₦airaland Forum

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has raised the alarm over potential cyber-attacks targeting banking, health and other systems, power and transportation systems, as well as other critical national infrastructure in the country. A statement signed by the agency and made available to journalists said its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), in conjunction with other industry stakeholders, in their efforts at ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace, have intercepted some signals of potential cyber-attacks.

The statement signed by the director-general of NITDA, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), other government establishments, the organised private sector and the general public to be vigilant and proactive as far as security is concerned, saying the need for extra precautionary measures to guard against cyber-attacks cannot be overemphasized.

The statement read in part: “We therefore recommend the following precautionary measures, efforts should be intensified at ensuring that any data is encrypted, particularly any sensitive or personal data; ensure that networks are fully secure through the use of wired network thereby protecting them from possible hackers’ attempt at using Wi-Fi security lapses to remotely break into computer systems; where WiFi network is used, ensure that an up to date encryption standard is in use and turn off the service set identifier (SSID)broadcasting function on the wireless router if it is not needed.

“Ensure that free Wi-Fi connections as well as other wireless connections such as Bluetooth or infrared ports are not used unless where necessary; ensure that operating systems and other software applications are regularly updated with the latest patches; ensure that anti-malware protection is installed on all IT systems as this will help in protecting your organisation’s network from potential attacks through virus-laden software and email attachments.

Also, all security software should be adjusted to scan compressed or archived files. “Ensure that appropriate guidelines are in place for connecting personal devices into the organisation’s network; ensure the use of credential vaults and multi-factor authentication instead of user passwords; ensure that the organisation’s data and critical files are regularly backed up; and ensure that there is an organisation-wide enlightenment campaign, awareness and measures put in place to dealwith cyber security threats as well as the procedures they must always follow when using their workstations.

NITDA is working with all critical stakeholders to come up with effective ways of adequately protecting the Nigerian cyberspace.” It further called on all Nigerians to support the agency by doing their best at protecting themselves as well as the information and systems under their care.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/30/hackers-targeting-nigerian-banks-attack-imminent-nitda-warns/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

Walter fergabon, military administrator started this project during bababgida regime

Lols

Most times these type of article is written by newbies. I once did it too. Nice try.

@Financialwatchn

The Presidency has launched a weekly television and radio programme which is aimed at promoting the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Abiola Olusola, Deputy Director (Media) in the office of the Vice President.

The announcement is coming 24 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo took the present administration to the cleaners with a 13-paged letter in which he urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to run for a second term as he had performed below his (Obasanjo’s) expectation.

According to the statement from the Presidency, the programme would air on a number of network television and radio stations across the country.

The programme is aimed at promoting the giant strides of President Buhari as well as the positive impact he had made in the lives of many Nigerians

“Members of the public are invited to watch the programmes on television:



Channels TV on Monday – 4:30pm



Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network on Thursday – 6:30pm



Core TV news on Saturday – 12:30pm



Liberty television on Sunday – 4:30pm



“On radio, it will be airing:



FRCN network – Monday at 2:30pm



Raypower FM – Monday at 3:00pm



Bauchi Radio – Monday at 1:30pm



Heartland FM – Saturday at 10:30 am



Rainbow FM (Ogun) – Saturday at 8:00am



Capital FM – Saturday at 1:30pm



Liberty Radio – Sunday at 10:30am



Choice FM – Sunday at 6:30pm



Rivers Radio – Sunday at 9:30pm,” the statement from the Presidency read.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/24/presidency-launches-media-campaign-promote-buharis-policies/

We all can see who they are avenging

A member of Ebonyi State house of Assembly representing Afikpo North -East constituency, Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi popularly called afikpo chick is allegedly running a Ponzi scheme.

The Circular investigation revealed the Ponzi scheme referred as IGBOIST MILLIONAIRE CLUB (IMC) has about one hundred thousand (100,000) members who are contributing one thousand naira (1,000) each into a central bank account under the control of the lawmaker.

Further investigation by The Circular shows Igboist Millionaire Club operates with Zenith Bank ACCOUNT#: 1015459560 and the unsuspecting victims were instructed to pay through wire transfer, ATM Transfer, or can walk into a bank and make the payment.

