General
2019: My Plans for Delta South in Senate—Uduaghan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2019 Delta South senatorial candidate, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has said he wants to represent Delta South at the Senate in 2019 because of his desire to pursue quality legislation that will lead to the development of the district and the Niger Delta region.
Releasing his manifesto in Warri, Delta State on Friday, Uduaghan, who is the immediate-past governor of Delta State said he hinged his manifesto on four pillars which he called the JEW+P (Jobs, Empowerment, Wealth plus Peace).
In his words: “I salute you, my good people of Delta South Senatorial District. I seek your mandate and support to represent you at the Senate.
“Over the years, I was actively part of and at a time, head of a team that managed the development of Delta State. In those years the Delta State government through its various organs embarked on projects and programs in the areas of peace, human capital and infrastructure development that will lead to job creation and poverty alleviation. In doing this, we faced a lot of constraints. These constraints were mainly in the areas of non-existent extant laws to control the various processes that were put in place to fast-track the development.
“Efforts to bring peace and security to the area were mainly through engagements at various levels and the use of force. Both methods have led to a temporary peaceful environment. However, to attain a level of job creation and alleviation of poverty in the region that will lead to permanent peace, prosperity and a sense of well-being, there must be laws enacted to fast-track the processes of industrialization, wealth creation and a peaceful environment. These are the laws I seek your mandate to bring up at the Senate.
MY MISSION
“My mission therefore at the Senate will be focused on four pillars which I call the JEW+P (Jobs, Empowerment, Wealth plus Peace).
JOBS
Poverty alleviation through the creation of Job Opportunities for the people of Delta South at all levels.
EMPOWERMENT
Creation of Industrial Empowerment for the people of Delta South through the promotion and encouragement of indigenous participation, as well as, the use of homegrown technology in the oil industry.
WEALTH
Championing the creation of Enduring Wealth for the people of Delta South through the promotion of Community part-ownership of major and minor oil companies.
PEACE
Promotion of Enduring Peace in Delta South through the involvement of local and community people in security and peacekeeping.
Do you know why the Jews prosper and flourish anywhere they are? They patronize their own. We can build a new Delta South Senatorial district by creating an environment that employs our talents and utilizes our God-given resources to flourish as a people.
As a former Secretary to the Delta State Government and a former two-term Executive Governor of the state, and also as I be Delta pikin, I know and understand your pains and your needs. You need room to express your God-given talents. As governor, there were a lot of things I wanted to do to open up opportunities and bring economic development to you that I could not do because I was constrained by the laws of our country. This was what fired my desire to represent you at the Senate. We come from a senatorial district that is massively endowed, and all we need to do is to use our imagination, and with the cooperation of our brothers and sisters from other parts of Nigeria, we will drive a New Vision for the people of Delta South Senatorial District. A New Vision that fully explores and exploits our strengths and endowments.
CREATION OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The unemployment level in Delta South Senatorial District is embarrassing, given that the region is the economic hub of Delta State hosting up to 72% of high impact industries, especially in the oil and gas sector. As a result of policy and security challenges which were beyond the state government, many of these industries were either shutdown or were operating way below capacity; therefore, many of the oil service companies in particular that used to give employment to a lot of our people, especially the youth were either shutdown or forced to relocate. For example, the major oil companies for so many years did not prospect for new oil fields and this caused a major disaster in the employment, economic and social life of the people of Delta South Senatorial District.
I believe that focused legislative interventions in the Senate can deal with these challenges and launch Delta South Senatorial District into a phase of development and expansion that will meet the demands of our people. Delta South Senatorial District can be galvanized and developed into the industrial base of the state by taking advantage of the oil and gas and the maritime sectors to create jobs for men, women and youths.
We are also endowed with arable lands that we can use to drive active investments and participation in agriculture and agro-processing. However, over the years, our lands, air and sea have been highly polluted by the activities of the oil industry, especially old pipes, sabotage and oil theft. The review of our extant laws to make them more effective and formulation of new laws in the areas of the environment to prevent further pollution of our air, lands and sea and also to clean up the already polluted environment will be needed to enable every relevant authority do the needful. This will encourage investments in agriculture and agro-processing.
