The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has alerted the public to the emergence of a new variant of the Grandoreiro banking malware, targeting users worldwide through advanced phishing campaigns.
In an advisory issued by NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team, the malware was described as a severe cybersecurity threat, employing techniques such as screen overlay attacks and remote device control to steal sensitive information, including banking credentials.
Distributed through phishing emails and fake websites, the malware bypasses security protocols once installed, enabling unauthorized access to devices. NITDA warned of the potential for financial losses and identity theft, urging users to adopt precautionary measures.
The agency recommended avoiding unknown links, downloading software only from trusted sources, enabling multifactor authentication, and keeping antivirus software updated.
It also advised against using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions and encouraged regular monitoring of bank accounts to detect unauthorized activities.
“Cyber threats like Grandoreiro are constantly evolving, requiring heightened vigilance and strong security practices,” NITDA stated.
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has emphasized that the fight against corruption in Nigeria must start with accountability at the highest levels of leadership.
Speaking on Sunday 8, December 2024, via a virtual session titled “Boiling Point Arena”hosted by a private radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Obasanjo underscored the importance of leadership by example in tackling corruption.
“The best way of fighting corruption is starting from the head,” Obasanjo asserted, adding that genuine commitment to integrity from top officials would set the tone for the rest of the nation.
He described corruption as a “hydra-headed” problem deeply rooted in society, requiring sustained and consistent efforts to overcome.
Using a vivid analogy, he likened corruption to a “babariga” (traditional attire) that is difficult to manage from all angles without compromise. Obasanjo also called for reforms in leadership recruitment, advocating for merit-based appointments over tribal or political affiliations.
The former president concluded by urging leaders to prioritize transparency and divine purpose to achieve sustainable national development.
Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama has made it back to power, defeating the candidate of the ruling part and the immediate past Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, in a presidential election on yesterday, December 7. The defeat ended two terms in power for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) under President Nana Akufo-Addo, marked by worst economic crisis in years, involving high inflation and a debt default. Reacting to the result of the election, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and candidate of the ruling party conceded defeat and congratulated the winner. He said: “the people of Ghana have spoken; the people have voted for change at this time and we respect it with all humility.” Bawumia said that he called Mahama, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to congratulate him. Earlier, NDC spokesman Sammy Gyamfi told reporters that the party’s internal review of results showed that Mahama won 56.3 percent of the vote against 41.3 percent for Bawumia. “It is very clear the people of this country have voted for change,” Gyamfi said. The vice president said Mahama won the presidency “decisively.” Mahama, who was president of Ghana between July 2012 and January 2017, confirmed on X that he had received Bawumia’s congratulatory call over his “emphatic victory.” Blaring horns and cheering, supporters of the 65-year-old Mahama were already gathering and celebrating outside the party campaign headquarters in the capital, Accra. During his campaign, he promised to “reset” the country on various fronts and tried to appeal to young Ghanaians. His win marks a historic victory, making him the first president in the three decades of Ghana’s Fourth Republic – since the 1992 return to multi-party democracy – to reclaim the presidency after being voted out. Ghana’s economic woes dominated the election after the gold and cacao producer went through a crisis of default and currency devaluation, ending with a $3bn International Monetary Fund bailout. On corruption, Mahama vowed during the campaign that he will create a new office tasked with scrutinising government procurement above a $5m threshold. He said that unchecked procurement processes are a major source of corruption. But Mahama supported the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Ghana’s parliament in February but is yet to be signed into law and has sparked international criticism. Ghana’s election commission had said official results were likely due be released on Tuesday. With a history of democratic stability, Ghana’s two main parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party politics in 1992.