Hon Maria Ude
Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi
The Ponzi scheme according to information obtained by the circular from the facebook group Igoist extra states that “50,000 Igboists will contribute 1,000 Naira each. 20 winners will get 1 million naira Each. 20 winners will get 200k each. 170 winners will get a 100k each. 25 winners will get 60k each. A total of 235 winners on C1”.

Category 2 [C2]:

“50,000 Igboists will contribute 3,000 Naira each. 40 winners will get 1.5 million naira each. 90 People will get 500k each. 80 people will get 250k each. 25 winners will get a 100k each. A total of 235 winners on C2”.

Category 3 [C3]:

“50,000 Igboists will contribute 5,000 naira each. 50 winners will get 2 million naira each. 60 winners will get 1 million naira each. 100 winners will get 250k each. 150 winners will get 140k each. A total of 360 winners on C3”.

The draw for the winners of the scheme will take place via a facebook life stream on January 27th.

The Ebonyi lawmaker is also the founder of Igboist, the largest faecbook group with over one million members which has been shutdown by facebook earlier this week.

Recall The Circular reported yesterday the lawmaker was suspended from the state house of assembly for two weeks.

Hon. Maria Ude is currently mulling to contest in 2019 general election to represent her constituency in federal house of representatives.

https://thecircularngr.com/2018/01/ebonyi-lawmaker-ponzi-scheme-scandal/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

Following the crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos Island Chapter, the State Government on Tuesday ordered the immediate suspension of all union activities on the Island indefinitely.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/23/lagos-state-suspends-nurtw-operations/

The Ebonyi state house of Assembly has handed a two week suspension to the member representing Afikpo North -East constituency, Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi popularly called afikpo chick.

The circular learnt that the suspension came for abusing and disgracing the honourable house by turning herself to ordinary photographer.

According to Ikechukwu Okoro, this came after series of warning and possible corrections from the honourable house. The leader of the house, Hon. Joseph Nwobashi moved the motion which was seconded by Hon Mrs Okpo Franca. Hon. Mrs Okpo advised her to leave the system and possibly go and work on her disgusting attitude that is bringing down the respect and honor given to the house.

The circular recalls that Afikpo chick has been previously suspended in August 2015 for mobilizing youths of her area against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.


Hon. Nwachi is currently mulling the ambition of representing her constituency in federal house of representative in 2019 general elections.

https://thecircularngr.com/2018/01/ebonyi-house-assembly-suspend-afikpo-chick/

Sixteen Nigerian states have agreed to the establishment of cattle colonies proposed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh as a solution to the incessant herdsmen crisis.

It was gathered that some 16 states, all in the North, have volunteered land for the establishment of cattle colonies in their domain.
The states include: Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Plateau.
Others are Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Jigawa, Yobe, Niger, Kogi and Kwara states.

According to The Punch, all the 16 states have agreed to volunteer 5,000 hectares of land each.
However, Benue and Taraba experiencing herdsmen attacks have rejected the cattle colonies.

All the 17 states of Southern Nigeria have also refused to volunteer land for the cattle colonies.
Recall that Governor Ayo Fayose had vowed not to give Ekiti land for cattle colonies.

Similarly, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) rejected Federal Government’s plan to establish ‘cattle colonies,’ in South-Western states.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/23/herdsmen-crises-southern-states-reject-cattle-colonies-16-northern-states-agrees-full-list/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

BENIN—EIGHT Edo State Libyan returnees were burnt to death in a motor accident along Ore-Sagamu Road on their way to Lagos State to seek spiritual and financial assistance from Prophet T. B. Joshua, the General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN.

It was gathered that their bodies and seven other survivors, who sustained injuries, were taken to the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, Ogun State.

The incident, which was said to have occurred last week, involved a white Toyota Hiace 18-seater commercial bus with number plates AYB 479 XA and a Volvo truck with number plates KSF 79 XL.

According to Vanguard, the commercial bus left Benin late in the night with 15 male and female returnees from Libya, after they had been profiled by the state task force on anti-human trafficking and illegal migration.

