News
Cyber Threats Wreaking Havoc on Enterprises
A consistent bombardment of unknown, targeted, and adaptive cyber threats are wreaking havoc in the enterprise and driving the expansion of Threat Intelligence Security Services (TISS)
Intelligence report showed that the TISS expansions are specifically designed to detect advanced persistent threats (APTs), advanced malware, and previously unidentified attacks.
Businesses and even the government sites in Nigeria are not spared in the worrisome attacks, especially with no cyber protection law to try offenders.
The bulk of knocks and tongue-lashing on the government by IT security experts within and outside the Country might have spurred the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA’s) National Cybersecurity Forum holding June 18 to 19, 2014 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos.
According to new research from International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide threat intelligence security services spending will increase from $905.5 million in 2014 to more than $1.4 billion in 2018.
The TISS market is made up of several distinct facets, including data feeds and publications, consulting security services, and managed security services (MSS).
IDC has expanded its definition of the intelligence security services market to include what it calls iterative intelligence.
This iterative process learns from past experiences and mistakes, and incorporates this new knowledge at a more rapid pace, which often results in better long-term solutions.
“Threat intelligence is essentially a community activity,” said Christina Richmond, Program director, Security Services at IDC. “Attack information can come from many different sources, and iterative intelligence organizes this chaotic process of information sharing in order to help organizations in making future decisions.”
Additional findings from IDC’s forecast include that TISS consulting services make up roughly 22% of the 2013 TISS revenue.
Also, iterative intelligence must be available to small and medium-sized businesses as they see increased attacks like wire fraud and intellectual property theft.
Market observers also said that both professional and managed security services will continue to experience strong growth in the threat intelligence arena.
TISS offers customers deeper insights into global threat environments than they could achieve themselves.
Security services firms are creating alliances with universities and accreditation programs to find and develop security personnel.
Toheeb Agboola, chief technical officer, Information Technology Resources and Development Network (ITRDN), spoke to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek on cyber-security experience in Nigeria, presently.
He said, it is no news that Nigeria ranks top among countries with high exposure to cyber threat unlike in the past, the nation has graduated into the eye of the storm.
Agboola said, “Individuals and businesses need to exercise measures and adequate protection strategy and recovery plan while government must as a matter of national importance enforce proper national policy and action plan on protection from cyber threats, aggressions and crimes. I am aware NITDA inaugurated a team sometime ago in April to serve as a watch dog for cyber threat and online aggression against Nigeria and I believe it’s a good start but take note we are behind. So efforts should be able to speed up the process.
“Our exposure to attract cyber attacks is largely due to rising development of internet based transactions and activities as well as increasing broadband availability/internet penetration, implementation of cashless system, growing usage of mobile and smart devices and the fast growth of online ecommerce arena.
As more and more of our daily engagements, social interaction and business transaction continues to depend on online platforms, computers and internet, the risk of increasing cyber threat and warfare has become inevitable at the different levels of our national life and its imperative to institute a three phase model – Plan, Prevent and Protect – in the scheme of our national security plans.
“It is important to state that individuals, businesses and indeed the government are constantly at risk of cyber attacks and should take priority in taken concrete steps to mitigate and prevent such destructive potential before they ever materialize. Although our lackadaisical attitude and assumption that presupposes that we are not potential targets are major storming blocks for getting started on the right track”.
Agboola further warned that any businesses, individuals or government that use, produce, manage or collect important user or business data is at risk of cyber threats and a potential target.
He said every effort should be made to prevent, detect and address cyber issues as they before and while they occur, adding that cyber traitors are no respecters of developed country or developing nations as all are exposed in the global village era.
A former Executive Director at Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Abbas Muhammed Jega, has shed light on the financial dealings between Arik Air and Union Bank, revealing that the airline’s debt to AMCON was over N100 billion as of 2015 and remained unpaid.
Testifying as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ahmed Kuru, former AMCON MD/CEO, and four others, Jega disclosed that AMCON acquired Arik’s loans from Union Bank and Keystone Bank, but not Zenith Bank, which was purchased after his exit.
According to Jega, AMCON discovered in a London meeting that Union Bank had sold them a guarantee rather than a loan, which was meant to cover foreign lenders in case Arik defaulted.
“We invited Arik to resolve the issue with Union Bank, but the arrangement disclosed by me never existed,” Jega said.
Jega attributed Arik’s inability to repay to over-trading, which led to their inability to service existing debts. He revealed that AMCON attempted to restructure Arik’s debt and even offered additional loan facilities to help the airline with working capital problems.
