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Don’t charge phones in trains, restaurants, NCC warns

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The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned against charging mobile phones using public charging ports or sockets in order to protect them from cyberattacks.

It also cautioned against accepting charging cables or chargers from strangers in public places.

The NCC stated this through its Cyber Security Incident Response Team, in its first-ever security advisories less than three months after its creation, raising the alarm over the newly identified two cyberattacks, Juice Jacking and Facebook for Android Friend Acceptance Vulnerability.

A statement by the NCC Friday said Juice Jacking can gain access into consumers’ devices when charging mobile phones at public charging stations and applies to all mobile phones.

It added that the Facebook for Android Friend Acceptance Vulnerability targets only Android Operating System.

Many public spaces, restaurants, malls, and even public trains do offer complementary services to their customers in a bid to enhance customer services, one of which is providing charging ports or sockets.

However, an attacker can leverage this courtesy to load a payload in the charging station or on the cables they would leave plugged in at the stations.

NCC said, “Once unsuspecting persons plug their phones at the charging station or the cable left by the attacker, the payload is automatically downloaded on the victims’ phone.

“This payload then gives the attacker remote access to the mobile phone, allowing them to monitor data transmitted as text, or audio using the microphone.

“The attacker can even watch the victim in real time if the victims’ camera is not covered.

“The attacker is also given full access to the gallery and also to the phone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) location.

It said when an attacker gains access to a user’s mobile phone, he would get remote access to the user’s phone which would lead to a breach in confidentiality, violation of data integrity, and bypass of authentication mechanisms.

The NCC said symptoms of attack may include a sudden spike in battery consumption, devices operating slower than usual, apps taking a long time to load, and when they load they crash frequently and cause abnormal data usage.

The NCC-CSIRT, however, proffered solutions to this attack to include using ‘charging only USB cable’, to avoid Universal Serial Bus (USB) data connection; using one’s AC charging adaptor in public space, and not granting trust to portable devices prompt for USB data connection.

Other preventive measures against Juice Jacking include installing Antivirus and updating them to the latest definitions always; keeping mobile devices up to date with the latest patches; using one’s own power bank; keeping the mobile phone off when charging in public places; as well as ensuring use of one’s own charger if one must charge in public.

 

On the other hand, the NCC-CSIRT Advisory 0001 of January 27 warns that Facebook for Android is vulnerable to a permission issue which gives privilege to anyone with physical access to the android device to accept friend requests without unlocking the phone.

 

With this, the attacker will be able to add the victim as a friend and collect personal information of the victim, such as email, date of birth, check-ins, mobile phone number, address, pictures and other information that the victim may have shared, which would only be visible to his/her friends.

 

However, to be protected from the Facebook-associated vulnerability, NCC-CSIRT in the security advisory recommended to users to disable the feature from their device’s lock screen notification settings.

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NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline

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NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari

NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) recorded a N7.2 trillion profit after tax in 2025, representing a 33.3 per cent increase from the N5.4 trillion it reported in 2024, despite a significant decline in revenue.

NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed the figures on Tuesday while presenting the company’s audited financial results for the 2025 financial year in Abuja.

The company recorded N34.5 trillion in revenue in 2025, down from N45.1 trillion reported for 2024. Despite the revenue decline, profit increased as NNPC attributed the stronger bottom-line performance to improved operational efficiency and financial discipline.

Ojulari said lower international crude oil prices and reduced petroleum product sales, following changes in the downstream petroleum market, put pressure on revenue during the year.

However, improved operational performance helped cushion the impact, allowing NNPC profit to rise to N7.2 trillion.

The company also reported N22.33 trillion in taxes, royalties and other remittances to the Federal Government, representing a 39 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The results also showed stronger production performance across the company’s upstream operations.

According to NNPC, crude oil and condensate production reached an average peak of 1.77 million barrels per day in 2025, the company’s highest level in five years.

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Domestic gas supply also rose to a three-year high of 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day, reflecting increased gas production and supply to the Nigerian market.

NNPC said the financial performance demonstrated the impact of efforts to improve asset management, increase production and strengthen efficiency across its businesses.

The company’s latest results come as Nigeria continues to seek higher crude oil production, increased domestic gas supply and greater investment across the petroleum value chain.

NNPC, which became a commercial company under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2022, has been pursuing a strategy focused on increasing oil and gas output, expanding gas monetisation and strengthening its downstream operations.

The company said its future growth strategy would require continued investment in infrastructure, workforce development and operational capabilities.

NNPC also highlighted investments in digital capabilities and artificial intelligence as part of efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen its workforce.

More than 1,000 newly recruited professionals joined the company in 2025 and underwent a one-year internship and training programme before being deployed across its operations.

The company also reported that women now occupy more than 23 per cent of its leadership positions, compared with an industry average of 17 per cent.

The 2025 results come against the backdrop of major changes in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, including the removal of petrol subsidy and increased private-sector participation in fuel supply.

NNPC said the improved profitability had strengthened its capacity to invest in operations, contribute to government revenue and support Nigeria’s energy security.