The new National President of the Organisation of Muslim Unity, Nigeria, Professor Abdul Ganiy Ahmad of the University of Abuja has listed the core values of Islam. Professor Abdul Ganiy, who emerged President, taking over from Engineer AbdulWaheed Shittu yesterday, December 7, at the Organization’s meeting in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, said that Islam has made it clear that the best among Muslims are those who do not discriminate on the basis of the differences in tribe, religion and creed. According to him, if it were the wish of the Almighty Allah, He would have created humans with a single language and even one religion, stressing that the unity and individual state of piety constitute the core values of Islam. The Professor who emerged new leader after the review of the Organisation’s Shurah Committee report that was ratified at the Extra-Ordinary meeting of the 51 year old Muslim brotherhood organisation, called on the Nigerian Muslims to be united, irrespective of their ethnic or ideological differences, saying that cultural diversity is a creation of Allah as contained in the Holy Qur’an. Professor Abdul Ganiy Ahmad spoke on the current economic hardships in Nigeria, and advised the Federal and State governments to address the circumstances that have led to widespread poverty in the land. He also advised those in authorities to lead by example. He called on Nigerians to support the leaders with prayers as per the Allah’s injunction in the Holy Qur’an, adding that the welfare of the people must not be taken for granted, bearing in mind that leadership is a trust that must be accounted for on the day of judgement. New members of the national Executives include Ma’aruf Elegbede as Vice President; Ashimiyy Al Ameen as Secretary General, AbdulGaniyu Adisa as Assistant Sectary General, Murtadha Odunlami as Treasurer; and Wasiu Jimoh as Financial Secretary. Others are Abdulrasheed Balogun as Auditor; Sheikh Awwal Gunmi as Missioner; Imam Sulaiman Ali as Assistant Missioner; Idris Ibrahim Owoloku as Public Relations Officer; Abdulkareem Shuaib as PRO II; Yakubu Ogbera as Welfare/Branch Affairs Officer; Abdullah Okeji as Security Co-ordinator; and Barrister Ghazali Adepoju as Legal Adviser. The organisation makes all state Rois (Chairmen) automatic members of the Headquarters while the following members would serve as Ex Officio: Engineer AbdulWaheed Shittu (Constitutional mandate), Dr. Hamusa Daudu, Barrister MBO Ibrahim, Professor Sulaiman, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, AbdurRahman Sulaiman and Dr. Hadi Moshood. Established in 1973, the Organisation of Muslim Unity, Nigeria, has been promoting the universal brotherhood of the Muslim Ummah and advancement of Islamic education. It constructed schools, masjid (mosques) and hospitals in some states of the federation. It organises seminars, conferences and workshops on salient issues such as the Shari’a, Zakat and has consistently hosted routine yearly Dawah Camps from one state to the other. The camp brings together, Muslim brothers with their wives and children for Islamic enlightenment, lectures on family values, and entrepreneurship mentoring.
No fewer than 45,689 applicants, today, December 7, sat for a Computer-Based Aptitude Test as part of the recruitment process to secure employment at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The aptitude test, administered at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society Centenary Resource Centre in Maitama, Abuja, as well as at various other testing centres across Nigeria, marked the second stage of the rigorous recruitment process that began earlier this year. Recall that on July 25, 2024, the company announced openings for new entrants into the company. The NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement, had said that the recruitment would be for various positions across various departments within the energy company and interested applicants to visit the NNPCL careers page for application instructions. In a new post on its official Facebook handle to update the public on the process on Saturday, the national oil firm reiterated that only the most qualified candidates would be selected for employment at the end of the exercise. The post read: “As the Computer-Based Aptitude Test for NNPC Ltd.’s recruitment begins today at various centres across the country, 45,689 applicants compete in a transparent and inclusive recruitment process.” This is even as the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, paid a visit to the centre, and promised a smooth, transparent, fair, and credible process.
“As an equal opportunity employer, NNPC Ltd. has made special provisions to ensure that applicants with disabilities can take the test without any hindrance.
“The GCEO reiterated that only the most qualified candidates among the 45,689 applicants will be selected for employment,” the statement added.
Nigeria, through the Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed 19 senior officers and demoted others in ranks for reasons bordering on misconduct. Those so dismissed are 10 Assistant Superintendents, six Deputy Superintendents, two Chief Superintendents and one Superintendent. The Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement today, December 6, in Abuja, said: “after rigorous consideration of the pending disciplinary matters before the commission, it also approved the reduction in ranks of 19 other senior police officers, consisting of one Assistant Commissioner of Police, one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Deputy Superintendents and 13 Assistant Superintendents.” Ikechukwu Ani said that the PSC punished two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, with one being reprimanded for refusal to carry out lawful instructions while the other received letter of warning for negligence. The PSC spokesman said that several other officers found culpable received different punishments, including, severe reprimand, and letters of warning. According to him, most of the officers dismissed will also be prosecuted by the legal unit of the Nigeria Police Force. He said that three pending disciplinary matters were stepped down with a request for further information from the Inspector General of Police after considering 23 appeals and petitions and nine legal matters/court judgments. Ikechukwu Ani said that the commission would henceforth be considering police disciplinary matters with dispatch. He said that the idea is to free police officers who are not found wanting to continue with their career progression and those found culpable to serve their punishments. The PSC spokesman said that the PSC boss had warned that the commission would not spare police officers who indulge in civil matters like land disputes, marital issues and rent related disputes.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike has given instant approval to request openly displayed by resident of Ketti who turned out to welcome him, for the establishment of a senior secondary school in the community. The minister, who flagged off the construction of the 10.5-kilometer Kabusa-Ketti access road in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) today, December 4, in response, assured that the request of the protester would be granted. “Let me assure you that I have seen what you have written there without you even saying it. “Let me approve that Ketti will get a Senior Secondary School.” Wike said that governance is a two-way contract between the people and the leadership, saying that President Bola Tinubu’s government would continue to fulfill the promises he had made to the people. The Minister commended the residents for coming out to show appreciation for the road project and urged them to continue to support the government. He assured them that the FCT Administration would continue to interact with them to address the issues that affect them. The minister stressed that development would not be concentrated in the Abuja city center, adding that the Kabusa-Ketti road would be provided with streetlights as part of efforts to tackle insecurity. “Our effort is not to concentrate development in the city. “Mr. President has directed that we must also open up all the satellite towns, and that is what we are doing today in Kabusa-Ketti.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has trained 109 personnel and have been commissioned as its pioneer Armed Squad. Their training came in the wake of the approval by the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), of the request by the Commission for its personnel to bear arms. At the graduation ceremony of the officers today, December 4, in Abuja, the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, described the commissioning of the officers into the elite armed squad of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies as a significant milestone for them. He said that it is also a milestone for the Commission, which he said is determined to build the capacity of its workforce for the responsibility of ridding the nation of corruption and other vices. The ICPC Boss, who was represented at the ceremony by the Commission’s Director of Operations, Shehu Yahaya, said that the skills acquired in the course of the one-month intensive training would inspire the graduands to serve the Commission diligently.
The Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has said that the key goals of the 2025 budget for the state are to boost internally generated revenue (IGR), pursue debt repayment, foster conducive business environment, encourage public private partnerships, block wastages and leakages in revenue streams and prioritize completion of ongoing projects and programmes while introducing new critical projects. Presenting the state’s 2025 budget of a little over N584 billion before the State House of Assembly, Governor Ododo said that the objective of the budget is to improve quality of education at all levels, improve access to healthcare, ensure food security, expand trade and commerce, create opportunities for youth development, improve road networks in urban and rural areas, improve the quantity, quality and access to safe water among others. Breakdown of the total budget of N584,404,119,489.00 shows that the sum of N302, 813, 903,802, representing 51.99 percent is for capital expenditure while N279, 590,215,687, representing 48.01 percent is for recurrent expenditure. The budget, christened “budget of consolidation and continuity for inclusive development” is N176, 82,989,476 higher than the 2024 revised budget, representing a 43.34 percent. The allocation to sectors indicates that the sum of N120, 047, 367,416 which is 20.61 percent is allocated to administration; N227, 820,142,196, representing 39.12 percent for economic matters; N23,754,514,351, representing 4.08 percent for law and Justice, and N210,782,095,526, representing 36.19 percent for social services. Governor Ododo said that the budget is anchored on the state’s fiscal strategy and its Public Financial Management Reform, saying that it is aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness of spending, greater control of the state wage bill, boosting revenue generation by identifying and blocking leakages, and directing capital expenditure to critical infrastructure such as road, housing, education, health, and other thematic areas of job creation, youth engagement, infrastructure, and utilities, public sector and pension reforms. The Governor gave indication of plans by the State Executive Council to soon present a bill for legislation on the 32-year development plan for the state, from 2024 to 2056. According to the Governor, providing legislative backing for the 32-year development plan of the State government is to ensure continuity and consolidation of on-going development in infrastructure and human capital development, enhancement of the quality of lives and livelihood of people in urban and rural areas, support for new initiatives in solid minerals development, law, justice and public service reforms, among others which he said have to be sustained to prevent project abandonment and deviation from the strategic vision to position the state as an investment destination. “As part of our efforts to build a new and prosperous Kogi State, we have developed a 32-year state development plan with the theme ‘Shared Hope and Prosperity’. “The document is a comprehensive roadmap designed to transform Kogi State into a thriving, inclusive and sustainable economy.” Governor Ododo said that the state development plan is anchored on three pillars of fostering prosperity, building resilience and providing direction for sustainable development through exceptional innovation, wealth creation, healthcare and human capital development established on the foundation of peace and exemplary governance. He said the state development plan which is now operational is in three phases beginning with its first phase from 2024 to 2033 to lay the foundation for growth with investment in critical infrastructure, human capital development and economic diversification, adding that the phases two and three from 2034 to 2043 and 2043 to 2056 will focus on accelerating economic growth, improving governance and enhancing environmental sustainability; and consolidating on the gains of the earlier phases promoting innovation and ensuring the state remains competitive and attractive for investment.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has explained that the Early Exit Package (EEP) for about 1,000 of its staff, which is being misconstrued as “forced retirement” by social media “is entirely voluntary” and without any negative repercussions for eligible staff. Reacting to media reports that it is planning to disengage about 1,000 staff, with over N50 billion earmarked to settle those that would be affected, the Apex Bank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, stressed that the exercise is not a “mass retirements.” In a statement today, December 4, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali said that the decision to implement the Early Exit Package was the outcome of extensive consultations with the Bank’s Joint Consultative Council (JCC), a body representing staff interests. She explained that the EEP, a longstanding policy that was previously accorded to the executive cadre, has now been made available to eligible staff at all levels. “For some time, staff representatives through the JCC, had called on management to approve the early exit package for all cadres. Following these discussions, management decided to meet this popular demand.” Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali described the concerns about potential repercussions for staff who decline the package as unfounded, saying that management is committed to supporting employees’ professional growth and well-being. She emphasized that the initiative is an internal corporate matter that is designed to promote career development for staff.
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