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We’re in an epidemic of pornography

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We’re in an epidemic of pornography

By Matthew Eloyi

Pornography is obviously, becoming a new culture, a negative and user-destructive culture that no one wants to talk about. But for how long do we remain hesitant to confront it while millions drown in its alluring ocean? Before now, we could only find sex recordings leaked on the internet, but presently, a more structured sector has evolved, with many unregistered and unregulated pornography firms coming on board.

It has become so ugly that the industry now hosts sex parties with pricey gate fees to generate more revenue and recruit more actors for amateur porn. The uglier part of it is that some prominent individuals in the society constitute a significant percentage of the number of those patronizing this industry, thereby emboldening the actors and producers of the destructive scenes.

According to research, the global pornographic industry is worth a trillion dollars, which is one of the main reasons why it is a lucrative business for unscrupulous investors all over the world, including Nigeria. Sadly, the pornography industry in Nigeria is expanding significantly, with Nigerians shamelessly participating in what has become known as “Nude Nollywood.” Research has also revealed that most of the females in these porn videos are former sex workers or human trafficking victims who were deported from Italy and other European nations. These deportees then collaborate with their Nigerian colleagues, as well as unemployed young guys looking for a quick buck, to produce these illicit films.

One of the many looming dangers of this unhealthy, unstandardized act is that it poses a possibility of increased human trafficking and breeds further sexually transmitted diseases. The worst of it is that pornography is gradually destroying the moral status of our dear country, Nigeria. Studies have shown that viewers of new and intense pornographic images may develop tolerance to them, which can affect sexual response and contribute to erectile dysfunction in some situations. Some research suggests that seeing pornographic material increases the risk of sexual crimes and that the liberalization of porn in society is linked to higher instances of rape and sexual violence. Pornography is incredibly addicting, according to experts, with some comparing it to crack cocaine.

Pornography is terrible precedence that is bound to alter family life, society and human interaction. It undermines marital trust, closeness, and love, causing harm to marriages and families. It also encourages selfishness, emotional detachment, and unhappiness with one’s partner, fueling abnormal thoughts and urges that lead to users forcing undesirable sex behaviours on their partners. Pornography encourages emotional and physical adultery, leading to the devastation of marriages, separation, and divorce, all of which are harmful to the offspring of the marriage. Little wonder some Nigerian schoolchildren who received computers from a US assistance organization have been said to have used them to search the Internet for pornographic sites. Attempts to promote learning with the computer in schools have also gone astray, with students openly browsing adult websites with graphic sexual materials.

Recently, some adventurous students from Chrisland School, Lagos, engaged in sexual immorality in their hotel room in faraway Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they had gone on an excursion, recorded the action and broadcast it to the entire world to see on the internet. Students, parents, and school officials have been in the middle of the storm since then. Many have tarnished the pupils’ reputations by accusing them of being errant and worldly, their parents of poor parenting, and the school of guilty neglect. What we have yet to grasp is that the adolescents’ display of shame reflects the amount of depravity in our society. The truth is that children hear and observe the atrocities that certain undisciplined adults commit as a result of their poor morals and distorted value system daily, and they just replicate them. A juvenile TikTok user from Lagos also went viral recently after claiming she slept with a dog for N1.7 million. This teenager is just one of many who believe that having sexual intercourse with an animal isn’t a big deal. Although she has now recanted, claiming she was just sailing about, the fact that she considered such an act to be status-enhancing is a new low for modern Nigeria and its broken family systems.

Based on obscenity, pornography has frequently been subjected to censorship and legal restrictions. Worldwide pornography boomed after the arrival of home video and the Internet. Almost all countries prohibit child pornography, and some countries criminalize pornography involving violence, such as rape, rape pornography, or pornography depicting human-animal sex. While advocates of pornography continue to undermine the future of our adolescents with their questionable and criminal businesses, the legal position on this destructive act in Nigeria remains unclear, hence it’s high time our legislators came to the aid of our thronging teens by enacting tough legislation prohibiting all types of pornography, and by extension, ending its epidemic in our society.

