Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has relieved Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya of his position as Commissioner for Information and reassigned him to the Ministry of Youth following the swearing-in of newly appointed commissioners.

The development is part of a ministerial reshuffle announced by the state government, which also involves the deployment of newly appointed commissioners to various ministries and the reassignment of some existing members of the State Executive Council.

Under the new arrangement, Waiya, who previously headed the Ministry of Information, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth, while Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako, who formerly served as Commissioner for Mineral Resources, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Environment.

The new portfolio allocations also saw Hon. Yushau Soja appointed Commissioner for Security, while Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha was assigned to the Ministry of Special Duties.

Similarly, Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai has been posted to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, while Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala will oversee the Ministry of Commerce.

Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa has been assigned to the Ministry of Science and Technology as part of the new ministerial arrangement.

The reshuffle brings changes to the composition of the Kano State Executive Council as Governor Yusuf moves to accommodate the newly sworn-in commissioners and redistribute responsibilities among members of his cabinet.

The latest development also marks Waiya’s departure from the Information Ministry, which he had headed before his reassignment to the Youth Ministry.

The newly announced portfolios are as follows:

1. Ministry of Security: Hon. Yushau Soja.
2. Ministry of Special Duties:** Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha.
3. Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs: Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai.
4. Ministry of Commerce: Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala.
5. Ministry of Science and Technology: Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa.
6. Ministry of Environment: Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako, moved from Mineral Resources.
7. Ministry of Youth:Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, moved from Information.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission has admitted that its officials tampered with the voter register nationwide using AI-generated photos.

Lawrence Bayode, INEC ICT director, stated this in an interview with ARISE TV on Friday. When asked how AI-generated photos found their way into the register, Mr Bayode said some registration officers across the states caused the irregularities.

“I can tell you how AI-generated photos found their way into the register, “Mr Bayode said. “Number one, you know, we have registration officers on the field, and these registration officers have login details to log into the system. So what we have found out is that some of these registration officers—not all of them now, some of them across the states nationwide—they’ve done different things to bring these irregularities into the register.”

The official disclosed that INEC had begun work to clean up the voter register.

“So, we’re cleaning up; we’re seeing a lot of things, different people doing different things, some of them similar. Some of these pictures are AI-generated, some of them not AI-generated, but very bad registration. This thing got into the register by the registration officers, and because they have access to register people,” Mr Bayode said.

AI-generated photos and several cases of duplication found in the voter register have sparked public uproar and questions about the fidelity of the voter register as Nigerians prepare for general elections scheduled for next year.

To allay public concerns over suspected AI-generated pictures in the preliminary voter register published online earlier this month, INEC admitted the irregularities and said it was investigating.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and thunderstorms across the country from Friday to Sunday.

NiMet’s weather outlook, released on Thursday, anticipated slight dust haze over most northern areas, with moderate haze over parts of Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna.

The agency predicted isolated thunderstorms with light rain over parts of Taraba on Friday afternoon or evening. For the North-Central region, sunny skies are forecast with patches of clouds during Friday.

Isolated thunderstorms with light rain are expected over parts of Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory, and Benue later in the afternoon or evening. Cloudy skies are envisaged across the southern region, with possible light rains over parts of Delta and Bayelsa on Friday morning.

NiMet predicted thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti, as well as the South-East and South-South, later on Friday. According to the agency, sunny and hazy conditions are expected across the northern region throughout Saturday.

NiMet predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds over the North-Central region in the morning.

Later in the afternoon or evening, isolated thunderstorms with light rain are expected over parts of Kogi, Kwara, and Benue.

The agency forecast cloudy skies over the southern region in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains across most areas later in the day.

For Sunday, NiMet predicted slight dust haze over most northern areas throughout the forecast period. The agency also forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the North-Central region throughout Sunday.

NiMet predicted cloudy skies over the southern region during the morning, followed by thunderstorms with light rain over parts of Imo, Abia and Anambra. It also forecast light rains over parts of the South-West and South-South regions later on Sunday.

NiMet advised the public to take precautions against suspended dust particles, particularly people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The agency warned that strong winds could precede thunderstorms. It urged residents to secure loose objects to prevent them from being blown away and advised residents to avoid tall trees to reduce the risk of injuries from falling branches and broken trees.

The agency urged the public to disconnect electrical appliances from power sockets during thunderstorms.

“Airline operators are advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning of their operations. Residents are to stay informed through weather updates on NiMet’s website,” it said.