Generative AI Policy

Generative AI Policy

The Nigerian Journal of Theoretical and Environmental Physics (NJTEP) recognises that Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools are increasingly present in academic research and scholarly writing. The journal supports the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of technology in research, in line with the publication ethics standards of the Nigerian Institute of Physics and international guidance from COPE.

Policy Position

NJTEP does not permit the use of Generative AI tools to write, generate, substantially paraphrase, or revise any part of a manuscript submitted to the journal. Every submission must represent the original intellectual work of the human author(s) listed on the paper.

Scope of the Prohibition

This policy applies to all components of a manuscript and related submission documents, including:

• Title and abstract
• Introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion
• Cover letter and comments to the editor
• Responses to peer reviewer comments
• References and bibliographic material
• Tables, figures, and supplementary files

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must declare, at submission, any use of AI-assisted tools in the preparation of their manuscript — regardless of the purpose. Any undisclosed use of GenAI tools for manuscript writing will be treated as a breach of NJTEP's publication ethics, and may result in:

• Immediate rejection of the manuscript prior to review
• Withdrawal of an accepted manuscript before publication
• Retraction of a published article where such use is discovered after publication

AI Tools Cannot Be Named as Authors

Generative AI systems and large language models may not be listed as authors or co-contributors on any submission to NJTEP. Authorship requires the ability to take intellectual and ethical responsibility for the work — a capacity that AI systems do not possess. Listing an AI as an author misrepresents the nature of the work and is not permitted.

Obligations for Reviewers and Editorial Staff

Reviewers and editors must not upload any manuscript, review report, or confidential journal correspondence to any public or uncontrolled AI platform. The confidentiality obligations that apply to all parties during the editorial process extend equally to the handling of AI tools.

Permitted Use of AI-Assisted Tools

While AI-generated text in manuscripts is prohibited, authors may use AI-assisted tools in a limited and fully disclosed capacity for:

• Spelling and grammar checking of text written entirely by the authors
• Language translation assistance, provided all intellectual content originates with the authors
• Standard computational or data analysis tasks, which must be fully described in the Methods section

Any such use must be clearly disclosed in the Acknowledgements or Methods section of the manuscript, as appropriate to the nature of the assistance.

Commitment to Authentic Scholarship

NJTEP's prohibition on AI-generated manuscripts reflects its commitment to authentic, original scholarship. Research published in NJTEP must represent the genuine intellectual contributions of its authors. This commitment protects the scientific record, safeguards the rights of researchers whose work may be reproduced by AI systems without attribution, and maintains the integrity of peer review.

Authors who are uncertain about what constitutes permissible use of AI tools are strongly encouraged to contact the NJTEP Editorial Office before submitting their manuscript.

Contact and Support

For enquiries regarding this policy, contact the NJTEP Editorial Office:
Email: njtepnip@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Nestor M. D. Chagok — +2348147744559
Website: https://njtep.nipngr.org/index.php/njtep/about/contact