ICPC is committed to upholding human rights and promoting social justice by combating corruption and ensuring access to essential services,” he said.

The ICPC boss, who also spoke on digital transformation and cybersecurity, urged that the judiciary needs continuous education and training to effectively adjudicate cyber-related cases such as online fraud, sexual extortion, cybersquatting, and unlawful interception of communications.

Aliyu concluded that tackling corruption, human rights, digital threats, and environmental issues presented major challenges and exciting opportunities and that these hurdles could be overcome by uniting efforts, embracing innovative technologies, and championing justice.

The African region is facing an unprecedented rise in mpox cases, with previously unaffected countries reporting cases as the virus spreads, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Mpox is transmitted through close contact and causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.

The WHO said in a statement that mpox outbreak has been reported in 15 African countries since the beginning of 2024, with a total of 2,030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths, compared to 1,145 cases and seven deaths last year.

Four previously unaffected countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have registered cases since mid-July, the statement said.

“The priority is to rapidly interrupt the transmission of the virus. We’re collaborating with partners in support of countries to reinforce outbreak control measures and ensure that communities are central to ongoing efforts to effectively end these outbreaks,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for more than 90% of reported cases, with a new variant emerging in September 2023 and circulating in the eastern region.

Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya have registered cases of the new variant, and an investigation is underway in Burundi to determine whether the reported cases are the result of the new variant.

The WHO said it is working through country teams and experts deployed on the ground to assist national authorities in strengthening key response areas, including disease surveillance, diagnosis testing and clinical care, infection prevention and control.

A person infected with mpox develops symptoms within 2 to 19 days after exposure, according to health professionals.

Common symptoms may include a rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.

Previously known as monkeypox, the disease spread to over 100 countries in 2022, mainly affecting gay and bisexual men.

The WHO has elevated the mpox outbreak response to the highest level, necessitating organization-wide mobilization and scaling up.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general, WHO has convened an emergency committee of experts to determine whether the outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The GSMA has identified Nigeria as a pivotal player in the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) for driving socio-economic progress and climate impact in its new report, “AI for Africa: Use Cases Delivering Impact – Nigeria Deep Dive“.

It follows the continent-wide report, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which highlighted that while Africa currently accounts for only 2.5% of the global AI market, emerging AI applications hold the potential to boost African economic growth by an astonishing $2.9 trillion by 2030.

The newly-released analysis on Nigeria, also funded by the FCDO, highlights AI’s transformative capacity in the country in key sectors such as agriculture, energy and climate action, and underscores Nigeria’s potential to lead in AI-driven development across the continent.

Agriculture: enhancing productivity and food security

Agriculture remains a significant sector in Nigeria, employing nearly 40% of the population and contributing a quarter of the GDP. The report identifies substantial opportunities for AI and digital technologies to enhance resource efficiency, increase productivity, improve market access, and reduce post-harvest losses.

AI-powered solutions like Crop2Cash’s FarmAdvice and ThriveAgric’s Agricultural Operating System are already making strides by providing tailored advice and financial services to farmers.

However, challenges such as limited data availability, high costs, and a significant digital skills gap among smallholder farmers hinder the widespread adoption of AI.

Energy: optimising access and efficiency

Nigeria’s energy sector faces challenges including an ageing infrastructure and a reliance on fossil fuels. The deployment of AI technologies in the field remains nascent in Nigeria but has significant potential to improve energy distribution and reliability.

Innovations like Beacon Power Services’ AI-enabled grid management platform and Husk Power Systems’ AI-driven mini-grids can optimise energy usage and extend access to rural areas.

These solutions are critical in addressing the energy sector’s needs, providing both on-grid and off-grid systems with the tools to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Where access is lacking, AI could also play a role by helping inform energy planning and supporting the financing of solar appliances to reduce energy poverty.

Climate action: building resilience

Despite low greenhouse gas emissions, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate change. Existing AI-driven solutions include Google’s flood forecasting tool and Chemotronix, a carbon credit platform enabled by AI.

While climate-related AI applications are currently limited in Nigeria, there is potential to further leverage AI capabilities for climate action, especially around natural resource management.

Satellite imagery could help biodiversity mapping and monitoring, while climate modelling could help understand the future impact of climate change in highly polluted areas, helping Nigeria mitigate and adapt to environmental challenges.

Addressing key challenges

To fully leverage AI’s potential, the report identifies several critical areas of focus:

– Data availability and accessibility: investing in localised, domain-specific data collection and ensuring safe data handling practices are essential. Increasing access to high-quality data will help customise AI solutions to local needs.

– AI infrastructure and computing: expanding infrastructure, enhancing access to high-performance computing, and prioritising edge computing capabilities are necessary steps. Investments in these areas will support AI scalability and effectiveness.

– Skills development: enhancing AI and data science education, accelerating digital literacy, and building capacity for AI users and builders are vital. Developing a skilled workforce will drive innovation and adoption of AI technologies.

– Policy and ecosystem support: establishing clear policy roadmaps, encouraging cross-sector collaboration, and promoting local investment are key to fostering a robust AI ecosystem. Strengthening these areas will create an enabling environment for AI growth.

Strategic recommendations

The report provides targeted recommendations to support AI deployment in Nigeria:

–  Invest in localised data collection: support the financing of hardware and devices, including drones, IoT sensors, and smartphones to accelerate data collection across sectors, and support initiatives building local language datasets.

–  Enhance infrastructure and compute capabilities: invest in data centres, promote clean energy sources, and develop edge computing solutions for low-resource environments.

– Foster AI skills and education: capitalise on Nigeria’s young population by enhancing AI and data science curricula, providing scholarships, and supporting capacity-building initiatives.

– Strengthen AI ecosystem: encourage public-private partnerships, mitigate investment risks, and boost funding for R&D to promote innovation and sustainable development.

Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, Head of Mobile for Development at the GSMA, said: “Nigeria’s potential to harness AI for transformative change is immense. The innovative applications we are already seeing in agriculture, energy, and climate action are just the beginning. With further progress around data availability, connectivity, or skills development, the country can truly enable AI to drive significant socio-economic progress.”