Expert says lack of experienced legal practitioners in procurement threatens transparency and value for money in public projects

A senior federal government official has raised alarm over the shortage of lawyers with deep expertise in procurement law across Nigeria, warning that this gap could undermine the integrity of contract awards and public project delivery. The concern was expressed on Wednesday, 17 June, during a government stakeholders’ forum in Abuja.

According to the official, Nigeria currently faces a critical deficit in legal professionals who understand the complexities of procurement processes, especially as states and ministries undertake large-scale infrastructure projects. The official noted that most lawyers involved in government contracting lack hands-on experience with public procurement regulations, making it difficult to enforce compliance or challenge irregularities effectively.

This development comes at a time when procurement lapses have led to stalled or abandoned projects in various sectors, including roads, education and healthcare. Analysts say the shortage of qualified procurement lawyers exposes government agencies to risks such as inflated contracts, delayed project timelines and disputes with contractors. The expert warned that unless more legal practitioners are trained in procurement law, efforts to improve accountability and value for money in public spending may be compromised.

The official called on universities and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to prioritise procurement law as a core area of legal education and professional training. “We need more specialists who can interpret complex bidding documents and help prevent abuse,” he said at the forum. No immediate response was received from NBA representatives at the event.

Stakeholders are urging government to invest in capacity building for lawyers, while also strengthening regulatory oversight within ministries and parastatals. Observers say failure to address this skills gap could continue to hamper Nigeria’s progress on transparency reforms and anti-corruption initiatives tied to public procurement.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/888411-nigeria-lacks-lawyers-with-vast-experience-in-procurement-official.html

Federal court filing reveals xAI system guided over 2,000 munitions in recent operations as legal dispute stalls data centre

A newly released US government court filing has confirmed that Grok, the artificial intelligence system developed by Elon Musk’s xAI company, was deployed to support military strike operations against Iran. The revelation came in a June 15 legal brief by the US Department of Justice amid an environmental case involving xAI’s data centre in the United States.

The Department of Justice stated that shutting down power at xAI’s facility could undermine national security because the data centre supports AI systems already assisting military targeting programmes. According to testimony from Cameron Stanley, Chief of AI Operations at the Pentagon, Grok has been integrated into Project Maven—the US military’s AI-powered targeting programme—replacing previous technology provided by Anthropic. Stanley said under oath that the Grok Gov Model enabled US forces to deploy over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 targets within a four-day window during Operation Epic Fury, a recent operation targeting Iranian sites. He further praised the model for improving operational efficiency and speed.

The disclosure comes as xAI faces a lawsuit from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which claims the company operates dozens of gas turbines without proper environmental permits. The NAACP argues these turbines violate clean air laws and increase pollution in Black-majority communities near the data centre. xAI has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that its turbines are temporary equipment not subject to standard permitting requirements.

Federal prosecutors maintain that efforts to halt xAI’s operations threaten American military and economic security. The legal document shows that after Anthropic refused to let its Claude AI be used for autonomous lethal strikes or large-scale surveillance, federal agencies expanded partnerships with companies like Google, OpenAI and xAI. Since then, Grok has become central to Project Maven’s work.

The growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare has sparked debate within the global technology sector. Over 600 Google staff previously signed a petition against supplying AI for classified military projects. Despite this pushback, Pentagon officials disclosed that Anthropic’s Claude model was still active in some Iran-related operations as recently as March before being phased out for alternatives like Grok.

Musk recently merged xAI with his aerospace company SpaceX, deepening ties between his ventures as both continue securing major government contracts in defence and national security. The case highlights ongoing concerns about AI oversight and transparency as advanced technologies reshape modern conflict.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/elon-musks-grok-ai-used-in-us-military-operations-against-iran-government-filing-reveals-2026061713072582504

Military recovers over ₦2 million suspected ransom, destroys illegal refining sites in Niger Delta during June operations

Troops operating across multiple theatres in Nigeria have intensified offensive actions against terrorists and criminal gangs, recovering more than 3,403 rounds of ammunition and rescuing 391 kidnap victims between June 4 and June 12, 2026. The operations took place in Borno State’s Gwoza Local Government Area and other hotspots nationwide, according to a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja.

During these operations, troops also seized assorted weapons and 15 motorcycles believed to have been used by armed groups. Security forces further recovered over ₦2 million suspected to be ransom payments from kidnappers and terrorists, along with 10,000 CFA francs. In addition to the arms haul, more than 5,000 litres of stolen petroleum products—including crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)—were confiscated as troops destroyed several illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.

The military’s recent push comes amid ongoing insecurity in various parts of the country. Analysts say the scale of arms recovered highlights the persistent threat posed by armed groups in North-East and other regions. The rescue of hundreds of kidnap victims underscores both the scope of recent abductions and efforts to counter them.

Major General Onoja described these achievements as evidence of “sustained professionalism, resilience and commitment” on the part of Nigerian troops despite tough operational conditions. He disclosed that on June 5, soldiers carried out a clearance operation in Amuda area of Gwoza LGA, Borno State, where an eight-year-old boy named Ali Musa was found after escaping a terrorist enclave in Saha. Further rescue missions on June 6 saw three women and children freed after military bombardments forced terrorists to flee their hideouts.

While no opposition or independent sources have yet commented on the latest operations, security observers say continued military pressure is crucial for reclaiming territory and reducing incidents of mass abduction. The defence headquarters maintained that operations would continue nationwide until all criminal elements are subdued.

Source: https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/troops-overwhelm-terrorists-recover-3403-rounds-of-ammunition/