The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has announced its commitment to collaborate with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to address climate change challenges affecting Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Chinyere-Ijeoma Akujobi, made this known during a meeting with a delegation from the two banks on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said the partnership aims to unlock opportunities for sustainable growth and resilience in the industry and that the collaboration is strategic in realising the ministry’s strategic goals.

“The proposed collaboration aligns with our mandate to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on livestock production, safeguard livelihoods, and promote environmentally responsible practices throughout the value chain,” the permanent secretary said.

Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry Mr. Ohaeri Ezenwa, Dr. Akujobi highlighted the livestock sector’s significance to Nigeria’s economy.

She pointed out that “Despite its importance, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change,” outlining its implications for animal health, productivity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

While emphasising the urgency of robust policies and reliable data to address the impacts of climate change, the Director (Technical) and Team Lead of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change, Dr. Alike Peter, explained that “These realities underscore the need for evidence-based policies and coordinated national action to drive climate-smart livestock development.”

Dr. Peter said that the Technical Working Group supports the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NLGAS), which aims to double the sector’s contribution to GDP from approximately $32 billion to $74 billion in a decade.

He added, “Both growth pathways have direct implications for greenhouse gas emissions, making climate considerations crucial in livestock development planning.”

The ministry is also collaborating with the World Bank to establish a national methane baseline and develop evidence-based mitigation measures.

Dr. Peter said, “Ongoing collaborations aim to strengthen Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and access carbon markets.”

Dr. Harrison Charo Karisa, a representative from the World Bank Group, highlighted opportunities in climate-smart aquaculture, the blue economy, and carbon markets.

“Seaweed can serve as a nutritious livestock feed supplement rich in essential vitamins and minerals,” he noted.

Dr. Youssouf Kabore, Chief Livestock Officer at AfDB, commended the ministry’s proactive approach and assured the bank’s support in implementing effective interventions in the livestock sector.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will begin on February 6 in Italy, attracting the attention of fans both online and offline. Hundreds of athletes will participate, and the host cities are expected to welcome large crowds. Kaspersky experts have listed the types of threats that may emerge in the context of a major international event, regardless of its location.

The Event Audience as a Target

The Olympics attract thousands of people travelling to the host country. Offline spectators may face unpleasant surprises such as fake tickets, which scammers distribute. This could result in stolen funds from bank accounts or even compromised cryptocurrency wallet credentials instead of access to their favourite events. Meanwhile, online fans are at risk from fake live streams and fraudulent websites selling merchandise of their favourite athletes.

Travellers may also encounter fraudulent services posing as cell phone plans that collect and steal personal and financial information. That is why it’s convenient to choose Kaspersky eSIM Store to always stay connected, avoiding potential fraudulent services and physical SIM card hassles.

Attacks on athletes

Cybercriminals may exploit publicly available information and the popularity of the participating athletes. Other scenarios might be targeted phishing attacks and deepfake-based operations aimed at data theft or blackmail.

These should be of particular concern, as well as the potential hijacking of social media accounts. In addition, athletes may face risks of ‘doxxing’, — the public exposure of private information — and other forms of tech-enabled abuse, which can impact personal safety.

Threat actors may also take advantage of vulnerabilities in online security, particularly through data leaks that affect users’ personal information. The Data Leak Checker feature in Kaspersky Premium enables users to identify potential compromises in their accounts, alerting them to any risks of exposure.

Urban infrastructure attacks

Both profit-driven and other types of threat actors may target critical city systems, including transportation, utilities, communication networks, and vulnerable public Wi‑Fi, with the aim of disrupting services or compromising operational stability.

According to a 2024 study by Kaspersky, conducted ahead of the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, nearly 25 percent of the approximately 25,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots analysed in the city were found to have weak or no encryption, putting users’ personal and banking data at risk of theft.

These attacks can be carried out using malware, network intrusions, or manipulation of connected systems, potentially affecting city operations and services relied upon by residents and visitors. Using security solutions such as Kaspersky Premium along with a VPN will help to protect data by encrypting Internet connection and securing online activity.

Ransomware

Ransomware actors, seeking maximum profit, may view mass events and the related entities such as vendors or other organisations in the supply chain as high-value targets. To maximise financial gain from the high demand to attend the event in person, such attacks can target hotel networks in the host city, as well as stadiums, official ticket sales platforms and other event resources.

APT attacks

Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors also consider large international events as strategically significant targets due to their global visibility, high concentration of critical IT infrastructure contractors and complex supply chains.

A prime example of such an attack was the Olympic Destroyer, used against the IT infrastructure at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. In this attack, the malware spread within the organisers’ network using compromised credentials and was aimed at sabotage and disrupting the operation of the event.

Hacktivism attacks

Hacktivist actors may launch campaigns targeting event-related organisations to achieve their strategic goals and public attention. These offensive operations could take the form of data theft and leaks, misinformation, or the disruption of the systems involved in the event, such as broadcast infrastructure or ticketing platforms, potentially affecting both the spectators and organisations.

“Events on the scale of the Olympic Games typically draw significant attention from cybercriminals, and potential threats can take many forms, affecting spectators, cities’ infrastructure and the athletes themselves, as well as millions of people accessing with digital services before, during and after the event.

The international dimension and big audience make such events especially attractive targets for sophisticated actors, who pose serious threats that everyone involved should be prepared for,” said Igor Kuznetsov, Director of Global Research & Analysis Team at Kaspersky.

Leadway Assurance has entered into strategic partnership with Paga, the fintech company behind the Doroki merchant platform for the distribution of insurance products.

In the partnership, Paga will use its technology to deliver comprehensive insurance solutions designed specifically for Doroki merchants. The collaboration aims to help merchants safeguard their businesses against everyday risks and recover quickly from unforeseen events. Speaking on the partnership, the General Manager, Doroki Merchants, Arike Okwunowo, said the development meant that its merchants could focus on growing their businesses with peace of mind due to insurance protection.

“At Doroki, we see our merchants as partners in driving economic activity across Nigeria’s retail landscape. This partnership with Leadway, an insurer with decades of experience and a strong reputation for reliability, means our merchants can focus on growing their businesses with the peace of mind that they’re protected,”

Also commenting on the development, Head of Digital Business, Leadway, Diana Mulili reiterated Leadway’s commitment to expanding access to financial security for every Nigerian, saying, “At Leadway, we believe insurance should integrate seamlessly into the everyday realities of people and businesses.

“By partnering with Doroki, we are embedding practical, easy-to-understand insurance solutions into a platform—helping them protect their income, assets, and livelihoods while continuing to grow with confidence.”