Nigerian newspapers review: [AI] World Bank, IMF warn of jobs crisis in Nigeria, others

In today’s Nigerian newspapers review programme, Today in the News, Vanguard leads with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank warning that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could worsen the jobs crisis in Nigeria and other developing economies unless governments and businesses take urgent steps to prepare workers and deploy the technology to create employment.

Another headline features a prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member abducted in Imo State who has recounted how she and other victims were beaten, threatened and forced to survive on garri and dirty water while being held in a forest by their captors.

Vanguard also reports that former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Yusuf Buratai (retd) disclosed that $1billion approved for defence procurement during his tenure as Army Chief by the federal government was released to the Ministry of Defence and not the services.

Moving to another newspaper, The Guardian reports that, with less than 100 days to the 2027 general elections, President Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Atiku Abubakar and others are yet to fully commence nationwide campaigns while their proxies mobilise support.

The Punch leads with commuters awaiting significant cuts in transport fares for motorists using Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles, as the federal government’s CNG initiative attracts more than $2.5billion in private-sector investment.

Lastly, The Nation leads with an explainer by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the reason for the exclusion of Isa Ali Pantami, Gombe State People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate; Oladipupo Adebutu, Ogun State PDP candidate; Abdulsalam Gwarzo, Kano State Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate; and Danjuma La’ah, Kaduna NDC candidate, among others from the final list released on Saturday.