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Africa

Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

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Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, has handed over illicit drugs worth N117.59 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Comptroller of the command, Mr James Ojo, disclosed this during the handing over of the drugs to Mr Olusegun Adeyeye, the Commander of NDLEA, Idiroko Special Area Command, in Abeokuta, Ogun, on Friday.

Ojo said the customs handed over the seized cannabis and tramadol tablets to the Idiroko Special Command for further investigation in line with the standard operating procedures and inter-agency collaboration.

He said the illicit drugs were seized  in various strategic locations between January and November 21, 2024, in Ogun State.

He added that the illicit drugs were abandoned at various locations, including the Abeokuta axis, the Agbawo/Igankoto area of Yewa North Local Government Area, and Imeko Afton axis.

Ojo said that the seizure of the cannabis sativa and tramaling tablets, another brand of tramadol, was made possible through credible intelligence and strategic operations of the customs personnel.

“The successful interception of these dangerous substances would not have been possible without the robust collaboration and support from our intelligence units, local informants and sister agencies.

“These landmark operations are testament to the unwavering dedication of the NCS to safeguard the health and well-being of our citizens and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

He said the seizures comprised 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels, weighing 7,217.7 kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each, with a total Duty Paid Value of N117,587,405,00.

He described the height of illicit drugs smuggling in the recent time as worrisome.

This, he said, underscores the severity of drug trafficking within the borders.

“Between Oct. 13 and Nov. 12 alone, operatives intercepted a total of 1,373 parcels of cannabis sativa, weighing 1,337kg and 362 packs of tramaling tablets of 225mg each,” he said.

Ojo said the seizures had  disrupted the supply chain of illicit drugs, thereby mitigating the risks those substances posed to the youth, families and communities.

He lauded the synergy between its command, security agencies and other stakeholders that led to the remarkable achievements.

Ojo also commended the Comptroller General of NCS for creating an enabling environment for the command to achieve the success.

Responding, Adeyeye, applauded the customs for achieving the feat.

Adeyeye pledged to continue to collaborate with the customs to fight against illicit trade and drug trafficking in the state.

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Africa

Ann-Kio Briggs Faults Tinubu for Scrapping Niger Delta Ministry

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Prominent Niger Delta human rights activist and environmentalist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta, describing it as ill-advised and detrimental to the oil-rich region.

Briggs expressed her concerns during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.

“The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua. There was a reason for the creation. So, just removing it because the president was advised. I want to believe that he was advised because if he did it by himself, that would be terribly wrong,” she stated.

President Tinubu, in October, dissolved the Ministry of Niger Delta and replaced it with the Ministry of Regional Development, which is tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, and North-East Development Commission.

Briggs questioned the rationale behind the restructuring, expressing concerns about its feasibility and implications. “But that’s not going to be the solution because who is going to fund the commissions? Is it the regions because it is called the Regional Development Ministry? Is it the states in the regions? What are the regions because we don’t work with regions right now; we are working with geopolitical zones,” she remarked.

She added, “Are we going back to regionalism? If we are, we have to discuss it. The president can’t decide on his own to restructure Nigeria. If we are restructuring Nigeria, the president alone can’t restructure Nigeria, he has to take my opinion and your opinion into consideration.”

Briggs also decried the longstanding neglect of the Niger Delta despite its significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy since 1958. “The Niger Delta has been developing Nigeria since 1958. We want to use our resources to develop our region; let regions use their resources to develop themselves,” she asserted.

Reflecting on the various bodies established to address the region’s development, Briggs lamented their failure to deliver meaningful progress. She highlighted the Niger Delta Basin Authority, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), and the NDDC as examples of ineffective interventions.

“NDDC was created by Olusegun Obasanjo…There was OMPADEC before NDDC. OMPADEC was an agency. Before OMPADEC, there was the Basin Authority…These authorities were created to help us. Were we helped by those authorities? No, we were not,” she said.

Briggs further described the NDDC as an “ATM for failed politicians, disgruntled politicians, and politicians that have had their electoral wins taken away from them and given to somebody else.”

