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Nigeria Garners 21 Points in UN eGovernment Development Ranking

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Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communications Technology
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Nigeria has improved in the latest United Nations eGovernment Development ranking by moving up by 21 points to 141 out of 193 countries rated in the UN Global eGovernment Development Index for 2014. Nigeria was ranked 162 in 2012.

Nigeria also ranked 97 in the eParticipation index, an improvement of 22 points up from 75 in 2012.

The upward movement of Nigeria in the 2014 ranking is a welcome development that shows that progress is being made in the efforts of the Nigerian Government through the Ministry of Communication Technology to enable and promote egovernance in Nigeria

According to a statement by the Ministry of Communication Technology led by Mrs Omobola Jonhson, read that the Ministry had embarked on initiatives to deploy ICT to drive transparency and efficiency in governance and public service delivery.

To enable internal efficiency in government, the Ministry is promoting ICT in Government-by facilitating e-Government, which enhances transparency, efficiency, productivity and citizen engagement.

The  ’Getting Government Online’ initiative the Ministry  is facilitating  is geared at ensuring that government deploys technology as a mechanism to transform the way government operates and enhance the effectiveness of government service delivery for the benefit of its citizens.

This has led to the implementation of two flagship projects, namely the Government Service Portal (GSP) and Government Contact Centre (GCC).

The Government Service Portal (GSP) provides a single window technology access by citizens and other stakeholders to government services being provided by various Ministries Departments and Agencies MDAs. It is multi-featured and includes collaborative channels that deliver core content management capabilities.

The primary objectives of deploying GSP are to create a single point of entry to Federal Government services, enhance accountability and improve the delivery and quality of public services through technology-enabled civic engagement (mobile technology, Facebook, Twitter, Interactive Mapping, Blogs, Wiki etc).

Other objective is to transform government processes to increase public administration efficiency, increase end-user productivity by integrating many different services or data access paths of MDAs – under a consistent presentation standard and mainstream some of the government’s non-sensitive datasets on the portal.

The Phase One of GSP included the automation of 10 government processes from the Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Agriculture; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology. Some of the processes automated are   Drug authentication, Farmer’s Registration, Registration and Accreditation of Seed companies, Seed Import and Export Permit, Trademark registration, Patent registration, Acquisition of License for Class type license and Acquisition of individual type license, Spectrum License etc

The Ministry is currently automating the pre-incorporation and post-incorporation processes of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and online payment on the Government Service Portal.

The statement also affirmed that the Ministry is setting up Government Contact Centres, which will facilitate efficient response to citizen requests through a two-tier response approach.

The Contact Centre, which will be located in the six geopolitical zones of the country is planned to house robust databases as well as accommodate 150 operator seats.

Before the creation of the Ministry of Communication Technology in 2011, most MDAs did not have domain names. In line with its mandate to improve the quality of public service delivery, all websites of Ministries across the federation have been migrated to a standard domain name at ‘.gov.ng’.

To maintain the relevance and efficiency of these websites, the Ministry has issued web standards and guidelines that ensure uniformity across all MDA websites.

The guidelines ensure quality of each website, its relevance and accuracy of information.

A corollary to the implementation of websites is the official email addresses to enhance service delivery and good governance within MDAs.

It will also lead to accountability and transparency in official government correspondence.

The Ministry through one of its agencies Galaxy Backbone won first place in the UN Public Service Award for 2013 for its ‘1Gov.net initiative’ and approach to providing safe and secure IT infrastructure for the delivery of e-government services.

The 1Gov.net is a shared service platform for raising public sector productivity and efficiency using technology.

 

 

 


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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Black Friday: How Konga Yakata is Defying Global Inflation

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We have been taught that economics is a force of nature, an invisible hand that giveth and, more recently, taketh away. We watch global indices, inflation charts, and the shrinking purchasing power of our currency with a sense of resigned inevitability. But what if a company decided to push back? What if, instead of merely responding to market forces, it created a counter-force?

That is the story of Konga Yakata, Nigeria’s boldest retail response to inflation. Far from being a shopping festival, Yakata has evolved into a nationwide economic intervention. In the face of rising prices and tightening wallets, Konga’s month-long sales event has emerged as a stabilizing force, helping households stretch their Naira further.

For years, the traditional 24-hour Black Friday rush has felt misaligned with Nigerian realities. A single day of discounts cannot solve month-long financial pressure. Yakata changes the model, transforming it into a 30-day strategic purchasing window. This isn’t a marketing gimmick; it is economic practicality. It gives families time to plan, prioritize, and purchase essentials without panic or strain.