They were reported to have headed to Lagos State to receive spiritual and financial assistance from Prophet T. B. Joshua, who had earlier assisted some of their colleagues.

FRSC report

The Ogun State Sector Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Clement Oladele, who confirmed the incident in a telephone chat, explained that the accident happened when the driver of the truck drove against the traffic and had a head-on collision with the commercial bus.

He explained that out of the 15 occupants of the commercial bus, nine were males, five females and one female child.

Oladele further disclosed that five males and two females were injured, while the other eight passengers were burnt beyond recognition.

According to the FRSC commandant, the accident happened due to “route violation following driving against traffic by the truck, dangerous driving and over-speeding.

“The injured victims were taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital and the corpses were deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital mortuary. The burnt corpses were removed from the road by the FRSC rescue team.”

We aren’t aware—Edo govt

The Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, who expressed shock over the incident, said the state government is yet to be informed.

According to him, “any time we receive them, we profile them and give them all the necessary assistance that will enable them to be reintegrated into the society and unite with their families.

“They were not kept in prison like in Libya; they may have embarked on the trip to Lagos on their own volition.

“However, the state government will make effort to find out what happened and reach out to families of the dead and others affected in the accident.”

https://marketplaceafrika.com/2018/01/23/8-edo-libyan-returnees-burnt-beyond-recognition-in-road-accident/

Breaking: Buhari hands over to JJ Okocha after the former international football striker beat him in a keenly contested election in 2019.....
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.Please wake me up its only in my dream

The United Bank for Africa Plc has introduced a chatbot that enables its customers to make use of their social media accounts to carry out key banking transactions.

The bank said the chatbot, called Leo, available on Facebook messenger, would enable customers to open new accounts, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, carry out transfers and airtime top up.

Speaking at the unveiling of the chat banking service in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, said this was the first time that a financial institution in Africa would come up with such a solution to ease customers’ transactions.

He added that it had become necessary in the fast-paced world to deliver quick-time transactions and response based on customers’ demands.

Uzoka said that as part of initiatives aimed at putting the customer first, the bank was continuously developing strategies aimed at easing transactions for the bank’s numerous users, while ensuring utmost safety of their transactions.

He said, “The formulation of this product is consistent with the bank’s customer first philosophy, where we are doing things not the way we like, but exactly what the customers want, where they want it, and in the exact platform they want.

“And so, we have been working with technology giants from around the world because for the UBA with so many customers, we have to deal with those who have the global capacity. Therefore, we at the UBA, have collaborated with Facebook to come up with this. In future, Leo will show up with other platforms. All you need to do is to have an account with Facebook,” he said.

While noting that this was the first time this kind of solution was coming up on the continent, he expressed belief that with the huge number of customers the bank had as well as its growing customer base in all the 19 countries of operation, customers would be served using technology, and not just traditional technology, but modern and forward-looking technology.

“Leo being an intelligent personality will give you feedback instantaneously as you transact your business on the platform. A solution that is from the customer’s standpoint, which is easy to use by anyone regardless of your career,” he said.

While giving a step-by-step demonstration on how it would work, the Group Head, Online Banking at the UBA, Mr. Austine Abolusoro, said the Leo was a virtual banker using artificial intelligence service to address customers’ concerns.

According to him, each transaction is secured with a One Time Password that is generated on the phone number that is registered on the account.

He gave other services that would be offered to customers on the online platform as payments of bills, data top-up, mini-statements, loan applications, cheque confirmation and account freezing.

“Leo is ready and waiting to help with most transactions and to deliver any form of banking services. Leo is operating a lifestyle banking platform on Facebook messenger to assist with your transactions while chatting with your friends and business partners. The security with this platform is that for every transaction, a One Time Password is generated to the phone number that is registered on the account.”

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/22/robots-now-charge-ubas-face-facebook-chat-e-banking/

Nigerian telecom giant Globacom has been ordered to leave Benin because it has refused to pay a new licensing fee.

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP), which issued the order, noted that its decision was based on the Glo’s refusal to pay while others are paying.

The regulator said it had, therefore, directed Glo to stop the sale of new SIM cards and recharge cards.

