Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman has alerted the public of the hacking of his WhatsApp number by suspected hackers. 

The development comes amid Nigeria’s rising cybersecurity concerns, as it has been ranked as the fifth most breached country in the world. 

Confirming the hack of the Education Minister’s phone in a statement on Friday, Director, Press & PR of the Ministry, Folasade Boriowo, raised the alarm that the number is currently being used by unauthorized individuals. 

In a statement titled, ‘Public Disclaimer: Hacking of Honourable Minister of Education’s Phone Number’, the Director said: “The Office of the Honourable Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, wishes to inform the general public that the Minister’s WhatsApp  number has been hacked and is currently being used by unauthorized individuals. We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause and urge everyone to disregard any message of request received from the said number until further notice.

“The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities and is under investigation. We advise all members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity”. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria is ranked as top five countries with the most cyber attacks in 2024. 

Using a World Cybercrime Index (WCI) score, a recent research from Oxford University revealed the top five most breached countries in the world to include: 

Russia: 58.39

Ukraine: 36.44

China: 27.86

United States: 25.01

Nigeria: 21.28

In July this year, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, also had his telephone number hacked. 

The Premier League is set to delay the introduction of semi-automated VAR offside technology (SAOT) until 2025, as testing of the system continues.

Earlier this year, clubs unanimously voted to implement the technology, which is expected to reduce the average time for an offside check by 31 seconds.

The initial plan was to roll out SAOT “after one of the autumn international breaks,” with October being the most likely period.

However, during a Premier League shareholders’ meeting on Thursday, it was revealed that the system is not yet ready for deployment, raising doubts about its introduction this season.

SAOT automates the process of placing lines on players and the pitch, improving both speed and accuracy.

Additionally, the technology offers enhanced graphical visualisations of offside decisions, moving away from the current method of displaying lines on broadcast footage.

Nigerian workers have confirmed receiving the Federal Government’s new minimum wage payment. Benson Upah, spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Tommy Etim, Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), revealed this in separate statements on Thursday.

The confirmation follows in the news that the government had commenced payment of the new N70,000 minimum wage.Upah called on other entities to follow the Federal Government’s example, saying,

“We ask other entities to emulate this.” Likewise, Etim noted that the government’s committee on consequential adjustments had already provided a template, leaving no justification for delaying the payment of the new wage.

“We now advise all other parties to follow suit and start the payment of the new minimum wage,” he added.

A civil servant from the Office of the Head of Civil Service, who wished to remain anonymous, also confirmed receiving the new minimum wage for September 2024, saying, “I got an alert around 2 pm on Thursday.

I hope the arrears will be paid soon.” Some workers disclosed that they received an additional N40,000 on top of their previous salary as part of the consequential adjustment.

This development means that over 1.2 million federal workers have begun receiving the revised minimum wage. Earlier in the week, Ekpo Nta, Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission, confirmed the government’s approval of an upward review of the consolidated public service salary structure (CONPSS) in line with the 2024 Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act.

This followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the N70,000 minimum wage on July 18, 2024.

The Senate had passed the new minimum wage bill into law, doubling the previous N30,000 wage set during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

However, the wage increase comes amid soaring inflation, with headline and food inflation reaching 32.15% and 37.52%, respectively, in August 2024.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has said that Nigeria is committed to the disarmament of nuclear weapons.

Abubakar said this on Thursday while addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) at the UN Conference Rooms, New York, United States (US).

He spoke on the topic: Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

“I, hereby, emphasize Nigeria’s dedication to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We all know that nuclear weapons represent a significant threat that cannot be justified,” he said.

“Since its first engagement in Congo in 1960, Nigeria has contributed to International Peace and Security in terms of troops, finance, logistics, and civilian experts to various African countries, including Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire.

“Nigeria has played a key role in regional security in West Africa and the Sahel. I, therefore, urge the United Nations Security Council to give just representation to Africa on a permanent basis.

“We cannot downplay it’s importance in deepening peace and building trust. There is also the need for comprehensive strategies to prevent and address emerging security threats.

“That is by curbing illegal financial flows which will help in preventing kidnapping, banditry and stemming illicit arms and light weapons flow to Africa.”

The minister also attended a high-level meeting of launch the friends of Fissile Materials Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).

The meeting was hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister, Kishida on Mondday, September 23, 2024 during the UNGA 79.

Abubakar along with DG NIA and other top Nigerian dignitaries also attended the Summit of the Future in New York, USA on Sunday, September 22.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said contrary to claims made by the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Nigeria did not lose $49.8 billion during his administration.

The ex-President stated this in Abuja at the launch of a book titled “Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from The Emerging World”, which was edited by former Minister of Finance, Shamsuddeen Usman.

“The Financial Reporting Council queries the expenditure of CBN because it is the Financial Reporting Council that has the powers to audit the CBN, it is not the Auditor General of the Federation.

“There were serious infractions that need to be looked at, that was the reason. Somehow, the time was short. So before we finished, his tenure elapsed, probably he would have been called back,” Jonathan said.

Sanusi served as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor between 2009 and 2014, a period that coincided with Jonathan’s time as the President.

In 2014, the then-CBN governor alleged that Nigeria had lost $49.8bn under Jonathan’s administration.

The claim attracted wide criticism and the government later set up a committee to probe the allegation.

Sanusi was asked to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence, with Godwin Emefiele appointed in his place. He went on to become the Emir of Kano, dethroned in 2020 and was reinstated a few months ago.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the sale of $20,000 to each of the eligible Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in the country at the rate of N1,590/$.

In a circular to all Bureau De Change operators dated September 25, 2024, the apex bank said the forex would provide “additional liquidity to this segment of the foreign exchange market”.

The circular was signed by CBN’s Acting Director of Trade and Exchange Department, W.J. Kanya.

Kanya said, “To this end, the CBN has approved the sale of $20,000 to each eligible BDC at the rate of N1,590/$. This is to meet the demand for invisible transactions.

“All BDCs are allowed to sell to eligible end-users at a margin of not more than one percent above the purchase rate from CBN.

“Eligible BDCs interested in this transaction are directed to make the naira payment to the CBN deposit account numbers with them.

“Also, payment confirmation and all necessary documentation for disbursement are to be submitted at the appropriate CBN branches in Abuja, Akwa, Kano and Lagos for collection of the $20,000.”