🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Nafisat Balogun, Nigeria Customs Service's first female pilot, obtains US commercial licence
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Nafisat Balogun, the first female pilot in the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, has obtained a commercial multi-engine pilot licence in the United States of America. This achievement was announced by NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, who stated that Balogun, a Superintendent of Customs, was honored at a ceremony by the Nigeria Customs Technical Hangar Service. Maiwada highlighted her resilience and determination as a motivation for other officers. Captain Kuhi Mbaya, Managing Director of the Customs Technical Hangar Service, described Balogun's journey from cabin attendant to commercial pilot as inspiring and a source of pride for the service. Mbaya noted that her accomplishment sets a precedent and reflects evolving opportunities within the NCS, urging women to pursue ambitions in specialized fields. He also commended Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi for his support of gender inclusion. Balogun thanked the NCS for their belief in her and reaffirmed her commitment to her duties. The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that Balogun was recognized in 2024 as the NCS's first female pilot.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC has issued a public warning regarding the circulation of unregistered and suspected counterfeit Colgate toothpaste. The alert follows a complaint received by its Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate concerning the distribution of these products in Kaduna State. An investigation by NAFDAC officials at an outlet selling the items led to the discovery of two suspected counterfeit products branded as “Coglaet ActivGel 100g” and “Coglaet Herbal 100g.” The shop owner stated the products were bought from a door-to-door sales representative, but no proof of purchase was provided. NAFDAC emphasized that these products have not met regulatory standards for registration and quality assurance, posing potential public health and safety risks. The agency has removed the items from circulation and is investigating to identify and track distributors. The affected products, “Coglaet Crema Dental Herbal 100g” and “Coglaet ActivGel 100g,” lack batch numbers and NAFDAC registration numbers. They are labeled as manufactured by Guangzhou YECAI Oral Cleaning Products Co., Ltd in China, with manufacturing dates in August 2025 and expiry dates in August 2029. NAFDAC has instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to increase surveillance and remove counterfeit products. The agency advises distributors, retailers, and consumers to verify product authenticity before purchase and report suspected cases to NAFDAC via the
BreakingOil prices increased on Monday following Iran's decision to reclose the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil and gas transit point, citing the United States' blockade of its ports. This action occurred just a day after the strait was reopened. Despite this, Asian equities saw gains due to ongoing hopes for a resolution to the seven-week crisis, even though Tehran stated it currently has no plans to attend peace talks. US President Donald Trump indicated that a deal was "very close," but Iran quickly countered, asserting that its enriched uranium stockpile would not be transferred. The US blockade of Iranian ports has been a major point of contention in negotiations. Iranian sources indicated that there are no current plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks, with the lifting of the US blockade cited as a precondition for negotiations. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude contracts both saw significant jumps. The Revolutionary Guards warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strait without permission would be considered cooperative with the enemy and targeted. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the blockade a "violation" of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Asian markets including Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai rose, while European markets like London, Paris, and Frankfurt dropped. The dollar, a safe haven, advanced against its main peers.
Russia's FSB security agency announced the arrest of a German woman, born in 1969, in Pyatigorsk, alleging she was involved in a Ukrainian-orchestrated plot to bomb a security services facility in the Stavropol region. The woman was reportedly found with an improvised explosive device in her backpack, which the FSB claims was intended to be detonated remotely, killing her. The blast was prevented by electronic jamming. The FSB stated that a citizen from a Central Asian country, born in 1997 and described as a "supporter of radical ideology," allegedly drew the German woman into the plot under orders from Ukraine. This individual was also arrested near the targeted site. Both face potential life imprisonment on terrorist charges. There has been no immediate response from Kyiv or Berlin regarding these allegations. Russian state media showed footage of the arrests and a controlled explosion of the backpack. Russia has previously accused Ukraine of collaborating with Islamist fundamentalists for terror attacks, including the 2024 Moscow concert hall massacre, an accusation Kyiv denies and for which IS claimed responsibility without mentioning Ukrainian involvement.
The Lagos State Government has launched a comprehensive set of cybersecurity guidelines to address increasing digital threats and enhance digital safety for businesses, public institutions, and residents. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, announced the initiative, stating it aims to position Lagos as a secure and globally competitive digital hub. He noted that while Lagos is becoming a SMART City, this progress increases vulnerability to cyber threats. The new guidelines provide clear, practical, and scalable cybersecurity best practices for various enterprises and government agencies. Nigeria reportedly loses an estimated $500 million annually to cybercrime, highlighting the need for stronger digital protections. The framework was developed with input from the Lagos State Cybersecurity Advisory Council, chaired by Fene Osakwe, and aligns with national regulations such as the Cybercrime Act 2024 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Organizations are expected to adopt data minimization, implement secure storage with encryption, and develop incident response plans. They must also report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours to relevant authorities and notify affected customers when necessary. The government emphasized that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, crucial for economic stability and investor confidence. The guidelines also recommend assessing the cybersecurity posture of third-party vendors and cloud providers. Although not mandat