From homes to factories: modular construction gains momentum in China

By Wang Zhou, Li Kaixuan, Bai Guangdi, People’s Daily

Across China, new construction methods are reshaping how residential and industrial buildings are built. By embracing prefabricated, modular techniques, localities are exploring ways to integrate faster, greener, and higher-quality construction into both public housing and industrial development.

Unlike traditional building methods, modular construction shifts much of the work to factories, where components are prefabricated and then assembled on-site. This approach reduces construction time while improving quality control and environmental performance.

For 74-year-old Ms. Liu Guilan, the return has been a pleasant surprise. Her new apartment is larger, better designed, and free from the persistent plumbing issues that plagued her old building.

“It took less than six months from vacating the old house to receiving the keys to the new one,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been living here for 40 years, and I never imagined I could move into a brand-new home exactly on the same site.”

This building was originally constructed in 1978. Due to its long service life and lack of maintenance, it suffered from structural aging and exterior wall cracks, and was included in Beijing’s urban renewal program in 2023. 

Demolition of the old building kicked off in July last year, and the construction of the new building started in September of the same year. After that, all modular hoisting was completed in only 46 days, with the main structure capped.

The speed and quality gains were made possible by modular integrated construction (MiC) technology.

“Using digital twin technology, we broke the entire building down into 156 standardized modules,” said Pei Jiangfei from the contractor, China State Construction Hailong Technology Company Limited. 

According to Pei, more than 90 percent of the work, including structural casting, insulation, pipeline installation, and interior finishing, was completed at a smart factory in Langfang, Hebei province, which borders on Beijing. After undergoing millimeter-level precision checks and rigorous performance testing, the modules were transported to the site and assembled with high accuracy.

This method reduced construction time by about 75 percent while delivering environmental benefits: construction waste dropped by 75 percent, material loss by 25 percent, and carbon emissions by 30 percent. Dust and noise pollution were also significantly lower.

When these modules were fabricated, each of them was assigned a unique digital identity, with all production data recorded throughout the entire process. Upon delivery, this information was converted into a digital archive for each apartment, clearly marking the precise locations of internal wall pipelines and equipment. This provides digital support for later operation and maintenance, ensuring residents can live more securely and at ease.

Modular construction is expanding beyond cities into rural areas.

In Yuhuang community in Fucheng district, Mianyang, southwest China’s Sichuan province, rows of newly built houses with white walls and gray tiles are scattered in an orderly manner. Unlike traditional rural houses, these two-story detached homes adopt a prefabricated light steel structure.

Seventy-year-old villager Wang Weiying has lived in her new home for five years. The house, with a floor area of about 180 square meters, cost roughly 300,000 yuan ($43,978) to build. “The price is about the same as a traditional brick-and-concrete house, but it has many advantages,” Wang said.

“In the past, we had to lay bricks one by one. Now it’s like building with blocks — the main structure was completed in about 40 days, cutting the construction time in half,” Wang recalled. 

“And it’s much more comfortable to live in. Even during the rainy season, the house stays dry and mold-free. Compared with old brick houses, it’s warmer in winter and cooler in summer,” she added.

“It’s also well insulated from noise. You can’t hear conversations or even chickens outside,” one of her neighbors chimed in.

Industrial projects similarly benefit. At an industrial park in Suqian, east China’s Jiangsu province, a modern factory building recently took shape through modular assembly. Steel columns were hoisted into place with precision, forming the structure of a 20,000-square-meter facility for a tech firm.

“Previously, constructing a factory of this size would take more than eight months and could be easily delayed by weather,” said project manager Wang Jian. “With modular construction, the entire process from groundbreaking to completion took just about four months.”

On-site work that once relied heavily on formwork, rebar, and concrete has been largely replaced by standardized component production in factories. This not only speeds up construction but also reduces the cost of dust and noise control.

Other advantages are equally compelling: more consistent quality, longer building lifespan, flexible layouts that can be adjusted to production needs, and shorter timelines that allow companies to begin operations sooner. These factors are driving more industrial projects to adopt modular methods. In Suqian, the floor area of newly started prefabricated buildings grew from 834,300 square meters in 2020 to over 1.5 million square meters in 2024.

Prefabricated construction is a key pathway toward industrialized, intelligent, and green building. With supportive policies, advancing technologies, and growing market demand all converging, the sector is poised for rapid growth, helping to build a more robust industrial ecosystem and accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry.

Eighty years later, Japan still evades the legacy of the Tokyo trials

By Liu Wenzhang, People’s Daily

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the work of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (“Tokyo trials”). This landmark trial represented humanity’s moral reckoning, delivering justice for wartime atrocities through an internationally recognized legal process.

Yet in contemporary Japan, the memory of the Tokyo trials is fading — not merely due to the passage of time, but as a result of deliberate downplaying and selective amnesia by certain forces.

The Ichigaya Memorial Hall, the original site of the trials, exemplifies this erasure. Few exhibits  directly reflect the trials. The defendants’ podium, maps once displayed on the walls, and the 11 national flags representing the judges from 11 countries appear marginalized, almost like afterthoughts.

