Verve, Africa’s biggest local payments brand, is making a big switch, all Verve cards issued from now on will be contactless, to make payments faster, safer, and smoother for everyone. With over 85 million Verve cards already in circulation and at least 35 million of them contactless, more Nigerians are experiencing easy, tap-to-pay transactions every day. You can now pay quicker in busy markets, at restaurants, fuel stations, and airports, simply by tapping your Verve card on a terminal. The company has been working with banks, fintechs, and thousands of merchants to support this technology. Many more payment points across Nigeria now accept the tap-and-go cards, leading to shorter queues and quicker service for shoppers and better business for merchants. Verve’s Always-On campaign positions the card as a daily, dependable choice, whether you’re grabbing a meal, shopping, or filling your tank. “We want to make every part of daily life easier, and that starts with how people pay,” a Verve spokesperson said. This upgrade goes beyond just speed. Verve’s new contactless cards come with extra security: PIN authentication. That means even though you’re tapping instead of inserting your card or swiping, your money stays safe.
NCAA orders airlines to enforce $10,000 currency declaration rule for inbound passengers
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has instructed all international airlines flying into Nigeria to strictly enforce the rule requiring passengers to declare any cash or bearer negotiable instruments (BNI) exceeding $10,000 upon arrival. Airlines must make announcements during flights and provide passengers with declaration forms.This directive, came after reports of non-compliance, aims to support Nigeria’s fight against money laundering and terrorism financing by aligning with international standards. Airlines are warned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions. The NCAA’s announcement follows a recent high-profile case where a passenger was convicted for attempting to smuggle over N653 million in undeclared foreign currencies through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The case stressed the importance of this enforcement in strengthening Nigeria’s financial security. Passengers should prepare to declare large sums of money when flying into Nigeria, and airlines are expected to help ensure compliance by informing travelers before landing. The NCAA will continue monitoring airlines to uphold this rule.
Complete Communications Limited wins top sports journalism award in Paris
Complete Communications Limited (CCL), the publisher behind Nigeria’s well-known Complete Sports titles, has been honoured with the “Outstanding Legacy in Sports Journalism & Publication, 2025” award at the International Prime Awards Asia-Africa in Paris. The award, conferred by Prime Awards & Events LLC, was presented on Thursday, July 17, to celebrate CCL’s influence and dedication to sports reporting in Nigeria and beyond. This recognition is a nod to the company’s innovative work and continuous delivery of quality sports journalism. The event gathered top media leaders and dignitaries from across Africa and Asia. Everyone in the room witnessed CCL being lauded for not just reporting sports news, but setting standards in accuracy, ethics, and storytelling over the years. “This honour is not just a recognition of what Complete Communications Limited has achieved over the decades, it is a celebration of the vision, resilience, and passion that have fuelled our mission since inception,” – Dr Solomon Ojeagbase (Executive Director at CCL) Dr. Ojeagbase noted that this achievement is built on the hard work of their founder, staff, and the support of loyal readers. “This legacy was built brick by brick through dedication, ethical journalism, and a deep belief in the power of sports to inform, entertain, unite and inspire,” he added. He dedicated the award to aspiring sports journalists in Nigeria. Founded by the late Pastor (Dr.) Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase, CCL has played a major role in shaping sports media for over three decades. Its flagship, Complete Sports, remains a leader in both print and online coverage. The company is credited with driving new standards for editorial integrity, innovation, and industry leadership. Asia-Africa ceremony is widely recognized as a platform celebrating excellence and impact across two continents. CCL’s recognition stands as proof of its continued relevance and influence in journalism, encouraging other media organisations in Africa to strive for similar heights.
