By Zulaiha Danjuma

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ensures online safety by promoting digital literacy, governance, and security. But what about “Accept Cookies”?

2024 internet usage statistics in Nigeria

We’ve all been there – scrolling through our favorite website or app, only to be interrupted by a seemingly innocuous pop-up: “Accept Cookies?”

Most of us mindlessly click “Accept” to access the content we want. But have you ever stopped to think about what you’re really accepting?

KANO FOCUS reports, cookies are small files that websites store on your device, tracking your online activities, from the websites you visit to your search queries.

But that’s not all – these files can also store your personal data, leaving you vulnerable to targeted advertising, data breaches, and even identity theft.

Types an Uses of cookies

In today’s digital landscape, the internet is filled with users seeking information, entertainment, and connection. Meanwhile, companies and individuals are increasingly tracking and analyzing the online activities of these users, gathering valuable data and insights.

Virtually every online platform, from banking and financial apps to social media, news websites, gaming sites, and e-commerce platforms, rely on cookies to function.

As a result, it’s almost impossible for internet users to browse the web without encountering the ubiquitous ‘Accept Cookies’ pop-ups.

While cookies offer several benefits, such as enhanced user experience and personalized content, they also raise significant concerns regarding user privacy and security. These concerns have sparked intense debate and scrutiny.

Data Breaches in Nigeria (2022-2023)

Despite their widespread presence, many online users underestimate the impact of “Cookies” on user privacy.

Several individuals shared their perspectives

“I always accept ‘Cookies’ without really thinking about it,” says Hadiza Musa Yusuf. “If I don’t accept them, I can’t access the sites I want.”

Sa’adatu Auwal admitted to routinely accepting cookies without much thought: “It never crossed my mind. I just see them as a means to access the webpage I need.”

Abduljabar AbdulSalam Ibrahim views cookies as mutual agreements between users and websites: “I accept them, but not always. It’s an agreement between a user and the site visited.”

Aishatu Abdullahi Muhammad acknowledges potential risks: “Accepting cookies can be dangerous. Some websites aren’t legitimate.”

Adam Ismail exercises caution: “I only accept cookies on trusted sites.”

Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman said he rarely accepts cookies.

These diverse perspectives highlight varying levels of awareness and concern regarding cookies and online privacy.

Cookie Usage Statistics

Expert Insight

KANO FOCUS reached out to Nigeria’s Country Representative for West Africa ICT Action Network, Ms. Amina Ibrahim Idris, a professional in data protection and cybersecurity. She explained that automatically accepting cookies undermines user data, privacy, and digital security.

Understanding the hidden dangers to online tracking

“Some risks include tracking and profiling, cookies tracking users’ activities online, creating profiles used for targeted advertising,” she said.

Ms. Amina added that data breaches can occur from accepting cookies indiscriminately: “By clicking ‘Accept Cookies,’ some sites might save login credentials and data, compromising user data in case of a breach.”

NDPC figures on data breaches in Nigeria

According to Ms. Amina, cookies can collect specific user data, including:

IP addresses, revealing geographic locations, frequently visited websites indicating interests, Real names, physical addresses, contact information, Browser types and operating system details Geo-location data and GPS coordinates.

Malicious cookies can target vulnerable devices, injecting malware and viruses, and facilitate phishing attacks.

:Prevalence of Cyber Attack in Nigeria

The Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed how third-party cookies harvested Facebook users’ data without consent, influencing the 2016 US presidential election. This breach affected 87 million users.

Google faced a $170 million settlement for violating cookie tracking regulations. The search giant allowed advertisers to track users’ browsing habits despite opting out.

These incidents are not secluded to big tech giants. In Nigeria, MoMo Payment Service Bank had a data breach incident in 2022 resulting in losses worth $53 million. While, Patricia a fintech company suffered a cyber attack also in 2022, resulting in losses worth $2 million.

MoMo and Patricia data breach losses

Users’ Inability to Read Cookie Policies

Ms. Amina notes: “Cookie Policies are usually tiny and long. Users quickly accept cookies without knowing what they entail.”

To address this, Digital Public Infrastructure initiatives promote:

Digital literacy programs educating users about online safety. Regulatory frameworks like General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), ensures companies protect user data Security guidelines for safe browsing practices

Protect Yourself:

1. Read cookie policies carefully to understand data collection.

2. Utilize browser extensions like u-Block-Origin, Ghostary, and Cookie Auto-Delete to block tracking cookies.

3. Adopt alternative authentication methods, such as Token-based authentication like JSON Web tokens, Smart cards and Biometric authentication.

In the words of Ms. Amina; Companies should align policies with GDPR and CCPA, providing transparent control over user data.

By understanding cookies and DPI, you can make informed decisions.

This story is produced under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Fellowship of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Co-Develop in partnership with Kano Focus online Newspaper.

Zulaiha Danjuma

Imagine expecting to receive payment for the goods you sold to a customer only to find that the significant amount of money never reached your bank account. For Malam Haruna Yau, a palm oil vendor in Kano State, Nigeria, this nightmare became a reality.