Instead, the spotlight falls on wartime artifacts such as military uniforms and swords, which still carry the shadow of militarism. The dissenting opinion of Indian judge Radhabinod Pal, which argued for acquittal, is prominently highlighted, while explanations focus on what is described as Japan’s “modern military history,” with only cursory mention of the trials’ background and significance.

What may appear to be a matter of curatorial choice in fact reveals a deeper distortion of historical understanding. In narratives promoted by Japan’s right-wing forces, war is repackaged as a matter of “national honor” or a “inevitable product of its era,” while acts of aggression are reduced to vague “historical events” or mere “background.” This site intended to preserve memory has instead become tools to obscure history and mislead the public.

In the eyes of the Japanese right-wing forces, Pal occupies an almost “sacred” position. Not only is his dissenting opinion given prominence, but a statue of him has even been erected at the Yasukuni Shrine. Such efforts appear aimed at creating an alternative narrative to justify the history of aggression. 

The overwhelming guilty verdicts delivered by eleven judges based on extensive evidence remain conspicuously absent from the memorial, while isolated dissenting views are amplified as if repetition alone could invalidate established historical conclusions.

But historical truth does not change with selective remembrance. Attempts to reshape the past ultimately amount to self-deception. Eighty years ago, the Tokyo trials delivered a just judgment, grounded in extensive evidence, on the responsibility for wars of aggression. Its historical significance and legal conclusions cannot and will not be arbitrarily distorted or dismantled.

Another historical site, Sugamo Prison, has been erased entirely. Once the place where Class-A war criminals, including Hideki Tojo, were detained, and where seven were ultimately executed, it was demolished in the 1970s and replaced by a 60-story commercial skyscraper. It is as if the history it bore witness to has been buried beneath concrete and steel. 

Today, only a faint inscription on the back of an inconspicuous “peace monument” in a nearby park marks the former site. Passersby, including dog walkers and playing children, move through the area, few pausing, fewer still aware that this ground once witnessed the final reckoning of those responsible for aggression.

For Japan’s right-wing forces, the Tokyo trials symbolize defeat and humiliation. They reject not only the criminal nature of aggression but also refuse to acknowledge the outcome of defeat. Others in Japan deem the era too painful to confront, opting to let history recede into abstraction rather than face its lessons.

Yet without confronting history, closure remains impossible. Only by facing squarely the immense suffering inflicted on Asian countries by aggression, and by fully recognizing the devastating consequences of militarism, can Japan truly emerge from the shadows of its past and return to the international community with dignity.

History does not fade fade. Justice does not expire.

Inside China’s smart factory, machines think and see

By Yang Xun, People’s Daily

A few months ago, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with five other government departments, released the country’s first batch of flagship smart factories, with 15 companies selected nationwide. 

Construction machinery and agricultural machinery manufacturer Zoomlion made the list with its “Excavator Shared Manufacturing Smart Factory” project.

What truly defines this facility as “smart”? 

“At its core, one of the most important things we’ve done is to give machines a ‘brain’ and ‘eyes’,” said Ouyang Shuxun, deputy manager of the process department at Zoomlion’s earthmoving machinery division.

Traditional construction machinery workshops are often characterized by noise, crowding, and heavy reliance on manual labor for critical tasks such as welding, component flipping, and assembly. This approach not only hampers production efficiency but also introduces significant safety risks.

In contrast, at Zoomlion’s intelligent factory, the industrial internet is deeply integrated, with over 300 intelligent production lines operating at full capacity. Visitors immediately impressed by its clean, tidy and high-tech environment, free from loud noise and dust pollution.

The operational contrast is even more pronounced. Hundreds of industrial robots execute tasks with pinpoint precision, working alongside nearly 300 automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to transport multi-ton structural components directly to designated workstations.

Powered by advanced artificial intelligence (AI), these production lines enable seamless switching between products ranging from 5 to 30 tons without interruption.

Production efficiency has seen dramatic improvements.  

While traditional construction machinery enterprises mostly adopt a build-to-stock model, the digital and intelligent upgrade at Zoomlion has pioneered an innovative build-to-order system.

Upon receiving customers’ personalized requirements, the system automatically generates production orders.

The entire process from steel plate cutting to final machine roll-off takes only 6.5 days, and customized products can be delivered to domestic clients in as little as two weeks.

A smart factory is not simply a collection of advanced equipment; it requires seamless coordination among vision systems, laser technologies, and robotics. 

“We first strengthened core process, then built cross-disciplinary teams, bringing together welding engineers, robotics engineers, vision specialists, and algorithm engineers to tackle challenges collaboratively and bridge knowledge gaps across fields,” Ouyang explained. 

The smart factory has also built a fully connected information platform covering the entire chain of research and development (R&D), production, supply, sales and service.

It enables real-time data sharing across core systems including R&D and design, manufacturing execution, supply chain management and quality control.

Design modifications are accurately synchronized to the production line, driving a 70 percent improvement in efficiency.

Today, the smart factory has achieved full-process automation and intelligence. From steel plate cutting, bending, and beveling to welding, machining, automotive-grade coating, and finally intelligent assembly and testing, the facility rolls out one finished product every six minutes on average. 

