• Hackers allegedly take over GTBank’s website in a phishing attack
• 149 Nigerians returned from Niger Republic
• Minister of Sports demands a state of emergency in sports after 2024 Paris Olympics
• Fuel scarcity persists as Nigerians purchase fuel close to ₦1,000/litre
• NCS implements its duty-free imports of food items

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Hackers allegedly take over GTBank’s website in a phishing attack

GTBank customers are all panicking at the news of the bank’s website being compromised by a phishing attack.

Reports state that GTBank was a victim of cybercriminals who took over the domain webpage of GTBank, and several attempts to log on to www.gtbbank.com had proven unsuccessful as of 10:30 pm on Wednesday, 14 August.

The bank’s website is said to have been vulnerable to external manipulation as it recently renewed its subscription for the domain name after five years. Though the website was hacked, the mobile app was safe from insecurity.

149 Nigerians returned from Niger Republic

A total of 149 Nigerians have been flown into the country from Niger Republic facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration Mission in Niger Republic.

According to reports from the Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, the 149 returnees were flown in through the Murtala Muhammad International Airport Cargo Terminal aboard SkyMali Boeing 737-500 airline with registration UR-COX.

A similar incident occurred in January as the Kano Terminal Office of NEMA revealed that about 975 Nigerians stranded in the Niger Republic were returned to Nigeria in 2023.

Minister of Sports demands a state of emergency in sports after 2024 Paris Olympics

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has demanded a state of emergency declaration in sports following Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics despite sending 88 athletes to represent the country.

No Nigerian brought home any medal from the Olympics even though other Nigerians with dual citizenship represented different countries and took home some Olympic medals for the said countries.

The Minister said it was time to rearrange the sports sector in Nigeria and combat the ailing reasons that are slowing down the industry from blossoming in and out of the country.

“It’s a complex issue, but we must face the truth — we lack a proper system and structure,” he said.

Fuel scarcity persists as Nigerians purchase fuel close to ₦1,000/litre

Nigerians have decried the lack of fuel in the country and how it negatively affects their livelihood, as fuel scarcity has forced people to queue in lines to purchase fuel at the rates of ₦820, ₦850 and ₦900 per litre across the country.

Oil marketers have spoken out about those in the South West being in favour of obtaining fuel as petrol often moves from coastal areas to the North, also informing that the recently ended nationwide protest was a determining effect in the cause of fuel scarcity in the country as all movements of fuel trucks were halted.

In the face of fuel scarcity, some black marketers have chosen to see gain from the people’s plight and have opted to sell their petrol for absurd prices of ₦1,200 and ₦1,500 per litre in some areas.

NCS implements its duty-free imports of food items

The Nigerian Customs Service NCS has joined in the fight to alleviate the people’s hunger and suffering by implementing its zero duty tax on food imports to allow Nigerians to buy these items at a cheaper rate.

Upon implementing the tax-free law, the NCS has also warned that all food importers must sell 75% of imported goods at the approved forex rates and have the necessary documentation.