Glo is required to notify its subscribers of the impending cessation of its activities and ask them to use up their available airtime and data within 30 days of the notification sent to them, according to the regulator.

“Glo Mobile will also have to maintain its passive co-location infrastructure with other operators for a period of three months,” ARCEP stated.

In September 2017, negotiations between Glo and the new administration failed.

Glo has been operating in Benin since August 2007 and has grown its market share to about 12% over the 11 years period.

If Glo finally leaves Benin, it would have been the second to leave after Bell Benin Communications SA exited some time back.

That country would then be left with MTN, Libercom, Spacetel and Moov serving subscribers in that country.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/21/benin-republic-sacks-nigerias-globacom/

The former Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari,on Saturday led other Peoples’ Democtatic Party (PDP) defectors to publicly join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

APC
t that the two-term former governor and his deputy who served under the PDP had recently declared support for the APC).

The state APC Chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Maccido, formerly received the decampees and many others at a symbolic ceremony in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

He said the defectors did not give any condition for their decision to join the APC fold in the state.

“According to them, they defected as a result of leadership style of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Atiku Bagudu, especially in the areas of security, agriculture and economic sectors,” he said.

He assured the decampees that they would be accorded equal opportunity and/ or privileges in the party, adding that “the doors of the party are still open for others to join.”

Speaking on behalf of the defectors,former Gov. Dakingari said the defection was a result of deep thoughts in the past three years since he left power.

“No body had heard my voice on political issues for three years and I joined the APC not for gain but for the efforts President Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Bagudu have been doing at the federal and state levels respectively for progress,peace and unity.

“I call on all those I have offended to forgive me and I forgive those who offended me too,” he said.

In his remarks, Gov. Bagudu expressed optimism that the state would continue to move forward with the coming of new members into the party.

“Our state is blessed with mineral resources but improper coordination had been the stumbling block toward exploitation of the resources.

“With the cooperation we have now, we will achieve greatness If we are truly committed to our aims and objectives of moving our state to greater heights,” he said.

The APC North -West National Chairman, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, congratulated the defectors for joining the party.

He said the successes recorded by Gov. Bagudu was monumental that made the people to join the party.

Newsmen report that other former top PDP members that were officially received into the APC included the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Rabiu Kamba, former member House of Representatives, Alhaji Sani Kalgo, Abdullahi Dan-Alkali, Alhaji Haruna Hassan and Halima Tukur.

https://marketplaceafrika.com/2018/01/20/defection-former-kebbi-governor-leads-others-to-formally-join-apc/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday attributed the current poverty in the country on choices made by its leaders.

He warned that hard choices must therefore be taken by leaders, to break the poverty cycle, including having to step on toes when necessary.

He spoke at the 7th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja where he was awarded a PhD in Christian Theology.

He said: “I have come out with the conviction that poverty is not our lot or the lot of any individual or group in Nigeria. It is the choice made consciously or unconsciously by our leaders.

“The beginning of getting Nigeria out of poverty into wealth creation and employment generation is in our choice of leaders who understand what development means and what it entails and who are ready to do what needs to be done and make hard choices that need to be made.

“This includes stepping on toes of friends and well- wishers who will not conform to the transformation or change agenda.”

At the convocation, Fabiyi Adebayo Adekunle emerged the overall best graduating student while popular comedian, Chief Chika Okpala, was awarded a Masters degree by the university.

The former President noted that there is no age limit, no status barrier and social limit for functional education.

He added that as a former student of the institution, he rejected special favours just to experience the process leading to the award of PhD degree.

“I wrote my examination in my study centre with other students to utilize the learner support service like any other student. I went through the rigour and discipline of the graduate school like any post graduate student,” he noted.

President Muhammadu Buhari said NOUN was established to improve access to qualitative education in the country.

https://marketplaceafrika.com/2018/01/20/how-choices-made-by-leaders-drove-nigeria-into-poverty-obasanjo/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) says it has arrested over 20 suspects who specialised in counterfeiting entry visas of some foreign countries.

Spokesman for the PSFU, Audi Lawal, said in a statement on Saturday in Lagos that the visa racketeers were arrested at several embassies of the foreign countries in Lagos.