AI is also deeply embedded throughout production: it recommends optimal process plans for new products, while robot programming follows a “best solution plus fine-tuning” model, increasing the yield rate by 15 percent.

Beyond these impressive figures, a new model of “shared manufacturing” is also drawing attention.

The construction machinery industry has long grappled with the challenge of high product variety and small batch sizes.

Take excavators for instance: they involve 4,000 to over 6,000 different components, and production must handle mixed models of various tonnages. To this end, Zoomlion has adopted a sharing-based model.

Within its industrial park, the excavator factory’s three shared core manufacturing facilities, a medium-and-heavy plate blanking center, a high-strength steel blanking center, and a stamping center, serve not only its own production but are also open to neighboring facilities for cranes, concrete pump trucks and aerial work platforms, enabling cross-product collaboration. 

The benefits are substantial: steel utilization exceeds 90 percent, while the construction cost of the smart factory cluster has been reduced by 15 percent.

Powering this entire ecosystem is an AI-driven “industrial brain” that oversees more than 6,000 process routes for over 100 excavator models, enabling seamless product changeovers with zero downtime.

This shared manufacturing solution has been successfully replicated and deployed across over 20 smart factories worldwide, driving new momentum for the entire industry.

By thoroughly optimizing key processes and enabling seamless data flow across equipment, intelligent shared manufacturing is set to advance the sector with even greater strength and confidence.

Smart innovations take center stage at Canton Fair

By Hong Qiuting, Li Gang, People’s Daily

The 139th China Import and Export Fair, known globally as the Canton Fair, opened on April 15th in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, showcasing a remarkable array of smart innovations — from drone delivery systems to badminton-playing robots — that captured global attention.

This year’s event set a new record for scale, featuring a total exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters and 75,700 booths. Over 32,000 exhibitors participated, including approximately 3,900 first-time participants.  

Reflecting trends toward innovation, sustainability, and intelligence, the fair introduced nine new specialized sections covering areas such as consumer drones, smart wearables, display technologies, and agricultural drones. The total number of exhibition sections expanded to 179, offering comprehensive coverage from traditional manufacturing to advanced industries.

Key highlights included newly established zones dedicated to consumer and agricultural drones, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as flight control systems, AI-powered obstacle avoidance, and new-energy propulsion. These exhibits not only demonstrate China’s advances in the drone industry but also provide an efficient platform for global buyers and suppliers.

The opening day saw international buyers quickly engaging with the latest technologies. In one striking example, a buyer from Saudi Arabia ordered milk tea via the Canton Fair mobile app. Minutes later, a drone carrying an orange delivery box landed smoothly at a designated pickup point, where a humanoid robot retrieved the drink and handed it over.

“Very cool! This is my first time experiencing drone delivery,” said Osama, the buyer. “In such a large venue, I didn’t have to queue or walk around. It’s fast and completely new.”

In the consumer drone area, the hum of low-altitude test flights filled the air as sleek drones were displayed alongside live demonstrations of aerial photography and rescue operations. 

A buyer named Juan from Brazil climbed into the cockpit of an ultra-light electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying cart developed by Yufei Aviation, a Chinese professional manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft, carefully asking about payload, speed, and safety features. After evaluating the product, he concluded that it has strong market potential in Brazil.

This scene was typical of the opening day, where interaction and hands-on experience helped turn interest into potential orders. Product launch events featured diverse smart devices, including robots capable of playing badminton, automated bed cleaners, and bionic quadruped robots.

In one demonstration, a humanoid robot reacted in under a second to a fast-approaching shuttlecock, executing movements like tracking, positioning, stepping, swinging, and striking to return the shot, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Through multi-stage learning, the robot has developed multiple degrees of wrist freedom, enabling it to replicate human wrist motion,” said Wang Mengdi, head of branding of the company that developed the robot. “It can execute forehand, backhand, and high-clear shots, making it a capable ‘badminton partner.'”

The prominence of intelligent products is one of the defining features of this year’s fair. The number of emerging industry zones has increased to 18, showcasing how innovative manufacturing capabilities are transitioning from workshops to the global market.. 

Among the 4.65 million exhibits, 23 percent are new products, 22 percent are green products, and 25 percent carry independent intellectual property rights. Notably, 61 percent of participating companies are leveraging technologies such as the industrial internet and AI.

“At this year’s Canton Fair, I’ve seen more and more digital and intelligent products seamlessly integrated into everyday life and consumption,” said a buyer named Pavel from Russia. “The vision of technology improving daily life is becoming a reality.”

The Canton Fair is often regarded as a barometer of China’s foreign trade, and this year it will host more than 600 product launch events, using a “smart technology plus real-world scenarios” approach to energize the exhibition and provide global participants with more convenient, targeted, and efficient trade services.

Coastal wetland conservation fuels eco-tourism boom in E China

By Yao Xueqing, People’s Daily

Along the coast of Yancheng, Jiangsu province in east China lies what many call a “paradise for migratory birds.” Each year, millions of birds from around the world stop here to rest, molt, and overwinter, drawing roughly one million visitors who follow in their wake.

