News
Help! IP Thieves Killing Nigeria
Intellectual piracy, that is stealing of the ideas of others and claiming them as your own is the commonest crime in Nigeria today and one that is threatening all the fabrics of the country’s life, Nigeria Communications Week can now reveal.
The most common types of piracy and counterfeiting internationally include: medications, apparel, footwear and handbags, movies and music, auto parts, electronics, health products (toothpaste, lotion, vitamins) and food, alcohol and beverages.
Piracy or counterfeiting is a too benevolent term that doesn’t even begin to adequately describe the toll that the theft takes on the many artists, musicians, record label employees, industrialists, manufacturers and the country in general.
Though reliable statistics are hard to come by, losses as a result of counterfeiting and piracy are staggering and thought to have exceeded genuine earnings.
According to a research by the Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the International Data Corporation (IDC), Nigeria lost more than N19.8 billion ($132 million) to software piracy alone in 2008.
Nodding in agreement, Karen Burress, a US department of commerce representative who recently visited the country, pointed out that counterfeit goods – including music, movies, electronic goods, food stuffs, automotive parts and pharmaceuticals, among many other things account for 7 per cent of all global trade. This equated to almost $350 billion in lost revenues and millions of jobs gone wanting worldwide.
“We estimate that Nigeria is the largest market in Africa for goods that infringe IP rights. Around 80% of the international music CDs available here are pirated; even the local music industry sees 40% of its products being copied, counterfeited or sold illegally,” she said.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the pirated CD of any artiste sells for as low as N100 while the original sells for as high as N2, 000.
The shameless debasement of the industry is not limited to music, counterfeit computer hardware and accessories also abound in the country.
Investigations revealed that the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is the major gateway for fake and sub-standard phones, computers, and other ICT accessories into the country.
Dubai, a top re-exporting destination, is said to acts as a catalyst for the huge volumes of exports from India, Vietnam, Singapore and China to Nigeria.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that most of the fake and sub-standard ICT products are manufactured in China, Singapore, Vietnam and India, but sold in Dubai, which is a major market for most importers from Nigeria.
It also is surprising how the products get into the country amidst the measures said to be put in place by the government.
Investigations showed that the major market for all these fake products is the Computer Village in Lagos, the largest computer and mobile phones and accessories market in West Africa.
The duplication of duties of Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (Son) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) only seem to have bolstered the booming trade.
The involvement of organized crime and terrorist groups worldwide in counterfeiting products to finance their activities has not helped matters.
Magnitude and effects of counterfeiting and piracy necessitate strong action which is in short supply in the country.
Describing the current spate of law enforcement activities as inadequate Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (Bascap) pointed the way forward.
The group said there was urgent need for Nigeria to adopt new Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement guidelines for the protection of rights owners in their territories.
It has also launched a set of intellectual property (IP) guidelines designed to help businesses around the globe protect their copyright and branded materials, and deter trade in counterfeit and pirated goods.
News
Firms Seek Specialized Expertise to Combat AI Cyber Threats – Study Reveals
As concerns about the use of AI in cyberattacks increase, companies worldwide are racing to bolster their cybersecurity strategies, according to a Kaspersky survey.
In a new study the cybersecurity company revealed that 92% of IT and Information Security professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region expect the use of AI by malicious actors to escalate over the next two years.
This growing threat is prompting organisations to prioritise cyber defense expertise, with many turning to cybersecurity vendors for specialised support and training.
In its latest study titled “Cyber defense & AI: Are you ready to protect your organisation?” Kaspersky gathered insights from IT and Information Security professionals across SMEs and large enterprises. The findings underscore the urgent need to prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks.
To combat these evolving threats, companies place high value on cybersecurity expertise, with 94% of respondents in the META region highlighting the importance of growing internal expertise through training for in-house employees, and 93% underscoring the need for external expertise provided by cybersecurity vendors. This need spans sectors from retail to critical infrastructure, emphasising a universal demand for advanced threat protection.
To reinforce their cyber protection, organisations are actively integrating both internal and external expertise. Currently, 36% of companies surveyed in the META region are either implementing or planning to deploy external support to adapt to the evolving threat landscape, while 34% are doing the same through internal training initiatives. Additionally, 61% already use external cybersecurity expertise, and 62% have training programs in place, underscoring a dual approach in fortifying their protection.
Cybersecurity vendors’ expertise can come in various forms, from specialised professional services that help organisations deploy their protection solutions, to advanced expert centers that focus on specific security challenges.
One of these centers is the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center. It brings together the company’s AI research and development efforts, to deepen the protective capabilities of cybersecurity solutions.
Vladislav Tushkanov, Group Manager at the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center, says: “Our latest survey shows that businesses are acutely aware of the rising threat from AI-driven cyberattacks and are looking to reinforce their protection through comprehensive solutions, including the use of vendors’ extensive cybersecurity expertise.
The Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center plays a pivotal role by helping us leverage AI advancements to enhance our threat protection strategies and explore innovative ways of using AI in cybersecurity. It also enables us to address security concerns specific to AI itself, ensuring that businesses are prepared for the latest AI-driven threats.”
News
EFCC Dismantles Fake Hotel Review Syndicate, Arrests 105 in Crackdown
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismantled a fake hotel review syndicate and arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians for their roles in the elaborate internet fraud scheme.
Victims were allegedly first lured into rating hotels in exchange for small sums of money.
Eventually they would be encouraged to make bookings in any of the rated hotels for as much as $500.
They were told that the company would pay them back with chunky interest into a crypto wallet bearing their names.
However, the victims would in the end not be able to open the wallet.
EFCC announced that the suspects operated out of Naka Hall Plaza on Abutu Garba Street in Gudu, Abuja, where agents recovered 100 compact workstations.
Dele Oyewale, spokesman, EFCC, said the suspects used fake foreign identities to target unsuspecting victims, primarily U.K. residents.
Authorities said the criminal network was allegedly led by the Chinese nationals, who recruited and trained Nigerian youths with advanced technical skills to act as customer service representatives.
These representatives followed a predesigned script to deceive their victims online.
The operation follows a separate crackdown weeks earlier, in which 792 suspects — including 148 Chinese nationals — were arrested for involvement in cryptocurrency and romance scams.
The foreign nationals allegedly used corporate apartments disguised as business centers to train their Nigerian accomplices. These accomplices were reportedly taught to initiate romance and investment scams and use their own identities to carry out fraudulent activities.
The EFCC also highlighted a concerning trend of foreign nationals instructing Nigerians in internet-related crimes.
News
AfDB to Partner LAMATA to Expand Existing Rail System
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has disclosed plans to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to boost the state’s transport system with the development of another rail line.
This was contained in a statement signed by, the Head, Corporate Communication, LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi in Lagos.
Ojelabi said that the AfDB Vice President, Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, gave the assurance during a visit to LAMATA.
He added that the bank was interested in partnering LAMATA to expand the capacity of the existing rail system.
“Quaynor was also in the company of the Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Equity Specialist, Mr Mayowa Ayodele ahead of a visit of the technical team to assess the Purple line,” he said.
The Purple Line is a 60-kilometre railroad along the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, traversing Berger, Agege and Alimosho and terminate at Volkswagen to join the Blue Line.
“The visit follows a recent pitch for investment on 60-kilometre Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Purple Line at the African Development Bank forum in Morocco, where the Lagos delegation was led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This is to further discuss collaboration on the project and other lines outlined in the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The delegation toured the LRMT Blue Line and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Blue Line rail system,” he said.
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