Nigeria’s inflation has driven up the cost of food, housing, and household essentials. Konga Yakata provides relief. By offering genuine products at real and sustained discounts, the campaign helps families save, spend wisely, and maintain their quality of life.

Independent retail analytics show that households that shopped strategically during last year’s Yakata saved up to 35% on essential items: refrigerators, generators, laptops, and groceries. These are not luxuries; they are investments in stability and productivity, made possible by Konga’s pricing and flexible payment options.

Beyond savings, Yakata has reshaped consumer behaviour. It has taught shoppers to anticipate value, plan ahead, and expect quality without compromise. It has evolved into a trusted national tradition.

Industry data reinforces its scale. The 2024 edition generated over ₦12 billion in transaction value across electronics, fashion, appliances, and groceries, with small and medium sellers benefiting through Konga’s marketplaces.

In essence, Konga Yakata is not just a sales event, it is a market stimulus. It challenges the narrative of helplessness in the face of inflation by creating a commercial environment built on trust, affordability, and value. Through innovation, efficient logistics, and consumer-focused fintech, Konga has turned Yakata into a lever of national economic resilience.

As global prices rise and budgets tighten, Konga Yakata stands firm, not only as a celebration of shopping, but as a purposeful act of support for Nigerian households.

Indeed, Konga Yakata 2025 is more than Black Friday Reloaded, it is proof that innovation, empathy, and strategy can rewrite the rules of economics, one household at a time.


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Report Reveals DLL Hijacking Attacks have Doubled since 2023

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Dynamic link library (DLL) hijacking is a common technique in which attackers replace a library loaded by a legitimate process with a malicious one.

It is used by creators of mass-impact malware, like stealers and banking Trojans, as well as by APT (advanced persistent threat) and cybercrime groups behind targeted attacks. Kaspersky reports that DLL hijacking attacks have doubled in the past two years.

Kaspersky has observed this technique and its variations, like DLL sideloading, in targeted attacks on organisations in Russia, Africa, South Korea, as well as other countries and regions.

To further enhance its protection capabilities against this threat, Kaspersky SIEM has introduced a specialised AI-based subsystem that continuously analyses information about all loaded libraries.

The new feature has already proven effective, helping to detect an attack by the APT group ToddyCat. It enabled the threat to be identified and blocked at an early stage, preventing any impact on the targeted organisations. The model also uncovered attempts to infect potential victims with an infostealer and a malicious loader.

“We are seeing DLL hijacking attacks become more common, where a trusted program is tricked into loading a fake library instead of the real one. This gives attackers a way to secretly run their malicious code.

“This technique is difficult to detect, and this is where AI can help. Using advanced protection techniques empowered with AI is now essential to staying ahead of these evolving threats and keeping critical systems safe,” says Anna Pidzhakova, Data Scientist at Kaspersky’s AI Research Center.

Securelist has published two related articles: the first explains how a machine-learning model was developed to detect DLL hijacking attacks, while the second describes how this model was integrated into the Kaspersky SIEM platform. The updated Kaspersky SIEMnow features AI functionality for detecting signs of DLL hijacking attacks, improving detection efficiency.

 


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Meta, NDPC Resolve $32.8m Privacy Dispute Out of Court

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Meta Platforms, Inc., has, reconciled its differences with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in the suit it filed to challenge NDPC’s $32.8m fine imposed against it.

Meta, NDPC Resolve $32.8m Privacy Dispute Out of Court

The legal dispute between Meta and the NDPC ended after both sides agreed on terms to settle the $32.8 million fine earlier imposed on the company.

On February 18, 2025, the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million and issued eight corrective orders for allegedly violating the privacy rights of Nigerian users through behavioural advertising practices on Facebook and Instagram.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Fred Onuobia, SAN, Meta’s counsel, informed the court that the parties had signed terms of settlement dated October 30 and filed on October 31.

“We adopt the terms of settlement and ask my lord to enter them as the judgment of the court,” Onuobia said.

Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Counsel for the NDPC, did not oppose the application.

Justice Omotosho then adopted the agreement as the court’s judgment and commended both parties for choosing to resolve the matter amicably.

“The terms of settlement entered by the parties in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, dated October 30 and filed October 31, 2025, are hereby adopted as the judgment of this court,” the judge ruled.

The decision ends months of litigation after Meta challenged the NDPC’s fine and enforcement orders through a judicial review, claiming the agency acted beyond its powers and failed to follow due process.

After several adjournments to allow for discussions, both sides eventually reached a mutual resolution.

The NDPC’s case against Meta is one of its major enforcement actions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, which seeks to strengthen the protection of Nigerians’ data privacy rights.

 


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