The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed December 15 2026, for final publication of the voters’ register.

Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Commission, disclosed this at the South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with INEC Staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, this weekend.

He also reacted to concerns over allegedly AI-generated photographs appearing on the Commission’s preliminary voters’ register, saying the records are being examined for possible corrective action.

Amupitan said the Commission was reviewing the photographs and would take necessary steps based on verified findings.

He urged Nigerians to participate in the ongoing display, claims and objections process to identify irregularities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC chairman urged eligible voters to scrutinise the preliminary register and report suspected errors.

He stressed that public participation was important to ensuring the credibility and accuracy of the final document.

He said the final voters’ register was scheduled for publication on December 15, 2026.

Amupitan’s response comes amid concerns over the authenticity of some photographs uploaded on the preliminary register published online by the Commission.

Questions have been raised about possible irregularities in the voter registration records.

He disclosed that the South-South geopolitical zone had 15,823,550 registered voters, with Rivers State accounting for 3,736,434.

He assured Nigerians that INEC would ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised through administrative negligence or logistical failures during the 2027 elections.

On preparations for the polls, Amupitan said the Commission was strengthening its technological capacity, including preparations for the deployment of 57,000 newly procured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.

He added that INEC was auditing its electronic result management systems to strengthen transparency in the transmission of results through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

The chairman also identified the peculiar geographical features of the South-South, particularly its creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities, as major logistical challenges requiring special arrangements.

He disclosed that the Commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the timely and secure transportation of election personnel and materials to difficult-to-access communities.

On election security, Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s collaboration with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

He stressed the need for intelligence-led planning and adequate protection for voters, electoral materials and personnel.

He warned that anyone who threatens or attacks electoral officials, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed for election duties, would face the full weight of the law.

The INEC chairman also cautioned electoral officers against partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial impropriety, saying such conduct would attract disciplinary action.

He said the Commission was assessing its operational readiness through field engagements, drawing lessons from recent governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections.

Amupitan further highlighted staff welfare measures introduced by the Commission, including the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and field allowances.

He also disclosed that INEC had increased monthly overhead allocations to its state offices by 150 per cent, with the adjustment taking effect from July 1, 2026.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Nigeria and China have signed a grant agreement worth RMB 200 million (approximately $30 million) to support community-focused development projects under the Nigeria–China Development Cooperation, reinforcing the two countries’ longstanding strategic partnership.

The agreement, signed recently at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja, marks another milestone in bilateral cooperation to advance Nigeria’s development priorities and deliver tangible benefits to citizens through targeted, locally driven initiatives.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, commended the Chinese Government’s continued support, describing the partnership as an important platform for strengthening development cooperation, knowledge exchange and mutual understanding.

Bagudu thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai, and his delegation for their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, noting that progress over the years reflects both countries’ shared determination to advance their common development objectives.

The grant will support mutually agreed projects under China’s “small but beautiful” initiative, which focuses on investments that deliver practical results, improve livelihoods and create direct community-level impact.

The minister noted that the grant builds on prior Chinese assistance, including a $1 million contribution earlier in 2026 to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for technological and knowledge development. He also highlighted opportunities to expand trade and economic cooperation, particularly through China’s zero-tariff policy on Nigerian exports.

He stressed that the priority is to ensure that bilateral commitments translate into measurable development outcomes for Nigerians. To this end, the ministry, in collaboration with the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership Office, has been developing projects proposed by states to address specific grassroots development needs.

Bagudu also highlighted Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan, which aims to identify economic opportunities and map economically active people across the country’s 8,809 wards to promote inclusive, targeted and locally driven development.

He expressed interest in sharing the initiative with China and drawing on China’s development experience, particularly in poverty reduction, to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to expand economic opportunities, address poverty and improve livelihoods.

The minister further emphasised the importance of capacity-building initiatives, including the training of Nigerian officials in China, noting that knowledge exchange and institutional development are essential to strengthening the country’s capacity to implement its development priorities.

In his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador, Yu Dunhai, described the grant as a concrete demonstration of China’s commitment to Nigeria’s development priorities and to the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries, founded on mutual trust, solidarity and a shared commitment to economic and social development.

The ambassador explained that the agreement advances the consensus reached by Presidents Bola Tinubu and Xi Jinping during their meeting in China and the outcomes of the Fourth China–Nigeria Cooperation Forum in Beijing.

He noted that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, describing the relationship as one that has continued to evolve through cooperation across various sectors and mutual support for more than five decades.

Dunhai also highlighted the economic opportunities arising from China’s zero-tariff policy on Nigerian exports, which took effect on 1 May 2026. According to him, bilateral trade reportedly reached $18 billion in the first half of the year, while Nigeria’s exports to China increased by 80 per cent.

He said the policy could expand market access for Nigerian businesses, attract investment, support industrial development, and encourage Nigerian products to move up the value chain.

The Ambassador however noted that the current zero-tariff arrangement is set to expire on May 1, 2028, and urged both countries to use the remaining period effectively to work towards an economic development partnership agreement that would consolidate gains and establish a more sustainable framework for trade and economic cooperation.

He called on the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, to advance discussions on the proposed agreement.

In separate remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Deborah Odoh, expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government, the ambassador and his delegation for their continued support, describing the grant as a welcome demonstration of confidence in Nigeria’s development priorities.

The permanent secretary also commended the ministers, the Chinese Embassy, and the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, particularly the International Cooperation and Legal Departments, for their contributions to the successful conclusion of the agreement.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with Chinese partners and relevant institutions to ensure that the projects are implemented transparently and efficiently, in line with the agreed objectives, with a focus on delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians.

The signing ceremony underscores Nigeria and China’s commitment to sustaining their strategic partnership, expanding economic cooperation, and turning shared development aspirations into practical outcomes for their citizens.

From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano

A fire outbreak has destroyed at least 110 structures at the Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in Kano metropolis, leaving traders counting their losses after the inferno engulfed several sections of the market on Saturday morning.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed that the affected structures comprised 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures.

The Service’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Isah-Jafaru, disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Kano, explaining that a distress call was received at about 7:39 a.

He said firefighters were immediately mobilised from various stations across the metropolis to tackle the inferno.

According to him, upon arrival, the firefighting personnel discovered that the flames had spread across several sections of the market, threatening nearby shops and other structures.

However, the firefighters successfully brought the situation under control and prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, commended the personnel for their swift response and urged traders and business owners to adopt appropriate fire safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

He also cautioned members of the public to exercise care when handling fire and other combustible materials, particularly as the harmattan season approaches.

The cause of the outbreak had yet to be established as of the time of filing this report, while investigations into the incident were ongoing.

No casualty was reported.