This is the Tiaozini wetland, situated in the Dongtai Coastal Economic Zone of Yancheng, Jiangsu province. As an important part of the Yellow Sea Wetland, one of the world’s largest intertidal wetland systems, the Tiaozini wetland covers an area of 86,000 hectares and serves as a key node along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

In recent years, local authorities have implemented measures such as shoreline restoration, ecological governance, and the creation of high-tide roosting sites for migratory birds, steadily expanding the “circle of feathered friends.”  

This commitment to harmonious coexistence between humans and nature has spurred the growth of bird-watching tourism. The region is now pursuing a high-quality development path that successfully links ecological protection with tourism growth and increased local prosperity.

Each April, the wetland comes alive as spring migration begins. At a monitoring center, wetland manager Zhang Hailong tracks bird movements and breeding patterns. “In recent years, we’ve introduced smart monitoring systems,” he explained. “At what we call the ‘720 Highland,’ we’ve installed 13 panoramic cameras equipped with AI-powered bird recognition, allowing us to monitor bird activities around the clock.”

What exactly is the “720 Highland?” “During the twice-daily high tides, the mudflats are submerged, and birds that feed there need a place to rest,” said Du Hua, head of the administrative committee of Dongtai Coastal Economic Zone.

Starting in 2020, the area transformed a 720-mu (about 48 hectares) former fishpond into an elevated roosting site by reshaping the terrain and restoring wetland ecology, following the principle of prioritizing natural recovery with moderate human intervention. The site effectively serves as a “tarmac” for migratory birds, a fixed high-tide refuge. In the autumn of that year, it hosted as many as 58,000 waterbirds in a single day.

In 2022, restoration efforts expanded to Chuanshui Bay in the northern part of Tiaozini, where aquaculture ponds were converted back into wetlands, creating a larger version of the original habitat. The improved ecosystem has attracted not only large numbers of waterbirds but also wildlife such as milu deer and hares. By December 2025, the Tiaozini area had recorded 420 bird species, including 23 under first-class state-level protection and 74 under second-class state-level protection.

A sightseeing bus service operates regularly along a coastal tourism highway, traveling into the depths of the Tiaozini wetland and stopping beside a lake-like expanse. Amidst interweaving bird calls of varying pitches, large flocks of waterbirds are seen foraging and pacing. 

“That one with the spoon-shaped bill and black face is the black-faced spoonbill. And the elegant black-and-white bird with the upturned bill is the pied avocet,” said bird guide Ding Jianming, effortlessly identifying species for 20 families participating in a bird-watching study tour.

Nearby, a science exhibition hall offers visitors a deeper understanding of coastal evolution through videos and specimen displays.

Stepping outside at low tide, visitors were treated to a spectacular scene: flocks of birds taking off from the “720 Highland” and flying toward the exposed mudflats to feed. 

“It’s breathtaking,” said Pan Jing, a tourist from Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province. “I discovered this hidden gem last autumn and brought my whole family here this spring.”

“The Yellow Sea mudflats have become a ‘goldmine’ for eco-tourism,” said Chang Wei, deputy director of the administrative committee of the Dongtai Coastal Economic Zone. 

Leveraging its ecological assets, the region is diversifying its offerings. It has established a professional bird-watching system, including curated routes, high-powered binoculars, trained interpreters, and expert bird guides, as well as immersive virtual reality and 3D experiences. Concurrently, it is expanding eco-tourism formats by introducing bird-watching competitions, photography tours, and sporting events such as wetland cycling races, triathlons and half marathons. . This blend of nature, culture, and sport shifts the focus from simple sightseeing to multi-dimensional experiences.

The result is a year-round tourism calendar: bird-watching in spring, coastal foraging in summer, photography camps in autumn, and flamingo spotting in winter. Today, Tiaozini attracts around 1 million visitors annually.

As bird-watching tourism takes off, local communities are also reaping the benefits.

Badou village in Jianggang township, just north of Tiaozini, is now a lush and picturesque destination. 64-year-old Kong Xiangjin comes from a long line of fishermen. In 2021, he renovated an unused house and opened a guesthouse called “Old Fisherman’s Inn,” which has since seen steadily growing business.

A few years ago, the village has also set up a tourism company. In addition to livestream e-commerce, it has introduced souvenir gift boxes featuring local delicacies such as marinated shrimp and raw pickled crab. 

More recently, it has developed creative cultural products inspired by the wetland, such as canvas bags themed on local clams, power banks modeled after mud snails, and T-shirts featuring the endangered spoon-billed sandpiper.

“Eco-tourism has opened up a new path for boosting rural incomes,” says Liu Jun, Party head of Jianggang township. With homestays as a key driver, the township has expanded related industries including local dining, cultural merchandise, and specialty agricultural products. 

Today, more than 1,500 people in the township are engaged in tourism, and in 2025, the township welcomed over 100,000 visitors, generating more than 5 million yuan ($733,327) in additional income for local residents.

