China recently completed a 157.79-kilometre stretch of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway using a fully autonomous fleet of machines. The project, spearheaded by Sany Heavy Industry, featured AI-powered pavers, rollers, and drones operating with almost no human labor—at least on the surface. At the heart of this innovation was a 20-meter-wide unmanned paver, supported by six 13-tonne double-drum rollers and three 30-tonne rubber-wheel rollers. These machines were all synchronized using advanced AI algorithms and China’s Beidou satellite navigation system, reportedly achieving centimeter-level accuracy. The flagship paver, SAP200C-10, was able to lay a remarkable 19.25-meter-wide layer of asphalt in a single pass—an…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and ordered the deportation of 14 Chinese nationals found guilty of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, crimes deemed to be aiding terrorism and threatening Nigeria’s national security. The convicts were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 19, 2024, in Lagos. According to a statement released by the anti-graft agency on Friday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Chinese nationals were part of a larger cybercrime syndicate. In total, 792 suspects were arrested in the operation, most of them…
The Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Umaru Kwairanga, has praised the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for his substantial contributions to Nigeria’s capital market and private sector development. He made this remark during a courtesy visit by capital market stakeholders to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, as well as Dangote Fertiliser Limited. Kwairanga, who called for the listing of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser on the NGX, stated that such a move would represent a natural progression in the Dangote Group’s journey towards transparency, market leadership, and inclusive wealth creation. He noted that…
Cocaine production, seizures, and use all reached unprecedented levels in 2023, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), marking the illicit substance as the fastest-growing global drug market. In its annual report released from Vienna, the UNODC revealed that illegal cocaine production surged to 3,708 tonnes in 2023—a nearly 34% increase from 2022 and more than four times the level recorded a decade ago. The sharp rise is largely attributed to expanded coca bush cultivation in Colombia and revised data on crop yields. Global seizures of cocaine also peaked at 2,275 tonnes, reflecting a 68% increase…
China has unveiled a groundbreaking development in transportation technology with the successful testing of a prototype magnetic levitation (maglev) train capable of reaching speeds up to 620 miles per hour (1,000 km/h). Dubbed the “high-speed flying train,” the cutting-edge transport system operates within a low-vacuum tube and represents a major leap forward in China’s ambition to redefine the future of ultra-fast travel. The initial test run was conducted on a 2-kilometer-long low-vacuum pipeline, marking a significant milestone for the country’s rapidly advancing maglev research and development program. The prototype is part of China’s “ultra-high-speed low-vacuum tube maglev transport system” project,…
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing the option of lifting long-standing oil sanctions on Iran to help the country recover economically and rebuild its infrastructure. Sources close to the administration say the proposal is part of broader deliberations within the White House on recalibrating U.S. engagement in the Middle East. The idea, if implemented, would mark a dramatic policy pivot, especially considering Trump’s earlier hardline stance on Iran during his first term in office. “If Iran demonstrates a commitment to peace and rebuilding instead of provocation, the United States may be open to easing certain restrictions,” a senior administration…
In a display of precision engineering and technological prowess, a team of 432 mobile robots has successfully relocated an 8,200-ton building complex in Shanghai, marking one of the largest and most intricate building moves ever completed using autonomous robotics. The building, a historic shikumen-style structure dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, was lifted and shifted for approximately three weeks to facilitate critical underground renovations. After being moved nearly 32 feet (10 meters) per day, the entire structure was safely returned to its original site on June 7, 2025. The operation, carried out in Shanghai’s bustling Jing’an District, is part…
The Kaduna State Government has officially launched the 2025 Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Week (MNCH) in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area, reaffirming its commitment to tackling maternal and child mortality through strengthened health interventions. The event, held at the Rigachikun Primary Health Care Centre, was flagged off by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who represented Governor Uba Sani at the ceremony. Addressing a diverse gathering of stakeholders, Dr. Balarabe described the MNCH Week as a “life-saving intervention” targeting pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborns, and children under five. “This is not just another health programme; it is a moral…
As part of its ongoing commitment to local content development and inclusive community engagement, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant, has successfully held its 2025 annual capacity development workshop for leaders and representatives from its host communities. Themed “Engagement and Advocacy Skills: Critical Tools for Community Representatives,” the workshop brought together participants from Yewa North and Ewekoro Local Government Areas, reflecting the plant’s broad-based, participatory approach to sustainable development. Declaring the event open, Mr. Aina Olugbenga, Head of Human Asset Management and Administration, lauded the community leaders for their dedication and peaceful collaboration, which he described as pivotal to the harmonious…
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has commissioned the newly rehabilitated Sokoto Geographic Information System (SOGIS) Centre, marking what he described as a “new era” in digital land administration and transparency in the state. The upgraded centre, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and automation tools, was commissioned on Monday by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, whom Governor Aliyu thanked for honouring the invitation and commissioning his second project in Sokoto within the space of days. “This commissioning is not just the opening of a facility—it is the unveiling of a transformative platform that will drive efficiency, transparency, and innovation in…