The company’s performance will continue to be closely watched as Nigeria seeks to raise oil production, expand gas utilisation and increase the economic contribution of the oil and gas sector.

NNPC Profit Rises to N7.2tn Despite Revenue Decline

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Crude Oil Prices Ease After Monday Spike, Fuel Price Cuts Loom

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Crude Oil Prices Ease After Monday Spike, Fuel Price Cuts Loom

 

Global crude oil prices eased on Tuesday after a sharp rally triggered by renewed uncertainty over the possibility of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, offering some relief to an oil market that has remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell to about $105.04 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined to $92.24 per barrel, according to Reuters. The prices had risen sharply earlier amid concerns over possible disruptions to Middle East oil supplies.

The latest movement is particularly significant for Nigeria, where changes in international crude prices are increasingly reflected in the domestic petrol market following the removal of petrol subsidy and the operation of a largely market-driven downstream petroleum sector.

Nigeria has in recent weeks witnessed significant fluctuations in petrol prices as international crude prices rose on the back of Middle East tensions.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has become a major source of domestic petrol supply, raised its gantry price to N1,350 per litre earlier in September before subsequently reducing it by N25 to N1,325 per litre as crude prices eased.

The impact has also begun to filter through to some retail outlets. Recent checks showed petrol selling at varying prices across the country, with some marketers reducing pump prices by between N20 and N25 per litre in response to lower wholesale costs.

In Abuja, for instance, MRS reportedly reduced its pump price from N1,395 to N1,370 per litre, while other marketers also adjusted their prices downward.

However, the latest fall in crude prices does not necessarily translate into an immediate or uniform reduction at filling stations.

This is because the price motorists pay is influenced by several factors, including the cost of crude, refining and wholesale prices, transportation and logistics, exchange-rate movements, and the margins of individual marketers.

Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil makes developments in the international petroleum market particularly important to the domestic economy.

Although the Dangote refinery has substantially increased local refining capacity and reduced reliance on imported petrol, international crude prices remain an important factor in determining the cost of feedstock and, ultimately, petroleum products.

The recent volatility has therefore kept motorists, transport operators and businesses on alert, with any sustained decline in crude prices potentially creating room for further reductions in petrol prices.

The latest crude movement followed reports of renewed diplomatic tension between Washington and Tehran.

Iran had reportedly proposed a seven-day truce, but US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, triggering fresh concerns about the outlook for regional stability and oil supplies.

Crude prices surged during Monday’s trading session before retreating as investors reassessed the immediate supply risks and continued to monitor diplomatic efforts.

For Nigerian consumers, the key issue now is whether the downward movement in international crude prices will be sustained long enough to translate into broader and more significant reductions in petrol prices at filling stations.

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TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence

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TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence

Dangote Cement Transport has been recognised for its contributions to the development of Nigeria’s transport industry, winning the “Champion of Transport Industry Development Award” presented by the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN).

The award, presented at the third Transport Summit organised by TCAN in Lagos, recognised the company’s efforts in improving road transport operations, strengthening safety standards and deploying more efficient logistics solutions to support industrial activities across the country.

Receiving the award on behalf of the company’s management, the Head of Dangote Cement Transport, Mr Murilo Silva, said the recognition was a reflection of the commitment of the company’s transport workforce, drivers, safety professionals, engineers and operational partners.

Silva said Dangote Cement viewed transportation as a critical component of industrialisation and economic development, stressing that the efficient movement of goods was essential to sustaining production, trade and national economic activities.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this award from the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria. This recognition reflects Dangote Cement Transport’s unwavering commitment to developing a safe, efficient and sustainable transport system that supports economic growth and national development,” he said.

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According to him, the company would continue to invest in technology, safety initiatives and operational improvements as part of efforts to raise standards across its transport operations.

“At Dangote Cement, we recognise that transportation is much more than moving goods from one point to another. It is a vital link in the nation’s economic ecosystem,” Silva said.

He added that the company would continue to deploy innovative solutions, strengthen its safety culture and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve road transport operations.

Silva dedicated the award to the thousands of drivers, transport professionals, engineers, safety personnel and logistics workers whose daily efforts support the movement of Dangote Cement products across its extensive distribution network.

“This award belongs to our drivers, our safety professionals and every member of our transport team who work tirelessly every day to ensure that our operations are safe, reliable and efficient,” he said.

The recognition underscores Dangote Cement Transport’s investments in fleet management, driver training, road safety programmes and technology-driven logistics solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing risks associated with road transportation.

The award was presented against the backdrop of growing calls for stronger collaboration between government and private-sector operators to tackle infrastructure and logistics challenges confronting the country’s transport industry.

The TCAN summit also featured discussions on port modernisation, rail integration and technology deployment, with stakeholders emphasising the need for coordinated action to improve freight movement, reduce logistics costs and accelerate innovation across Nigeria’s transport sector.

 

TCAN Honours Dangote Cement Transport for Safety, Logistics Excellence

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