ILLEGAL REFINERIES AND INDUSTRIAL EMPOWERMENT
I know that pragmatic legislation in the Senate can secure legality for the use of indigenous technology for small-scale oil refineries. Scattered all over the Delta South Senatorial District, as it is in many parts of the Niger Delta, are illegal refineries that make use of local technology that is damaging the environment, including soil, water and air pollution which has resulted in the soot crisis in our communities and cities. The legislation of laws in this area will guarantee best-practices and create jobs for men, women and youths in the region, directly and indirectly, in the value chain of crude procurement, refining, petrochemicals, product marketing, logistics, hospitality and other ancillary services.
About 6,000 illegal refineries were reportedly destroyed by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in 2015. Some of these “refineries” were actually rickety science projects that are over-glorified by calling them “oil refineries”. However, among the thousands of illegal refineries, there must be some that are well set-up. Should a country that cannot put its four “legal” refineries in full working order afford to destroy its own indigenous refineries? Illegal refineries should be done away with, but those youths and women should be engaged in better set-up refineries. The illegal refineries that are being destroyed offer a lot of employment for the youths and women, which in turn, relieve the government of the burden of providing jobs for them.
I believe that there has to be a rethink towards the concept of “illegal refineries”. The so-called “illegal refineries” are a testimony of the ingenuity of Nigerian youths and women in their ability to creatively innovate, driven by the daily challenges of their existence. The ingenuity that has been exhibited by the operators of the so-called “illegal refineries” should constitute the foundation of technological breakthrough.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for the promotion and encouragement of indigenous technology in the oil industry and also legislative backing to recognize and reform non-conventional refineries.
EFFECTIVE DISPOSAL OF SEIZED CRUDE
It is no secret that there is a high level of illegal bunkering activities in the Delta South Senatorial District like it is in other parts of the Niger Delta. There has been a lot of government security measures to arrest the situation. These measures have led to the seizure of stolen crude in various vessels, especially the wooden Cotonou boats. The current practice is for security operatives to burn these boats with the confiscated crude or dispose of seized crude oil on the high seas and the creeks. This is assumed to be the best way to discourage crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. Sadly, the destruction of seized crude has not only failed to solve
the problem but has contributed immensely to the degradation of the environment. Destruction of seized crude by burning or disposal at sea pollutes the land, air and water. Furthermore, it is a colossal waste of the nation’s natural resource.
I believe that the nation needs to evolve an effective way to disposing of seized crude without destroying it. This will achieve a three-pronged benefit for: (1) the oil industry, (2) the Niger Delta environment, and (3) the nation’s revenue.
Seized crude would be more beneficial to all if it is effectively
channeled back into the oil industry. For instance, it can form part of the stock made available to registered non-conventional refineries or even sent to the nation’s conventional refineries for processing into petroleum products. This will help the country generate revenue from seized crude, service the oil industry and reduce environmental pollution.
I also believe that effectively disposing of seized crude without destroying it will:
1. Reduce pollution of the air, land and water in the Delta South Senatorial District;
2. Enhance the availability of crude oil to registered
non-conventional refineries operating in the Delta South Senatorial District;
3. and generate revenue for the country as a whole.
As the Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing to evolve effective ways of disposing seized crude that will be beneficial to the community, the environment and the nation.
SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
I am certain that articulate legislative intervention in the Senate can accommodate the youths of Delta South Senatorial District within the security architecture of the region. Community-based policing which entails professional security operatives working hand-in-hand with indigenes of the area to solve problems of crime and disorder is a recognized strategy of keeping peace and order worldwide.
Professional security operatives are usually deployed from
the central commands at the national level to Delta South Senatorial District. Most times, this entails posting of people who know very little or nothing about the terrain, to manage the security of the area. The result, in many instances, is poor security in the creeks.
The terrain of the Niger Delta has always proven to be a great challenge to conventional security forces. This has made their operations quite difficult and sometimes frustrating. As a governor, I started the Delta Waterways Security Committee made up of many of our youths who understood the terrain and could guide the security forces through the creeks when the need arose. These youths who were part of the communities were able to gather intelligence which helped the security agencies preempt planned security breaches arising from community hostilities and sometimes criminalities.