The police spokesmanspokesman said that the suspects specialised in forgery of visa processing documents such as passports, bank statements, company letterheads and immigration stamps of several overseas countries.

Lawal said that all the supects confesssed to have committed the crimes and were charged to court for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others involved in such illegal activities.

“The Polıce Special Fraud Unit in its effort to discourage members of the public from patronising racketeers and false document makers, recently busted a cartel which specialises in counterfeiting.

“This cartel specialised in UK, Canada and Shengen visas, Nigerian passports, bank statements, various countries’ immigration stamps and letter of introduction from corporate organisations,” Lawal said.

The PSFU spokesman advised visa applicants against patronising agents using fake travel documents for processing visa at embassies in Nigeria.

He urged visa applicants to always access embassies and high commissions information through their official websites on visa application procedures.

NAN

https://www.liftedelvis.com/2018/01/police-fraud-unit-arrests-20-visa-racketeers-in-lagos/

Mynd44, Lalasticlala, Seun

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Saturday that a mob destroyed four shops and several houses belonging to their members at Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg.


A Nigerian owned shop burned at Krugersdorp
Mr Cyril James, the Ward Chairman of the Nigerian Union in the area, told newsmen on the telephone from Johannesburg, South Africa that the attacks began on Jan. 18.

James said that the mob alleged that a Nigerian abducted a South African girl and raped her.

“ The South Africans attacked our homes and shops, destroyed all we have. Many Nigerians suffered severe injuries during the attack. We have left our homes for safety because they (South Africans) are regrouping to attack us again,” he said.

James urged the Nigerian mission to urgently intervene before the mob kills a Nigerian.

According to him, the safety of Nigerians in Krugersdorp is no more guaranteed because there is no help.

Mr Adetola Olubajo, President of the union, said that the situation in the area was bad.

“ I can confirm that Nigerians in the area have been attacked. I am amazed and emotionally down as calls from panicked Nigerians flooded my phone from various Provinces.


Flat occupied by a Nigerian burned by the mob
“ The South African government needs to be engaged at the highest level to avoid further loss of lives and property of our citizens,” he said.

Olubajo said that two Nigerians had been killed in South Africa in Rustenburg and Durban since the attacks began.

“ Two Nigerians have been killed, many displaced and injured in fresh Xenophobic attacks and extra-judicial killing,” he said.

Two weeks ago, more than five Nigerian owned shops and houses were burnt at Rustenburg, North West Province by Taxi Drivers.

The drivers alleged that Nigerians sold drugs to a gang that attacked their members and that a Nigerian abducted and raped a 16-year old South African girl.

The union denied the allegations. “ After our investigation, no Nigerian has been arrested for the rape or drug offence. The allegations are false and spurious, “ the union said.

NAN

https://www.liftedelvis.com/2018/01/xenophobia-mob-destroys-4-nigerian-shops-houses-in-s-africa-union/

Members of the Red Card Citizens Movement led by Oby Ezekwesili @obyezeks paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and Members of the Commission to discuss issues relating the Electoral Process.
The red card movement is a political movement founded by Former minister Oby Ezekwesili which her main objective is to stop the country's ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC as well as the main opposition party, the PDP.

While heralding the #RedCardMovement, she said; “Enough is enough,” through her Twitter handle @obyezeks.

“My political agenda is simple. I shall actively campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 elections except in rare cases where they field new minds with a strong record of public interest.

“I shall actively campaign for the best candidates of all other parties in the elections.

“My individual effort to campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 elections may not amount to much, but it is at least a definite expression of my personal conviction.

“My conviction is that it is time to end the tyranny of rulership of a wicked minority political elite class,” she wrote.

https://www.financialwatchngr.com/2018/01/16/redcardmovement-oby-ezekwesili-visits-inec-chair-discuss-electoral-process-photos/

As far as 2019 is concerned no one comes close to Buhari thus far , if Atiku is his opponent then the job becomes easier for PMB

Oyedepo the chairmsn of religious wing of PDP

okay

Jesus came a long time ago, except u mean third coming