Switch AI to Green Energy by 2030 or Risk the Planet – UN tells big tech companies
The United Nations is putting pressure on major tech companies to run all their artificial intelligence (AI) data centers with clean energy by 2030, sounding the alarm on the climate risks posed by runaway technology growth. On Tuesday in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced a new report urging big tech to go green or push global climate goals off track. He warned: “AI can boost efficiency, innovation and resilience in energy systems, but it is also energy hungry. This is not sustainable, unless we make it so”. A single large AI data center now gobbles up as much electricity as 100,000 homes. The next wave of even bigger facilities could use 20 times more than that. If things don’t change, AI-driven data centers might soon use the same amount of electricity as Japan’s entire population by 2030. Guterres also stated another issue, how data centers use water for cooling. He asked tech firms to think about environmental effects when planning their infrastructure. Renewable energy is expanding fast. Costs are dropping, and more than 90% of new clean energy projects now beat fossil fuels on price. In 2024, $2 trillion was invested in clean energy, nearly doubling the $1.2 trillion spent on fossil fuels. But this growth is not shared equally. The UN says nearly all the progress is in rich countries like the US, Europe, and China. Developing countries, are left behind because they have less access to finance and new technology. Africa attracted just 1.5% of global renewable energy investment in 2024, even though it’s home to most of the world’s people without electricity. “The race for the new must not be a race for the few. It must be a relay, shared, inclusive, and resilient” – Guterres The UN’s report urges renewed global action so developing countries don’t get left even further behind. AI and tech innovation need to help, not harm, for the fight for a green and sustainable future, UN said. The clock is ticking for big tech to step up and lead by example before it’s too late.
Microsoft, Google, and Apple lead list of most-targeted brands in Q2 2025 phishing attacks – Check Point Research
A surge in phishing scams has put some of the world’s biggest tech brands, including Microsoft, Google, and Apple, at the top of criminals’ hit list, according to a fresh report from Check Point Research. The new findings show that between April and June 2025, Microsoft was impersonated in 25% of phishing attempts globally, making it the most targeted brand for cybercriminals. Google followed in second place with 11%, while Apple was third at 9%. Spotify, which hadn’t appeared among the top 10 since 2019, made a striking comeback with 6% of attacks, as scammers shifted their focus toward entertainment and subscription services. Other brands caught in the web included Adobe, LinkedIn, Amazon, Booking.com, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Phishing is a type of cyberattack where fraudsters disguise themselves as trustworthy organisations to trick people into sharing confidential details like passwords and bank information. Attackers send fake emails or create bogus websites that look nearly identical to real login or payment pages. According to Check Point, technology companies are the most impersonated industry sector. Nigerians who work or study using Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or similar platforms face increased risk. Attackers target these brands because so many people rely on them daily, making it easier to fool victims into clicking suspicious links or entering sensitive information. Spotify’s return to the top 10 highlights a growing trend. More people are using digital entertainment, so attackers are following where the users are. In one campaign, criminals set up a fake Spotify login page. When users entered their details, they were redirected to a counterfeit payment page that tried to collect their credit card data. Phishing scams related to travel also spiked in the last quarter, with Booking.com-themed domains seeing a sharp increase, over 700 such domains were created, often mimicking real communications by including users’ actual names and booking details. These personalized ploys heightened urgency and made the scams more convincing, showing just how sophisticated phishing attacks have become. “Cybercriminals continue to exploit the trust users place in well-known brands. The resurgence of Spotify and the surge in travel-related scams, especially during the Northern Hemisphere’s holiday season, show how phishing attacks are adapting to user behaviour and seasonal trends” – Omer Dembinsky (Data Research Manager at Check Point Software). Experts recommend that organisations should boost their email security, train their staff, and use multi-factor authentication. Individuals should think twice before clicking links or entering passwords, especially if the message seems urgent or unfamiliar. Phishing attacks are evolving. The more we depend on digital brands, the more we need to stay aware and protect ourselves.
Nigeria’s ICT sector booms with 31.6% growth in Q1 2025,
Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector grew significantly in the first quarter of 2025, showing strong momentum for the country’s economy. The sector saw a 31.63% year-on-year growth in nominal terms during this period, according to a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) . This is a big jump compared to the 3.40% growth recorded in the same quarter of 2024 . The ICT sector’s share of the total nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) also increased to 10.29% in Q1 2025, up from 9.25% in Q1 2024 . Even when adjusted for inflation, the sector showed a 7.40% year-on-year growth . This stressed the growing importance of ICT in Nigeria’s economy, with its contribution to real GDP reaching 10.59% in Q1 2025 . The NBS defines the ICT sector to include areas like telecommunications, information services, publishing, and broadcasting . Within this, telecommunications remains a key contributor due to more people using broadband, consuming data, and having mobile subscriptions . This growth comes after the NBS updated how it calculates the GDP, using 2019 as the new base year . This led to higher GDP figures for Nigeria from 2019 onwards . For instance, the rebased nominal GDP in 2019 was 41.7% higher than figures calculated with the old base year.