I propose that the local youths and community people should be involved in securing the pipelines and the keeping of peace and order.
Involvement of the people of Delta South Senatorial District in security will:
1. provide employment and economic empowerment for the people;
2. enhance the operations of the Federal security agencies in Delta South Senatorial District as the professional security operatives would be helped to effectively gather intelligence and also to navigate the area by locals who are familiar with the people and the terrain;
3. reduce the level of crime and criminality in Delta South
Senatorial District of Nigeria; and
4. promote a conducive atmosphere for doing business in Delta South Senatorial District.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing for the inclusion of the youths of Delta South Senatorial District in the security architecture of the area.
CREATION OF ENDURING WEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: 5% COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF COMPANIES IN THEIR DOMAIN
The management of Nigeria’s oil industry will remain at the centre of the Niger Delta crises in the country, until the government evolves a realistic and permanent solution. This practical solution will be best premised on addressing the very heart of the matter. One of the reasons Nigeria’s Niger Delta crisis has persisted is related to disharmony between the oil companies and host communities. On the one hand, the host communities tend to make the operational environments of the firms in the oil industry hostile because of perceived or obvious unfriendly disposition of the oil companies to their host communities. While on the other hand, many of the oil companies are unhappy with their host communities on the ground that the host communities do not show understanding of the realities plaguing the oil companies. The above scenario is an indication that the problem in the Niger Delta, which significantly affects the Delta South Senatorial District, is an issue of mutual distrust and suspicion. By extension, therefore, if this mutual distrust and suspicion are addressed, there is hope for lasting peace and development in the oil industry and the host communities.
I firmly believe that one way to achieve lasting peace and development
in the Niger Delta is by community participation and ownership in Nigeria’s oil industry. When communities in the Niger Delta (including those in the Delta South Senatorial District) are allowed to be actively involved in the ownership and management of oil firms domiciled in their areas, they would have firsthand experience of the prospects and challenges in the oil industry and become more realistic in their expectations from them. This will STABILIZE the Niger Delta.
I believe that community participation and ownership in the oil industry will:
(1) enhance the security of infrastructure of the industry in the Delta South Senatorial District as the communities would not be hostile to their own economic interest; (2) create jobs for the people;
(3) benefit the participating communities and their environs by opening up opportunities for the establishment of service firms at second and third tier levels; and
(4) enhance effective management of the oil industry in the Delta South Senatorial District in particular and the Niger Delta, in general.
As the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, I will push for legislative backing to recognize community participation and ownership in the oil industry.
OTHER AREAS
In addition to the above, as Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District of Nigeria, I will push for:
1. Legislation on Constitutional role for Traditional Rulers.
2. A collective agenda in the Senate to review extant laws bordering on Peace, Security and Prosperity of the Delta South Senatorial District and
3. provide good and effective representation through a strategy of synergy and feedback with the people of Delta South Senatorial District. To achieve this, we shall hold town hall meetings every six months.
Modern software releases move fast, and manual regression testing often slows teams down. Machine learning helps automate repetitive checks, cut testing time, and reduce human error. It speeds up regression testing by predicting which test cases matter most and improves accuracy by detecting defects that manual testing can miss.
By analyzing past results and application changes, machine learning models identify high-risk areas that need attention. They can also update test scripts automatically and flag false positives before they waste valuable time. The process transforms quality assurance from a time-heavy step into an intelligent, data-driven practice.
As the discussion continues, the focus will shift to how specific machine learning techniques accelerate regression testing and how these models raise accuracy through smarter decision-making. Understanding these methods helps teams deliver better software faster and with greater confidence.
