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Lagos GDP Hits $136Bn

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Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has described the state as the fastest growing mega city in the world, just as he revealed that its Gross Domestic Product GDP has hit $136 billion.

He also said the state accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign trade flow, which invariably contributes 30 per cent to the country’s GDP and also accounts for 65 per cent of its manufacturing activity.

The governor who spoke through his Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment , Professor Ademola Abass, in Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday added that it attracted over  293  investors in a year.

Even with economic recession, he said, government had attracted more foreign direct investments in the first two years of the present administration than it did in the past 15 years.

His words:” Lagos, as the economic capital of Nigeria and the West African sub region with a 136 billion USD GDP, accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign trade flow, contributes 30 per cent to the country’s GDP and also accounts for 65 per cent of its manufacturing activity”.

“It is our desire to see a prosperous Lagos that we will all be proud of, in terms of investment, open for business for the benefit of all.”

Since inception, Office of Overseas, Affairs and Investment has encouraged investor’s confidence in Lagos, as a place to conduct business and live in, he said.

Meanwhile the state has raked in N20.774 billion on land related transactions in the past one year. This is against the 2015 revenue of N9.2 billion.

The Special Adviser (Urban Development), Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, made the disclosure in Alausa, Ikeja.

She also revealed that a total sum of N2, 022 billion was paid as compensation to individuals and groups whose lands and property were acquired for  overriding public interest.

The beneficiaries of the compensation according to her include, the  Abule Egba Link Bridge, Oko Baba Sawmill, Isale Igangan Regeneration Project, Olorunsogo Market (Shops), Epe Road Expansion and Mosafejo Community/Olorunsogo Ultra-Modern Market.

The governor’s aide also said that since the inception of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration, a total of 4, 445 Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (E-C of O) had been signed by the governor.


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Kaspersky Explains how to Protect Smart Home Devices

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It is expected that by 2028, more than 33% of households worldwide will be equipped with smart home systems. Voice assistants, kitchen robots, smart lights and many other intelligent devices have become an integral part of our everyday life, transforming the way we interact with our living space.

However, with the rise of smart technology comes the need for robust protection against potential vulnerabilities. Kaspersky shares useful tips on how to look after smart home devices’ security on a daily basis, to make your home not only comfortable, but also secure.

Why do we call it “smart”?

Smart home systems integrate various devices, creating a “living” environment, enabling seamless interaction between gadgets and users. Usually, it has a central hub or controller, which acts as the brain of the smart home.

Smart home systems can include a wide variety of devices and appliances such as cameras, sensors, actuators and multiple household gadgets such as fridges, toasters, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. These devices connect with each other and other systems via the Internet.

Users can choose between different options when interacting with their smart home:

  • Mobile apps that allow users to control devices, set schedules, and receive notifications even outside the house
  • Voice assistants, which enable voice commands to control devices
  • Web Portals and online dashboards that provide access to device settings and monitoring afterloggingin to the user’s

Comfort and ease of use are the main advantages of a smart home system. Users can set specific times for devices to perform actions, for example, turning on lights at sunset. Devices can also be programmed to respond to specific events, such as turning on the thermostat when the user arrives home.

Even TVs with built-in AI technology, which can help you to discover dishes in shows as they appear on screen, find the recipe, and then compare the products needed for its preparation with those that are in your fridge and make a shopping list doesn’t sound like a fantasy anymore.

Despite the advantages that a smart home system offers, its Achilles’ heel is the Internet connection. Connectivity of all devices to a local Wi-Fi network as well as the need to log into personal accounts makes intelligent gadgets potentially vulnerable to hacking.

There are already examples when attackers gained unauthorised access to Ecovacs robot vacuums to spy on their owners and disturb them by making loud noises and uncontrolled moves. Even an Internet-connected mattress system in theory can be hacked, making the gadget potentially unsafe to use.

The vacuum cleaner is watching you

The idea that the regular household items surrounding you every day might be sharing personal data, overhearing, or even watching you, sounds terrifying. However, there is no need to stop using your favourite gadgets. Though examples of smart home device attacks are still rare, basic security rules are essential to safely enjoy the benefits of smart technology, preventing hackers from using them against you.

  1. Secure your Wi-Fi network. It’s highly recommended to change the system password that many Wi-Fi routers have by default to a more complex and secure one. Here are some tips on how to create stronger passwords.
  2. Monitor your network regularly. Look out for any suspicious activity on your local network or even consider using specific monitoring tools like Kaspersky Wi-Fi Security Check, which alerts you if Wi-Fi security settings are weak or if there are open ports that could allow unauthorised access to your Wi-Fi or smart home devices and Smart Home Monitor, which notifies you when a new device joins your Wi-Fi network so you can disconnect it.
  3. Track your device’s activity. Any device’s unusual behaviour might be a signal that somebody has access to it. If you notice suspicious activity it’s recommended to change your account password (if you are logged in on the device) and check your local network traffic.
  4. Review the settings regularly. Less is more. Disable any unnecessary features or services on your device that could pose a risk to your privacy or security. For example, you can disable access to a device’s camera and microphone if you are not currently using these functions.
  5. Make rational choices. The prospect of using as many smart devices as possible seems very tempting, but remember that every new gadget increases the potential risk to your security, so choose carefully and opt for responsible manufacturers.