However, Arik failed to meet repayment obligations, prompting AMCON to propose two solutions: a debt equity swap and management control. Both options were rejected or delayed by Arik.
Under cross-examination, Jega confirmed that Kamilu Omokide and Captain Roy Ilegbodu played no role in the loan purchase or London meeting.
The matter has been adjourned to June 30, July 1, and July 2, 2025, for further cross-examination.
The case involves alleged financial misappropriation amounting to N76 billion and $31.5 million, with Ahmed Kuru, Kamilu Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank Ltd, and Super Bravo Ltd as defendants, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada.
Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation is to chair the public presentation of the book Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspective on Online Publishing, a publication of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). The event is scheduled for 110am on Tuesday June 17, 2025 at the Continental Hotel, Abuja.
President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, who confirmed this development said the book presentation will be graced by eminent personalities from all walks of life, including government officials, captains of industry, media practitioners and other professionals, representatives of international organisations, directors of non-governmental organisations.
Alhaji Idris was sworn in as Minister of Information and National Orientation on August 21, 2023, following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With over three decades of experience in broadcasting, newspapering, public relations, and advertising, Idris has brought a wealth of expertise to the role.
His academic background includes degrees in English Studies from Uthman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and Bayero University, Kano. As an entrepreneur, he established notable media outlets such as Blueprint, WE FM radio station, and Rapid Television in Abuja.
He is a prominent figure in professional associations such as National Institute of Public Relations, African Public Relations Association, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
As the founder of Bifocal Communications, a leading public relations and communications consultancy, Idris has served both local and transnational corporations.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Idris is committed to social responsibility through the Mohammed Idris Malagi (MIM) Foundation, which has positively impacted many lives. As a reward for his contributions to the development of his immediate environment and beyond, The Etsu Nupe conferred “Kaakaki Nupe” on him.
A press statement by the GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, quoted the GOCOP president as saying that the proceeds of the book will be used to fund the N2.3 billion GOCOP MEDIA CENTRE, a multi-purpose resource centre comprising a secretariat, a 21st Century library and event halls, among others.
Nweke further noted that the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) was established to promote professionalism in online publishing, ensuring its members uphold the fundamental principles of journalism.
Comprising seasoned editors and senior journalists with distinguished career in print and electronic media, GOCOP’s membership has traversed the online publishing, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the future of journalism globally. With 120 corporate publishers as members, GOCOP continues to uphold the highest standards of online journalism.
Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has issued a stern warning to marketers, content creators, and social media influencers amid an alarming rise in fraudulent, AI-generated advertisements circulating across digital platforms.
Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, director-general, ARCON, during a press briefing at its Lagos headquarters, decried the “porous” state of Nigeria’s online ad ecosystem and pledged to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
Dr. Fadolapo opened the media parley by highlighting how easily unscrupulous operators deploy artificial intelligence tools to produce convincing—but entirely fabricated—advertisements.
“Our social media space has become so porous that people now freely post fake adverts, some of which claim outrageous and bogus benefits,” he remarked.
According to the Director-General, these deceptive campaigns often promise “miraculous cures” or “guaranteed returns” without any credible data or verifiable sources to back them.
Among the most alarming examples cited was an herbal remedy advertisement alleging to cure over 200 ailments—ranging from HIV to cancer—through a single “miracle” concoction.
“Imagine an advert claiming that a single herbal drug could cure HIV, cancer, and more than 200 other diseases,” Dr. Fadolapo said.
ARCON’s DG emphasized that such misleading advertisements not only jeopardize public health—by luring vulnerable individuals into purchasing untested or harmful products—but also undermine consumer confidence in legitimate businesses operating within advertising guidelines.
Dr. Fadolapo pointed to the regulatory vacuum that allows bad actors to exploit the anonymity of social media.
Unlike traditional broadcast or print media—where advertisements must pass through editorial or legal vetting—online platforms can be manipulated with minimal oversight.
Creating an ad using AI-powered design and voice generators, he warned, takes only minutes, making it difficult for regulators to identify the original perpetrators.
“The CBEX case is a painful reminder of what can happen when digital platforms are left unchecked,” Dr. Fadolapo said, explaining that the scheme purportedly defrauded unsuspecting Nigerians of nearly $2 trillion through slick, unregulated social media promotions.
He described how the CBEX promoters used AI-generated video testimonials, falsified financial statements, and cloned websites to entice victims with promises of triple-digit returns on cryptocurrency trades.
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