CSOs Urge Senate to Halt Wasteful NNPCL Probe, Focus on Sector Reforms

A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Transparency and Accountability, has called on the Nigerian Senate to discontinue what it described as a misdirected and embarrassing probe into an alleged missing ₦210 trillion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), urging lawmakers instead to concentrate on substantive reforms in the petroleum sector.

The Coalition in a press statement jointly signed by Comrades Danesi Momoh Prince and Igwe, Ude-Umanta, Conveners for Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Guidance of Democracy and Development Initiative respectively, criticised the ongoing investigation as a circus show that lacks factual basis and wastes public resources.

According to the CSOs, “since last year, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through its Public Accounts Committee has embarked on a senseless rigmarole and shadow chasing in the name of recovering N210 trillion naira missing (only in their imagination or mischief) from the NNPCL.

This circus show is meant for the committee to appear to be doing something, thereby inadvertently tarnishing the images of those the so called investigation points at and infuriating uninformed Nigerians against them. We insist that the Senate knows deep in their hearts that no such amount of money is missing. So only them can explain what they are actually up to.

“The claim of a missing ₦210 trillion is imaginary and unsubstantiated. The Senate’s continued focus on the allegation diverts attention from critical issues affecting Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. We are deeply concerned that the Senate is investing time and taxpayer money into probing figures that have no credible backing.

“This approach not only misleads the public but also undermines the seriousness of legislative oversight. It is our informed position that the Senate should prioritise pressing challenges in the petroleum sector, including transparency in oil revenue management, fuel subsidy concerns, regulatory inefficiencies, and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“Already, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already looked at the records under review. We believe that if there are further questions, those involved will answer them or face the consequences there of. It is not for the Senate to continue to create the impression that some people may have stolen N210 trillion of public money. It is not correct under the circumstance and it should stop. This appears to be pure legislative shenanigans.

“Sensational and unfounded probes can risk eroding investor confidence and damaging the credibility of Nigeria’s governance institutions. Since the petroleum sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, what is needed now is focused, data-driven oversight as against the clout chasing investigations.

The Coalition equally charged the Nigerian Senate to come clean and sanitise their house against the myraid accusations and allegations that have trailed their activities

“We think the Senate should rather be sober at this time the National Assembly is being accused of legislative rigging of the 2026 Electoral Act or deliberate insertion of clauses clearly designed for electoral fraud.

“Let us further remind Nigerians that since the inauguration of the 3rd National Assembly till this 10th one, the National Assembly has never recovered a kobo for Nigeria in all their probes. Instead, a lawmaker has gone to prison for receiving bribe during an orchestrated probe of the oil sector (which is exactly the same as this one by Public Accounts Committee of the Senate).

“Our suspicion based on the antecedents of the National Assembly is that the Senator Aliyu Wadada Public Accounts Committee may be trying to force the accused persons to compromise. This is electioneering time and we know some of the politico-financial undercurrents.

The CSOs concluded by calling for a more responsible and evidence based approach from lawmakers, emphasising the need for reforms that would enhance “accountability, efficiency, and sustainable growth in the sector.

“We all support public accountability. But when they come with deliberate public misinformation, bandied figures and attempt to embarrass those who offered meritorious national service, it must be rejected in the interest of justice and fairness. The Senate should abandon this embarrassment of a so called probe and focus on issues that are relevant to national economy and development.

“Infact, we wish to advise the Senate to help the unemployed, underemployed and masses of the Nigerian people by focusing on how NNPCL can deliver better under the current leadership where the business of the company appears more secret and veiled than security information and activities”.

2027: TMG Set For Extraordinary Mass Mobilisation in Support of Tinubu

The Tinubu Mega Group (TMG) has ignited what observers are already describing as a nationwide political wave, rolling out an aggressive, multi-layered mobilisation strategy ahead of its historic May 17, 2026 National Convention in Abuja.

In a bold declaration of intent, the group, a formidable coalition of over 1,500 organisations cutting across civil society, professional bodies, labour unions, artisan networks, and grassroots movements, stated that Nigeria is witnessing the rise of an unprecedented national alignment in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The development was made known in a statement signed on Monday in Abuja by Kennedy Tabuko on behalf of the National Secretariat. TMG announced that the countdown to May 17 will not be business as usual, but a relentless, coordinated national build-up designed to dominate public discourse, energise supporters, and firmly position the convention as the single most consequential political convergence in recent Nigerian history.

From the following days, the group will flood the media space with daily high-impact engagements, including front-page newspaper features, primetime television appearances, and strategic radio domination across all geopolitical zones. According to TMG, the objective is clear, to ensure that the voice of millions of Nigerians resonates in every corner of the country.

On the digital front, the group is activating a full-scale online offensive, deploying influencers, content creators, and grassroots digital networks to drive viral conversations under coordinated messaging. Daily videos, testimonials, and real-time mobilisation updates will showcase the growing momentum behind the movement.

Beyond the media, TMG revealed plans for simultaneous street-level actions across states, including coordinated road walks, market activations, and community rallies, transforming the build-up into a visible, people-driven movement.

In what it described as a “clear demonstration of unstoppable momentum,” the group confirmed that it will begin releasing milestone figures from its nationwide endorsement drive, building up to the formal presentation of 20 million signatures at the convention.