Machine Learning Approaches for Accelerating Regression Testing
Machine learning models now play a key role in improving test speed, accuracy, and adaptability. They help teams predict risk, focus on high-impact areas, and maintain large test suites with less manual input. Machine learning models now play a key role in improving test speed, accuracy, and adaptability. By analyzing past test data and application changes, these models help identify the most critical areas for testing, ensuring a more targeted approach. By prioritizing high-risk areas, machine learning-driven testing explained by Functionize allows teams to streamline their testing efforts, reducing unnecessary tests and focusing on what matters most. Compared to traditional manual testing, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error, machine learning models can quickly identify patterns and potential issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. While automated testing tools can speed up the process, machine learning-driven approaches offer a more intelligent, data-driven way to improve both speed and accuracy. As these models continuously learn from new data, they adapt to changes in the application, further refining their predictions.
Automated Test Case Prioritization and Selection
Automating test case selection saves time and helps quality teams focus on changes that matter most. Machine learning models analyze historical data such as past defects, code changes, and execution logs to determine which tests have the highest chance of catching new issues. This allows testers to run fewer but more meaningful tests.
Predictive algorithms can rank test cases by likelihood of failure or business impact. For instance, a model might use data on recent commits or modules with high defect density to reorder the suite. Teams then gain faster feedback without running every test after each build.
By pairing historical analytics with real-time signals, this approach reduces test redundancy while keeping accuracy high. It supports continuous delivery pipelines that require quick cycle times and minimal rework.
AI-Powered Test Suite Maintenance and Self-Healing Scripts
Maintenance creates major delays in large regression cycles. As interfaces or code structures evolve, older scripted tests often stop working. Machine learning can fix this problem by enabling self-healing test logic. It learns from element attributes, layout changes, and user flows to adjust tests automatically.
This approach reduces manual effort, since a tester does not need to rewrite scripts after each UI update. Modern tools track patterns across thousands of interface elements and use visual recognition to identify what changed in the application.
By adapting on its own, the system keeps tests useful through many software updates. The result is less downtime and fewer false failures, even as products shift between releases.
Optimizing Test Coverage and Efficiency with Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics models find gaps in existing tests and highlight areas that may need more coverage. This process often uses code churn data, historical defect rates, and user interaction logs to show where defects are most likely to appear. Teams then direct testing resources to those higher-risk areas.
These analytics can also help balance test distribution. For example, low-risk components might need only lightweight checks, while high-impact modules receive deeper testing.
Applying predictive insights helps achieve both higher coverage and faster delivery. It also allows early detection of potential stability issues before they reach production, reducing overall costs and improving test efficiency across each release cycle.
Improving Regression Test Accuracy with Machine Learning Models
Machine learning models can increase regression test accuracy by predicting which test cases matter most, identifying fault patterns in code, and reducing the time needed to verify new changes. Effective use of data preparation, model selection, and evaluation leads to stronger predictions and fewer missed defects.
Model Selection and Evaluation for Test Prediction
Choosing the right regression model defines how well predictions match real test outcomes. Models such as linear regression, random forest, support vector regression, and gradient boosting each handle data relationships differently. A good approach is to begin with a baseline model to compare performance across several algorithms.
Teams often use scikit-learn tools like RandomForestRegressor, GradientBoostingRegressor, and Ridge to predict regression test results. Selecting models with strong generalization avoids wasted computing time. Cross-validation, especially k-fold cross-validation, helps confirm performance consistency across datasets.
Evaluation metrics such as mean squared error (MSE), root mean squared error (RMSE), and R² (coefficient of determination) measure predictive accuracy. Lower MSE or RMSE values indicate better alignment between predictions and test outcomes. Using multiple metrics gives a balanced view of model performance.
Feature Engineering and Data Preparation for Reliable Outputs
Accurate results depend on clean and well-prepared data. Exploratory data analysis (EDA) helps detect outliers, missing values, or strong correlations that may distort predictions. Columns can be transformed using feature scaling, standardization through StandardScaler, or one-hot encoding for categorical variables.
Data normalization keeps all features within a similar scale, which prevents large-value features from dominating the model. Missing values can be filled with methods like SimpleImputer, improving input consistency. Feature selection or recursive feature elimination (RFE) can remove unnecessary inputs that lower performance.
Balanced and properly formatted input data allows regression models to identify true patterns in software behavior. A clear data structure reduces noise in predictions and increases confidence in each result.
