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The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says Nigeria currently ranks third globally in cyber crimes behind the UK and the U.S.

NCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Umar Danbatta, disclosed this on Tuesday at the ongoing 2017 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the conference’ theme is: “African Business: Penetrating through Institution Building”.

Mr. Danbatta, at a breakout session with the sub-theme: “The Business of Cyber Law, Internet Policy and Privacy Rights”, moderated by Augustine Alegeh, a former NBA President, said the number of internet users in Nigeria has hit 91.6 million.

“About N127 billion was the estimated loss to cybercrime in Nigeria in 2015; Nigeria ranks third in global internet crimes behind the UK and U.S.

“A critical factor militating against Africa’s economic resurgence is the weakness of its institutions.

“Nigeria ranks 169 out of 199 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings; we are in a middle of a revolution and the rise of what we call the networked society.

“The NCC stipulates the laws of engagement that will make the cyberspace safe and ensure the confidence as well as the safety of the cyberspace,” Mr. Danbatta, a panellist, said.

“There are benefits and risks of the use of cyberspace and both has to be properly managed.”

NAN reports that other panellists at the breakout session were Bayo Adekanmi, the Chief Transformation Officer of MTN and Ibikun Abidoye, the legal counsel of Chocolate City Group.

Others are Sascha Grimme, the Associate Solicitor of Cooley LLP, a UK-based Law firm; and Bisi Adebutu of Premier Lotto, also known as ‘Baba Ijebu.’

In his remarks, Ms. Adebutu gave insight into the challenges Premier Lotto faced in conducting transactions on the cyberspace.

“Premier Lotto has moved from the streets to the internet, we have faced certain challenges including paying those who do business with us.

“The cyber laws are not favourable to our business; Premier Lotto ranks as the fourth most visited site in the country.

“We have no easy way of verifying or identifying the owner of cards used to transact business.

“In Nigeria, the business of giving is just emerging, and it is important that we respect the privacy of our clients when they interact with us through the use of usernames and passwords.

“Gaming is very popular on the internet and fraud is one to the challenges we have; if we apprehend an individual trying to perpetuate fraud, we block their access to us.

“We also have challenges of having to discipline offenders and the cyber laws have to be properly identified and implemented to appropriately punish offenders,” Mr. Adebutu said.

In her contributions, Ms. Grimme said: “Threats and perpetrators of cybercrimes and the motives behind the cyber-attacks have to be properly identified.

“There are challenges in identifying perpetrators of cybercrimes; even when identified, there have been instances where they stay in different jurisdictions making prosecution difficult.”

Mr. Adekanmi, while speaking, noted that there is an ongoing online revolution happening in modern times, and that online security was very important.

“There is going to be what I call a technology apocalypse, you will wake up one day and someone is living your life somewhere.

“Someone once said that identity theft is worse than kidnapping, there is a thin line between privacy and security in modern business,” the MTN executive said.

On her part, Ms. Abiloye, who discussed copyright challenges in the nation’s music industry, said the general perception of copyright is that its incentive is to encourage people to create.

“There is a public slant to copyright; there are a lot of cases about unfair use of copyright.
“In Nigeria, we have an endorsement culture and there have been instances where individuals use unauthorised images to promote a product.

“Internet and technology are moving at a pace faster than the music industry,” she said.

During the session, Folake Solanke, the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, queried the MTN executive and NCC CEO on what actions the organisations were taking about unapproved phone charges as a result of unsolicited text messages.

Responding, Mr. Adekanmi said: “Somethings are beyond technology companies; we download a lot of free apps on our mobile phones.

“We get these apps for free but unknown to a lot of people, it is actually in exchange for our personal information which are then given to advertising companies.”

The MTN executive, using the popular app Truecaller to buttress his point, said that the app has a large database of names and other personal information of users, which are accessed by third parties for advertising.

Mr. Danbatta, in response to Mr. Solanke’s question, said the NCC launched a campaign on March 15 to provide a solution to unsolicited text messages.

“We have provided a facility to stop subscribers from receiving unsolicited text messages as well as a facility for subscribers, to subscribe to text messages.