As the date draws closer, TMG will escalate its activities with a high-profile national media tour, massive outdoor visibility campaigns, and a final wave of coordinated engagements designed to ensure total national attention.

The group emphasised that the May 17 Convention will not merely be an event, but a defining national moment where a broad coalition of Nigerians will publicly and decisively endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“This is not just mobilisation, this is a movement. This is the convergence of millions of voices across professions, regions, and social classes. Nigeria is aligning, and the message is unmistakable,” the statement declared.

TMG further assured that all activities will be conducted peacefully and in line with democratic principles, while urging Nigerians to be part of what it described as “a historic show of unity and national direction.”

With preparations now in full throttle, all eyes are on Abuja as May 17 approaches, a date TMG insists will redefine the scale and structure of civic and political engagement in Nigeria.

NITDA’S Audacious Trajectory in Digital Technology, Cybersecurity, and Partnerships

As part of its core mandate to develop, regulate, and advise on information technology in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has several key functions. These include implementing the National Digital Economy Policy, setting IT standards, providing IT project clearance for public institutions, securing cyberspace, fostering local content, and advancing digital literacy to build a sustainable digital economy.

Since the current leadership and management team, headed by Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, came on board, NITDA has been repositioned and rebranded as a focal point for digital transformation, innovation, and development in the country. The agency now manages the national computer emergency response team, provides cybersecurity services, fosters digital literacy by supporting digital skills registration, and creates an enabling framework for developing digital skills.

In a press release signed by the Director of Media and Stakeholders Engagement of the Citizen Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), Mahmud Bello, it was stated that Inuwa’s leadership has enhanced general productivity, staff performance, and the agency’s overall institutional development. Progress has been made in literacy development, capacity building, increased digital skills for youth across the country, data management security, cybersecurity, collaboration and partnerships with digital players and industry experts, and the sensitization of Nigerians on information technology — on a scale never seen since the agency’s creation.

According to the release, the Director General has called for intensified collaboration and partnership among key stakeholders to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s digital economy. At a recent stakeholders’ meeting themed “Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries,” the DG emphasized that as Africa’s largest economy by GDP, Nigeria is at a pivotal crossroads. He noted that the digital sector offers a strategic and urgent pathway for economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable national development. He highlighted that in an increasingly interconnected global landscape, digitalization has become the primary engine for economic transformation, providing unprecedented access to knowledge and technology that allows developing nations like Nigeria to compete on a global scale. He stressed that because the tech sector is one of the fastest‑growing segments of the world economy, Nigeria must deliberately position itself to harness these advancements to ensure it is not left behind in the race for innovation.

To spearhead this movement, NITDA is actively implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF). These initiatives are designed to equip citizens with essential digital skills and create an enabling environment for underserved communities. The Chief Executive revealed that NITDA has already established over 100 IT centers nationwide to support learning. However, the long‑term sustainability and expansion of these infrastructures depend heavily on deeper cooperation and partnerships across all sectors.

The statement also emphasized that at the 2026 GITEX Africa Summit, NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi warned of artificial intelligence (AI) threats, stating that the era of treating cybersecurity as a mere IT problem is over. As AI‑powered digital threats become more elusive and destructive, Nigeria is shifting its strategy toward “Total Resilience” — a multi‑dimensional defense involving every level of society. The summit sounded the alarm on the changing nature of digital warfare, asserting that technology alone is no longer enough. It noted that Nigeria’s survival in the digital age now hinges on a strategic blend of policy, people, and proactive defense. CWAI agrees that the current global digital environment is at a “critical turning point” where everyone must be involved in cyber resilience. Emerging technologies are not only transforming industries and economies but are also reshaping the nature of cyber threats, demanding a proactive and multi‑dimensional response from governments, institutions, and the citizenry.

The DG stated, “Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue. It is a strategic imperative for national development. We must think beyond technology alone and build resilience through people, processes, regulations, and infrastructure.” It is believed that the focus of Nigeria’s cyber strategy is shifting from high‑tech software to the people behind the screens. Pointing to data showing that 95% of all digital breaches stem from simple human mistakes, the DG argued that the world’s most advanced encryption is useless if the user is compromised. He said, “The most sophisticated technology cannot protect us if the human element is overlooked.”

CWAI emphasizes that by prioritizing human capacity and digital literacy, NITDA aims to turn every citizen into a “human firewall” — the first and most critical line of defense in a world where AI‑driven attacks are the new normal. In response, the Nigerian government has launched a comprehensive National Digital Literacy Programme aimed at achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030, with an interim target of 70% by 2027. Consequently, CWAI stated that effective cyber resilience requires collaboration between the public and private sectors, and that NITDA is working closely with ministries, departments, agencies, and private sector stakeholders such as the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd(NNPC), Federal Character Commission ( FCC), Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC), the National Commission for Almajiri and Out- of – School Children’s Foundation, ICPC, NBC, SMEDAN, NYSC and NigComSat, among others to secure critical infrastructure and strengthen national resilience. As stated by CWAI, “Cyber resilience is not a solo effort; it is a collective responsibility. By integrating people, technology, and regulation, we can build a secure, globally competitive digital economy.”