Her remarks underscore the deep-seated frustrations in the Niger Delta, where residents continue to advocate for greater control over their resources and improved governance.

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Securing the Digital Frontier: Global and Nigerian Cybersecurity Landscape

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Securing the Digital Frontier: Global and Nigerian Cybersecurity Landscape
“Cybersecurity is much more than a matter of IT; it’s a matter of national security.”
Pauline Neville-Jones, former UK Minister for Security
By Ernest Ogezi

As the digital landscape rapidly expands, the global cybersecurity situation has reached a critical juncture. In an increasingly interconnected world, the scale and frequency of cyber threats continue to escalate, affecting individuals, businesses, and governments alike. October, designated as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, serves as a stark reminder of the growing importance of cybersecurity and the collective responsibility we all share in securing our digital spaces.

Globally, the numbers paint a grim picture. According to a 2024 report by IBM Security, the average cost of a data breach has soared to $4.88 million, marking the highest figure ever recorded. This staggering figure underscores the severe financial implications of cyber incidents. Additionally, the number of data compromises worldwide in the first half of 2024 rose to 1,571, a 14% increase from 2023. These statistics highlight the growing sophistication of cyberattacks and the pressing need for more robust defenses. Ransomware, phishing, and advanced persistent threats (APTs) continue to dominate the threat landscape, with attackers constantly evolving their tactics.

The situation in Nigeria mirrors global trends but presents its own set of unique challenges. As Africa’s largest economy and a rapidly growing digital hub, Nigeria has experienced a surge in cybercrime activity. In 2022 alone, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) recorded over 60,000 cyberattacks on financial institutions, amounting to billions in losses. The rise of digital banking, e-commerce, and the widespread adoption of mobile devices have made the country a prime target for cybercriminals. In response to these challenges, the Nigerian government has taken significant steps to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) playing a pivotal role.

NITDA, the agency responsible for regulating and promoting Nigeria’s IT ecosystem, has been at the forefront of the country’s cybersecurity efforts. In line with its mandate to foster a safe and secure digital environment, NITDA has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity awareness, promoting best practices, and strengthening the country’s defense against cyber threats. The agency’s role in cybersecurity is multi-faceted, focusing on policy development, capacity building, and public-private partnerships.

One of NITDA’s key contributions has been the development of Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, which outlines the country’s approach to combating cyber threats. The strategy emphasizes the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, safeguarding personal data, and building cyber resilience. It also focuses on creating a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all sectors of society. NITDA has been instrumental in implementing this strategy by working with stakeholders to ensure its effectiveness.

In October 2024, as part of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, NITDA launched a nationwide awareness campaign to educate individuals and organizations on the importance of cybersecurity. The campaign, which aligns with the global theme “Secure Our World,” emphasizes the shared responsibility of all Nigerians in protecting the digital landscape. Through workshops, webinars, and educational materials, NITDA is working to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools they need to safeguard their digital assets.

A key focus of NITDA’s efforts has been the protection of Nigeria’s critical infrastructure, including the financial, energy, and healthcare sectors. Cyberattacks on these sectors can have devastating consequences, not only financially but also in terms of public safety. In response, NITDA has collaborated with both national and international organizations to enhance the cybersecurity frameworks of these industries, ensuring that they are equipped to defend against evolving threats.

Beyond its focus on critical infrastructure, NITDA has made significant strides in fostering a cybersecurity-conscious workforce. Through its Cybersecurity Awareness Program, the agency has trained thousands of IT professionals, law enforcement officers, and government personnel on the latest cybersecurity trends and defense techniques. This capacity-building initiative is crucial for ensuring that Nigeria has a skilled workforce capable of responding to the ever-changing threat landscape.

Despite these efforts, the scale and complexity of cyber threats continue to grow. The rise of ransomware attacks, data breaches, and phishing schemes poses significant risks to both the public and private sectors. NITDA recognizes that cybersecurity is not a static field but one that requires constant vigilance and adaptation. The agency is therefore committed to continuously improving Nigeria’s cybersecurity posture through policy updates, enhanced defenses, and ongoing education.

 

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