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Reps Expose Shocking ₦24bn CCTV Allocation for Rivers Govt House

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House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has given the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), a 48-hour ultimatum to submit a detailed breakdown of key allocations in the proposed 2025 budget, including a controversial N24 billion earmarked for CCTV installation in the Government House.

Chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), issued the directive on Monday during a budget defence session in Abuja.

He expressed concern over several line items in the N1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill.

He said that the committee had gone through the budget as presented by the sole administrator and had raised several issues.

He directed the administrator to submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which he said is a legal document that should precede budget presentation.

Ihonvbere specifically queried the allocation of N24 billion for CCTV cameras to be installed in the state government house, demanding the breakdown.

He also queried the allocation of N30 billion for the purchase of gun boats and N23 billion earmarked for contingency reserves, requesting justification of the sum.

The chairman said that the committee also observed and questioned the allocation of state funds to existing federal project without agreement with the Federal Government refunds, among others.

“We need additional details for those allocations, we request details of state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the last three months to enable us know your financial flows so that we can weigh it against the deficit in the budget in terms of financing it and carrying out some of the projects.

“We also need details of transfers to local governments, essentially how local government funds that come into the state are being managed at the moment.

“Those documents we have requested must reach us within 48 hours; be rest assured that we are all on the same side in terms of getting Rivers working again.

“We want to ensure that we will promote a lot of accountability and ensure that the interest of the people themselves, no matter how remote they are from the state capital, are protected,” he said.

Ihonvbere commended President Bola Tinubu for his intervention that brought about peace between the suspended Executive and Legislature in the state.

Earlier, Ibas who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy, Andrew Nweke, explained that the administration inherited many of the items in the budget.

According to him, the budget is a reflection of the interest of Rivers people, saying it was was designed in line with needs assessment carried out by implementation agencies.

Nweke said that Rivers had a lot of peculiarities saying that the N30 billion earmarked for gun boats was to support security agencies in their fight against insecurity on the waterways.

He also said that Rivers is often hit by floods, insecurity and other unforeseen natural circumstances, saying that the N23 billion contingency fund was to address such.

For the allocation of N24 billion earmarked for CCTV in the state government house, Nweke said that the office of the Governor is that of honour, saying that there was a need to ensure modern technology security surveillance among others.

He said that the additional documents required by the committee will made available to the committee to enable easy legislative process.


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Udensi, Nigerian Scientist Warns of Antibiotic Resistance

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Dr. Chukwuma Great Udensi, U.S.-based Nigerian microbiologist, has raised the alarm over the rising threat of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in Nigeria, warning that it could severely impact the nation’s healthcare system, economy, and productivity.

Udensi, Nigerian Scientist Warns of Antibiotic Resistance

In a statement, Udensi identified microbiome-based innovations as a promising solution to combat ABR and broader antimicrobial resistance (AMR) diseases.

Highlighting his research on microbial ecosystems, Udensi described the human gut microbiome as a “hidden pharmacy” capable of producing bioactive compounds that fight infections, support immune function, and reduce the need for conventional antibiotics.

“These microbes do more than digest food,” he said. “They create antimicrobial molecules that naturally suppress harmful bacteria and prevent infections.”

He emphasised that promoting gut health through better nutrition, lifestyle choices, and microbiome-targeted therapies could help reduce antibiotic dependence and slow resistance rates.

Emerging global alternatives include probiotics, prebiotics, faecal microbiota transplants, and engineered gut bacteria, which he said have shown remarkable results, especially in treating infections like Clostridioides difficile.

On the economic impact, Udensi warned that unchecked antibiotic resistance could slash global GDP by up to 3.5% by 2050.

For Nigeria, this could mean losses in the billions across critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, trade, and labour.

He blamed Nigeria’s worsening ABR crisis on widespread use of substandard antibiotics, aggressive and often inappropriate drug marketing, and weak regulatory enforcement.

To reverse the trend, Udensi called for urgent investment in microbiome research and the exploration of Nigeria’s indigenous microbial resources for cost-effective treatments.

“We must empower local microbiologists to discover beneficial microbes that can be developed into practical therapies,” he said.

Udensi also urged the Nigerian government to tighten drug regulation, enhance diagnostic systems, implement nationwide ABR surveillance, train health workers, improve sanitation, promote vaccination, and educate the public.

He concluded with a call to action for Nigerians to avoid self-medication, complete prescribed antibiotics, practice proper hygiene, and embrace preventive healthcare through immunisation.

“As the world confronts the rising threat of antibiotic resistance, the microbiome holds enormous potential to transform public health in Nigeria and globally,” he said.


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