The statement reiterates that as Nigeria navigates a digital‑first future, initiatives such as the National Digital Literacy Programme, the “3 Million Tech Talent” programme, and strengthened legal frameworks underscore a commitment to turning cybersecurity challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth. These programmes are designed to develop Nigerian expertise across key technology domains, including cybersecurity, data science, and AI, and accordingly leverage hackathons, innovation challenges, and mentorship schemes to channel young people’s skills into productive, lawful, and globally competitive ventures.

CWAI appreciates NITDA’s reinforced commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through strengthened collaboration with key strategic institutions. This commitment was demonstrated when the agency hosted the Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, alongside participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 48, 2026). The visit, a strategic study tour, provided a platform for in‑depth engagement on the role of digital innovation in driving sustainable economic growth, with particular focus on the Orange Economy. It highlighted the agency’s commitment to fostering a vibrant digital ecosystem through inclusive policies, strategic partnerships, and capacity development initiatives. Moreover, it noted that NITDA is committed to creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive by bringing together government, the private sector, academia, and creatives to drive Nigeria’s digital economy. The agency underscored the growing importance of the Orange Economy, describing it as a critical driver of innovation and economic value through intellectual property. It identified sectors such as digital content creation, film animation, and digital art as key contributors to national development, and further highlighted Nigeria’s unique advantage — particularly its youthful and creative population — while calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to fully harness the sector’s potential. During the interaction, NITDA’s Chief Executive stated, “With our youthful population and rich cultural assets, Nigeria is well‑positioned to become a global leader in the Orange Economy if we deepen collaboration and investment across the ecosystem.”

Nevertheless, speaking at the Nigerian Satellite Week 2026 in Abuja, themed “Harnessing Space Technology for an Extraordinary Nigeria,” Director General Kashifu Inuwa urged the various stakeholders present to embrace partnerships as a pathway to innovation and impact. According to him, “Take a good step, and you can make a difference,” emphasizing the need to translate ideas into tangible outcomes through collective effort. The NITDA boss, while delivering a paper titled “Enhancing Collaboration between Government, Agencies and Emerging Start‑ups,” outlined four guiding principles for driving transformation: enabling the ecosystem rather than controlling it; prioritizing networks over institutions; developing talent while supporting innovation and adopting practical solutions; and focusing on platforms rather than isolated projects. He highlighted the evolving role of space technology, noting that start‑ups are increasingly driving innovation across telecommunications, navigation, security, and cloud services. Once dominated by global superpowers, the sector is now emerging as a key economic driver, with Nigeria’s “Sunrise Packet” projected to contribute over US$1.5 billion to the economy by 2030.

CWAI states categorically that development regulation should focus on creating markets, orchestrating ecosystems, and delivering public value rather than stifling innovation. Several initiatives are supporting the growth of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, such as the Start‑up Act, Idea Hatch, and the National Digital Leadership Programme, all designed to empower young innovators and connect them to global opportunities. Furthermore, platforms such as GITEX Africa, GITEX Nigeria, and Digital Nigeria — which provide visibility for start‑ups and attract investment, partnerships, and mentorship — should be encouraged across all sectors of the Nigerian economy and the youthful demographic to propel all‑inclusive growth.

China launches airborne eye hospital to deliver care where it’s needed most

By Fang Min, Jiang Xuehong, People’s Daily

China has taken a major step forward in mobile healthcare by launching a domestically developed “flying eye hospital,” bringing high-quality ophthalmic services directly to patients in need. The initiative represents a new model of integrated air-ground medical support, designed to extend advanced care to remote and underserved areas.

On the morning of Dec. 18, 2025, at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, central China’s Henan province, a homegrown C909 aircraft emblazoned with the words Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center Flying Eye Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University was parked quietly on the tarmac. Inside, instead of rows of passenger seats, the cabin had been transformed into a fully functional ophthalmic surgical suite.

Maintained at a constant temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, the cabin was divided into a waiting area, a buffer zone, and an operating room. It was equipped with surgical microscopes, sterile workstations, patient monitors, and remote consultation terminals, forming a standard ophthalmic operating environment adapted for aviation conditions.

“We spent three years refining the system to meet the standards of a ground-based operating room,” said Lin Haotian, director of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and president of the flying eye hospital. “Not only is the equipment comprehensive, but the standards are rigorous. Before any procedure, the cabin undergoes multiple rounds of surface and air sterilization, followed by at least two rounds of testing over 48 hours to ensure compliance.”

That morning, a patient surnamed Huang, who had developed a cataract due to eye trauma and was experiencing impaired vision and difficulty walking independently, was assisted into the operating room. The surgical team reassured him throughout the procedure, which lasted just 15 minutes.

When the bandage was removed, Huang cautiously opened his eye and quickly realized he could see again. The success of the operation marked the first cataract surgery performed aboard a domestically produced aircraft, underscoring China’s progress in building a flexible, mobile healthcare infrastructure.

“I never imagined I would have surgery on a plane,” Huang said, standing on his own and taking in the cabin around him. “It was fast and effective. I can see again. Thank you!”