Preventing Overfitting and Ensuring Model Strength
Models that perform too well on training data may fail with new code changes. Overfitting often occurs when the model captures random noise instead of meaningful test patterns. Careful cross-validation and hyperparameter tuning help control this issue.
Regularization techniques such as Lasso regression and Ridge regression limit unnecessary complexity by applying penalties to large coefficients. This keeps predictions stable across updates. GridSearchCV in scikit-learn can systematically test combinations of regularization strengths to find balanced settings.
Ensemble methods like bagging, random forest, or gradient boosting (XGBoost) combine multiple predictors to increase stability. These approaches average out errors across models and reduce sensitivity to specific data conditions. A consistent evaluation process helps maintain long-term predictive accuracy in regression testing pipelines.
Conclusion
Machine learning allows teams to speed up regression testing by analyzing test results and predicting which areas of code need the most attention. This targeted approach cuts down on repetitive test runs and saves time. As a result, test cycles move faster without losing accuracy.
AI-based tools also make test scripts adapt automatically to software updates. That reduces manual maintenance and helps keep test cases relevant. By using data-driven insights, teams can focus on the most important test cases instead of running thousands that add little value.
The technology also improves defect detection. For example, algorithms can separate real failures from false positives, so testers can act on genuine issues more quickly. The process becomes more efficient and dependable.
In summary, machine learning makes regression testing faster, smarter, and more precise. It allows development teams to maintain software quality while releasing updates at a steady pace.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria is seeking backers for a N1.5 trillion ($1 billion) green bonds this year, according to the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and the Niger State Government have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pilot the Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) programme and enterprise development into a single, scalable framework for inclusive growth.
The MoU was signed at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite, described the agreement as a moment of delivery rather than a ceremonial exercise, noting that the SIPC Programme demonstrates how national priorities can be translated into tangible outcomes through strong federal-state collaboration.
“This partnership reflects our belief that development works best when housing, agriculture, finance, and governance move together. By anchoring farmers in secure, well-planned communities, we are not just building houses. We are strengthening livelihoods, food security, and long-term prosperity,” she said.
Under the programme, Niger State will host the pilot phase of integrated farming and housing estates designed to provide farmers with secure settlements located close to agricultural production zones, storage, processing facilities, and markets.
The model directly addresses long-standing challenges such as insecure rural settlements, rural-urban migration, post-harvest losses, and limited youth participation in agriculture.
On his part, Mr Mohammed Umaru Bago, Executive Governor of Niger State, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the initiative, highlighting the availability of extensive arable land, water resources and supporting infrastructure.
He emphasized that the programme would also contribute to improved security, climate resilience, and the orderly development of rural communities while creating viable economic opportunities for farming households.
The SIPC Programme adopts an innovative financing structure that blends public land and assets with private investment, allowing the government to focus on policy, coordination, and oversight while leveraging private-sector efficiency and scale. MOFI’s role is central to this approach, ensuring transparency, sustainability, and shared risk across partners.
Key federal agencies participating in the initiative include Family Homes Funds Limited, the Rural Electrification Agency, and Niger Foods Limited, each contributing sector-specific expertise spanning affordable housing delivery, renewable energy solutions and agricultural value chain development. Renewable energy, particularly solar-powered community infrastructure and mini-grids, will underpin agro-processing, storage, and household energy needs, reducing costs and enhancing productivity.
Beyond agriculture, the programme is expected to stimulate broad-based economic activity through construction, logistics, agro-processing and community services, creating jobs for engineers, artisans, builders and suppliers, while supporting local industries such as cement, steel and transportation.
The settlements are explicitly designed to be affordable and functional, with transparent allocation mechanisms and governance structures to ensure access for farmers and low – to middle-income earners.
The signing of the MoU sends a clear signal to developers, financial institutions, pension funds, agribusiness investors and development partners that Niger State, working in alignment with the Federal Ministry of Finance and MOFI, is open to credible, impact-driven investment. The SIPC framework is intended to serve as a replicable national model for integrated rural and peri-urban development.
The Federal Ministry of Finance also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the agreement moves swiftly from signing to execution, with close coordination among all stakeholders to deliver measurable outcomes on housing, food security, employment and inclusive economic growth.
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