E-Business
NITDA Signs MoU with Cisco on Irrigation of 500,000 Farmlands with Tech Solutions

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cisco International for the adoption of smart solutions to address socio-economic challenges in the country.
The director-general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the MoU would facilitate the adoption of digital technology/solutions for the irrigation of 500,000 farmlands in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to boost food security in the country.
The MoU was signed at the headquarters of NITDA in Abuja by the director general of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, and the chief executive officer/country director of CISCO, Clayton Naidoo.
Speaking at the event, the NITDA boss said the MoU would accelerate the process of delivering digital services to Nigerians through smart agriculture, education, health, and other social services.
Abdullahi said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was anchored on delivering digital services through technological solutions, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) Internet of Things (IoT), and drones amongst others to solve Nigeria’s critical problems.
According to him, NITDA is partnering with Cisco to boost agricultural productivity and food security as directed by the President, adding that the adoption of the technologies would be extended to unserved and underserved areas of the country.
Abdullahi who took the Cisco team around some designated farms in Abuja, said Cisco would be working with a firm in Maiduguri, Borno state, to develop a learning Centre for Nigerians on the use of Artificial Intelligence, (AI) Internet of Things (IoT) and other technology solutions to improve businesses.
“The MoU we signed today is aimed at accelerating the adoption of technology solutions as well as digital services to enhance agriculture productivity and improve health care services, and security, among others.
“This is the vision of Mr President as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda. Our Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani has developed five pillars for the realisation of the vision. And here in NITDA, we have 7 pillars for our strategic plans. All this is geared towards economic transformation and accelerated development”, Abdullahi said.
The country director of CISCO, Naidoo said Nigeria would benefit from the MoU as it would improve agricultural production, create job opportunities, and empower the citizens financially.
He said Cisco has been involved with various governments in Africa and America to create innovation hubs, stressing that in Nigeria technology experience centres would be created to boost security services and business units.
Naidoo said his organisation would create inclusive modules that would empower local communities in Nigeria and make them benefit from various job opportunities in the digital services sector and other related sectors.
E-Business
INEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its ICT Department.
This marks a significant stride toward enhancing electoral integrity, efficiency, and innovation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
This decision was reached at the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held in Abuja, following a series of consultations and engagements on the global and continental impact of AI on elections.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC underscored that the growing relevance of AI in electoral matters necessitated a proactive institutional framework to manage both the risks and opportunities it presents.
“Our interactions with electoral bodies across Africa highlighted both the risks of AI—such as fake news and content manipulation—and the vast potential it holds for data-driven decision-making, risk mitigation, automated voter services, and geo-spatial intelligence for logistics,” Olumekun noted.
According to him, the newly created division will centralise the Commission’s AI efforts, ensuring a harmonized approach to deploying intelligent systems that enhance decision-making, improve voter engagement, and boost the credibility of the electoral process.
“The creation of this division puts the Commission at the forefront of institutionalizing AI capabilities in electoral management.
It is also part of our ongoing reforms in areas where administrative action is sufficient to drive change,” he said.
He added that the AI Division will help INEC better coordinate its existing technological investments while providing safeguards against the misuse of AI technologies.
“We are positioning ourselves to maximise the positive impact of AI while mitigating its negative implications. This step strengthens the credibility and transparency of elections in Nigeria,” Olumekun concluded.
The initiative, INEC emphasised, reflects its commitment to embracing innovation in safeguarding democracy and improving electoral services nationwide.
E-Business
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in partnership with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has unveiled a new Application Programming Interface (API) integration system to allow private firms access company data from the Commission’s database.
Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), registrar general of CAC, who spoke in Abuja at the unveiling said the system would give selected private organizations access to CAC services through technology-based companies, called “super agents.”
“This is a practical step to show that the Commission is committed to meeting the expectations of our customers,” he said.
Magaji explained that the integration allows the agents to retrieve data from the CAC database for use in specific client requests, outside the standard services provided by the Commission.
“Before now, only a few government agencies had this integration, especially those involved in investigations, anti-money laundering, and terrorism financing. Now, private companies that meet the criteria can also access it,” he said.
He said the system complies with the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and information such as residential addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth may be restricted.
“This is a call to law firms and companies with the right technology. We’ve started with NIPS because of their credibility. Embassies and banks can now authenticate company records directly through them.”
“There are prescribed fees. We already collect them on our portal, and now customers can also pay through these agents,” he explained.
He named NIPS, MoneyPoint, and OPE as some of the companies involved.
“OPE and MoneyPoint handle only registrations. But NIPS has moved further into validation and verification,” he said.
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, executive director at NIBSS, who represented Premier Oiwoh, managing director, said the service allows secure and efficient data verification.
“This is the result of years of effort to connect our systems with CAC. It will help users verify data within the limits of data protection laws,” she said.
She said the move is a way to lower costs and promote interoperability across the financial sector.
E-Business
FG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform

Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new Online Citizenship and Business Management Platform in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by Dr Magdalene Ajani, permanent secretary, Ministry of Interior’s said the initiative forms a key part of its ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency, and significantly improving service delivery to the public.
The new digital platform is designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround times and improved user experience.
The platform allows users to apply for and manage business permits, ensuring that both local and foreign businesses operate legally in Nigeria.
It includes an Expatriate Quota System to manage work permits for foreign employees, helping companies hire skilled workers while complying with Nigeria’s immigration laws.
The Citizenship Administration and Management System provides a streamlined online process for applying, tracking, and managing Nigerian citizenship applications and related services.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are expected to access the platform through the ministry’s website: https://interior.gov.ng , Direct Portal Access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng , or contact candb-support@interior.gov.ng for support and inquiries.
“The Ministry of Interior remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement read in part.
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