According to Lin, ophthalmic procedures are particularly well suited to mobile medical platforms due to their relatively short duration and the high level of equipment integration required. 

In some of the remote regions in China, geographic constraints and limited access to advanced medical facilities have long prevented patients from receiving timely eye care, sometimes resulting in avoidable vision loss. The airborne hospital offers a solution by rapidly delivering specialized services to where they are most needed.

The concept of an airborne hospital is not unfamiliar in China. In 1982, an aircraft operated by the international nonprofit organization Orbis International visited China, introducing advanced medical equipment and expertise that profoundly influenced Chinese ophthalmologists. This experience planted a seed of aspiration: China would one day develop its own flying eye hospital.

Realizing this vision required coordinated efforts, from equipping the aircraft with a 5G-enabled mobile eye clinic system and assembling trained flight crews, to ensuring ground support and building a professional operations team. Today, that vision has entered clinical application.

Following the successful operation in Zhengzhou, the flying eye hospital quickly moved into broader use. 

On March 19, 2026, specialists from the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center performed eight sight-restoring surgeries aboard the aircraft for residents of Qionghai in south China’s Hainan province. Prior to the surgeries, a 5G-enabled mobile screening vehicle was dispatched to local townships, conducting preliminary examinations for more than 600 people. Patients requiring surgery completed pre-operative checks at local hospitals before boarding the aircraft.

Among the first beneficiaries were elderly patients with limited mobility. For them, the flying hospital brought specialized care directly to their communities, demonstrating the tangible impact of AI-integrated mobile healthcare.

Looking ahead, the domestically developed C909 flying eye hospital will continue serving remote regions across China. Plans include extending operations overseas to deliver vision care to underserved populations while collaborating with local institutions to enhance ophthalmic capabilities through training and technology transfer.

China expands, upgrades service sector to share opportunities with world

By He Yin, People’s Daily

A national conference on the service sector has recently been held in Beijing. 

Against the backdrop of slowing global economic growth and profound shifts in global trade patterns, China is working to open new prospects for the high-quality development of its service sector.

This strategic push not only underpins China’s own pursuit of high-quality economic growth but also presents substantial new opportunities for global cooperation within the service sector.

A series of high-level policy initiatives have been launched rapidly since the beginning of this year. 

Notably, this year’s Government Work Report proposed to “enhance the capacity and quality of the service sector” and “cultivate the ‘China Services’ brand.” An executive meeting of the State Council called for expanding market access and the scope of opening up with a focus on the service sector. Most recently, the national service sector conference laid out systematic arrangements to upgrade the capacity and quality of the service sector. 

These measures reflect both China’s strategic alignment with fundamental economic development principles and its practical response to structural economic weaknesses. They will inject new vitality into China’s drive to build a modern industrial system and promote high-quality growth.

As a vital component of the national economy, the development level of the service sector serves as a key indicator of a country’s overall economic strength. 

Impressive statistics illustrate China’s steady service industry expansion. In 2025, the value added of China’s service sector exceeded 80 trillion yuan ($11.71 trillion) for the first time, accounting for 57.7 percent of the country’s GDP. The sector contributed 61.4 percent of economic growth and has remained the largest source of employment for more than a decade. 

From thriving winter tourism and immersive travel experiences to grassroots sports events such as “village super leagues” and “city super league” football tournaments, the service sector continues to create new scenarios and stimulate fresh demand. Deeply integrated into daily life, it plays a critical role in industrial upgrading, meeting public needs, and expanding employment. 

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China’s service sector is expected to surpass 100 trillion yuan in value, indicating substantial potential for further growth.

On a wider scale, the positive spillover effects of China’s service sector expansion and upgrade  are becoming increasingly prominent, strengthening the link between domestic and international circulations.

Two concrete examples highlight this trend.

First, in 2025, China received 35.17 million inbound foreign visitors. The rising popularity of “China Travel” and “Shopping in China” has driven travel services to become the largest segment of China’s service trade, accounting for more than a quarter of the total service trade volume.

Second, China’s total service trade exceeded 8 trillion yuan in 2025. The service sector has become the main channel for absorbing foreign investment, accounting for over 70 percent of the country’s total utilized foreign investment for several consecutive years.

Behind this transformation, from “selling products” to “delivering services,” and from “expanding scale” to “improving quality,” lies the rising level of China’s opening up in the service sector.

In recent years, China has rolled out a series of initiatives to widen service sector access. 

It has fully implemented a negative list for cross-border trade in services, accelerated comprehensive pilot programs for expanding opening up in the service sector, and further expanded pilot openings in fields such as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals.

As a result, the breadth and depth of opening up in China’s service sector have continued to expand. These efforts not only provide the world with a larger-scale service consumption market and attract high-quality foreign services to continuously deepen their roots in China, but also offer more diverse and competitive service supplies to share development opportunities and create growth space with other countries.

With services as a bridge and opening up as a bond, China’s service sector is poised to become more open, innovative, and dynamic. It will continue to forge new frontiers of win-win cooperation with the world and write a new chapter of shared development.