Morning recap: FG targets inflated contracts, INEC flags AI photos, other top stories

As a new week begins, PUNCH Online brings you some of the major stories making headlines across health, security, politics, metro and business.

The Federal Government has warned heads of public institutions against inflated contracts and procurement violations, threatening sanctions for breaches of the Public Procurement Act.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has flagged 268 voter records over suspected AI-generated photographs and other irregularities as it begins cleaning up its register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says monitoring of the 62 contacts identified after an imported Ebola case is expected to end by November 13, 2026, although surveillance activities are ongoing. In security, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed four Islamic State West Africa Province leaders, including two Arab fighters, and several foot soldiers during an operation in Borno State.

Meanwhile, a report by Agora Policy shows that the Federal Government and other tiers of government saved a combined N3.56tn from Federation Account revenue between January and September 2026, despite growing reliance on borrowing to finance budget deficits.

1. FG vows crackdown on inflated public contracts

The Federal Government has vowed to crack down on inflated public contracts and procurement violations, warning heads of government-owned agencies, corporations, councils, authorities and commissions that they risk sanctions for breaching procurement regulations.

The government raised the alarm over contract awards that exceed approved price benchmarks, restricted competition through exclusive arrangements for contractors and undermine regulatory oversight.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, issued the warning in a circular directing accounting officers of Federal Government-owned enterprises and other public institutions to comply strictly with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, or face penalties.

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2. INEC flags 268 records over AI photos, irregularities

The Independent National Electoral Commission has flagged 268 records in its preliminary Register of Voters for suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs and other irregularities, as it begins a process to clean up the database ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that the Automated Biometric Identification System had identified the questionable records for further examination.

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3. Ebola contacts tracing ends Nov 13 – NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has said the 62 contacts identified following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the country are expected to complete monitoring by November 13, 2026.

The agency disclosed this in its latest Ebola Disease Situation Report, stating that the contacts were scheduled to complete follow-up at different times between October 31 and November 13.

The development indicates that November 13 is the latest projected date for completing the monitoring of all contacts currently identified in connection with the confirmed case, although surveillance and contact-tracing activities remain ongoing.

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4. Troops kill ISWAP leaders, Arab fighters in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised four leaders of the Islamic State West Africa Province, including two Arabs, a commander and several of their foot soldiers in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Army said they were neutralised on October 31, 2026, by combined troops of the Joint Task Force deployed to Kukawa following a massive ISWAP terrorists attack on their locations.

The acting Military Information Officer, Northeast Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, Capt Mohammed Goni, in a statement on Sunday, said the troops utilised both ground and air assets from the air component.

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5. FG saves N3.56tn despite borrowing

The Federal Government and other tiers of government set aside a combined N3.56tn as savings from Federation Account revenue between January and September 2026, despite the Federal Government’s increasing reliance on borrowing to finance its budget deficit.

The amount represents a 95 per cent increase from the N1.83tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, raising questions about the country’s fiscal priorities amid mounting public debt and rising debt-servicing obligations.

A report by Agora Policy, titled Ten Insights from FAAC Disbursements for January-September 2026, analysed by The PUNCH on Friday, showed that savings and interventions accounted for N8.34tn of deductions from Federation Account revenue during the nine-month period.

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