“Send STOP to 2442 to unsubscribe to text messages; if the messages keep coming, dial 622 which is a toll-free number and the NCC will wade into the matter and ensure those messages stop,” he said.

 

(NAN)

BIG STORY

Warri Refinery: Oil Marketers Eye Loading Of Petrol February

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Oil marketers have started loading Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Kerosene from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.

Dealers confirmed this on Friday, while also requesting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the recently rehabilitated plant.

WRPC, under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, resumed operations on December 30, 2024, after the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced its return to service during a tour of the facility.

Speaking with one of our correspondents at the refinery on Friday, the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Harry Okenini, said that while the plant was operational, it was not yet functioning at full capacity.

He, however, pointed out that marketers had begun loading diesel and kerosene from the refinery.

“Right now, there is no production of petrol. So, we are not loading PMS. We hope to load PMS soon. We can confirm to you that the plant is working although not at 100 per cent. And IPMAN, Warri Depot Unit, is waiting for the production of PMS so that we can load.

“For now, only the Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, and Dual Purpose Kerosene are being produced and loaded out for consumption.

“Hopefully, by February, we are expecting cooking gas, PMS, and other products to come out. As of now, the retail unit is only loading AGO and DPK,” he added.

Also speaking with our correspondents at the refinery, the National Chairman of the Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers, a branch of NUPENG, Israel Omokere, confirmed that the refinery was operational.

He said, “Hopefully, the PMS will come on board. We are loading kerosene and AGO for now.”

On his part, the Delta State Chairman of Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers branch of NUPENG, Kingsley Erituoyo, said, “For so many years the refinery was down, today the refinery is up.”

Findings at the Warri refinery by our correspondents showed limited truck movements in and out of the complex.

According to The Punch, the activities at WRPC were minimal compared to the refinery’s peak years when it operated at full capacity.

Industry sources revealed that more steps were needed by the Federal Government and NNPCL for the refinery to begin full production of PMS.

During the visit to the WRPC complex, it was also observed that the main entrance appeared almost deserted, with security operatives stopping journalists from taking photographs on the premises.

Sources inside the refinery shared that only one of the three units at the refinery was operational and producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.

“For now, only one unit is working at the refinery. You know there are three units, but only one is in operation, producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.

“The unit can’t give fuel for now. If the second unit starts working, it can produce PMS. It is the last unit to operate because it’s very big and complicated.

“If all units are working, we can load over 100 trucks daily, now it loaded about 50 trucks,” a source said.

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NDLEA Arrests Famous 61-Yr-Old Lagos Fabric Merchant Alhaja Ajoke Elediye For Drug Trafficking

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began the new year by arresting a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, in her mansion at the Okota area of Lagos.

This followed the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs from her staff on the same day.

A statement released by the anti-drug agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, reveals that the suspect, known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka” and as Alhaja Ajoke in social circles, had her true identity concealed for years.

She had remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list for leading one of the drug cartels operating from the Mushin area of Lagos.

“The lid was, however, blown off her invincibility on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis, driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Subsequently, the operatives stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where they arrested her.”

Babafemi further stated that, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath that lies a vast illicit drug trade.

She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

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Lagos Ministry Demolishes Illegal Gatehouse After Attack On Workers [PHOTOS]

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The Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has commenced the demolition of an illegal gatehouse erected by the management of an estate on January 3, 2025.

The action follows repeated warnings from the ministry, which had earlier alerted the estate about the unlawful construction.

Sources revealed that the estate proceeded to build a soakaway system on the road immediately outside the entrance gate, despite several official warnings from the ministry.

This prompted the ministry’s task force to intervene on January 2, 2025, to dismantle the septic tank that was being constructed.

However, during the operation, workers from the ministry were reportedly attacked and locked up by the estate’s management.

In response to the harassment of its workers, the Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources escalated its actions, directing the demolition of the illegal gatehouse on January 3, 2025.

The demolition is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to ensure that constructions adhere to legal and environmental standards.

Details later…

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