KANO FOCUS reports that, despite his initial skepticism about adopting electronic bank payments for his business, Haruna decided to open a bank account to receive payments from his customers.

However, he soon faced numerous challenges with vanishing funds due to network glitches causing discrepancies between customer transactions and his received payments.

“The major problem we have is the unpredictable network issues, which can be quite frustrating when trying to receive payments from customers,” Haruna explained. “Because of these network issues, we find ourselves going back and forth with customers on payments they say they made, which don’t reflect in my account. And in some cases, the money shows up much later.”

Malam Haruna Yau

One specific challenge Haruna faced was when he lost ₦19,000 due to network issues. “Just last week, I lost about ₦19,000. A lot of customers sent me money, but I didn’t receive the payments, even my neighbor selling next to me sent me some money, same thing,” Haruna said.

Haruna added, that this was one of the reservation he had about bank transfers but he knew he could not escape using the bank for his business due to the raise of technological advancement

He went further to explain that there are a lot of small vendors who still resist having bank accounts due to the fear of vanishing bank transfers

“It’s discouraging for vendors who are not banked hearing those of us who opened bank accounts complaining of our monies vanishing within banks” he said

Hajiya Rabi’a, a women’s clothing vendor, shared a similar story. She sent ₦5,000 to her brother on two separate occasions, but the funds never reached him.

“I thought it was a one-off issue, but when it happened again, I was shocked,” Rabi’a said. “I had to pay that money thrice.” She lamented.

According to industry players, the issues with vanishing interbank instant transfers often originate from the deposit banks themselves. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has implemented measures to address these challenges, including the Industry Dispute Resolution Platform.

“The CBN has been working tirelessly to address the challenges faced by customers,” said an industry expert. “The Industry Dispute Resolution Platform is a significant step towards resolving disputes and improving the overall customer experience.”

The CBN has also directed deposit money banks to resolve instant interbank disputes within three working days. Customers have the right to report any issues to the CBN and fill out a complaint form.

In addition, the CBN’s regulation on Instant Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT services) states that all instant interbank EFTs should take place within 1 minute (60 seconds). However, despite this protocol, deposit money banks have been seen falling short of upholding this right to customers.

According to data from the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the volume of instant interbank transfers has increased significantly over the past year, with over 10 million transactions valued at over ₦10 trillion.

However, the same data also shows that the number of disputes and complaints related to untraceable funds has also increased, with over 10,000 complaints received by the CBN in the past quarter alone.

The impact of untraceable funds on individuals and businesses cannot be overstated. For Haruna, the loss of ₦19,000 was a significant blow to his business. “It’s not just about the money; it’s about the trust and confidence that customers have in the banking system,” Haruna said.

To address these challenges, the CBN has launched the Industry Dispute Resolution Platform, which is strictly for card and POS transactions. Banks have been mandated to report any single dispute to the platform.

“All banks are under obligation to report their dispute on the Industry Dispute Resolution System (IDRS) platform. This took off three months ago, so hopefully, customers should expect better services,” an industry source said.

While electronic bank payments offer convenience and efficiency, the challenges with vanishing funds cannot be ignored. As the CBN continues to work towards resolving these issues, customers must be aware of their rights and the measures in place to protect them.

_*To protect themselves from vanishing funds, customers can take the following steps:*_

– First, verify transactions with their banks

– Report any issue of bank non compliance to resolving the issue; by filling out a CBN complaint form about the banks non compliance

By taking these steps, customers can help ensure that their transactions are secure and that they receive the funds they are owed.

In the words of Haruna, “I believe that electronic bank payments are the future, but we need to address the challenges that come with it. As customers, we need our banking institutions to do better to serve us properly and protect our funds”.

_*This story is produced under the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Fellowship of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Co-Develop in partnership with Kano Focus Newspaper online*_

By Abdullahi Yusuf

By some definitions,education is both the act of imparting knowledge to others and the act of receiving knowledge from someone else. Scholars have also defined education as the knowledge received through schooling or instruction.

Education plays a very important role in the life of a person as it trains,equips and prepares him or her to face and surmount the challenges of life.

This essential sector has, however, suffered neglect in Kano State,over the years, with primary schools and secondary schools sustaining dilapidated classrooms, dearth of furniture, teachers and instructional materials, among other challenges.

This apparent decay in the sector prompted the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to declare a State of Emergency to arrest the situation and restore the lost glory of education in the state.

While declaring the State of Emergency in the sector on June 8,2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said inter alia:”As your elected Governor entrusted with the solemn responsibility of steering our state towards prosperity and progress, I cannot ignore the glaring reality that confronts us in the realm of education.

“With education being our number one priority, and believing that education is not only a public good, but also the greatest asset that any people can bequeath to its upcoming generation because no people can grow beyond the quality and standard of their education system, we must, therefore, take radical but practical measures to reposition education provisioning in our State.

“Nearly four out of every five classrooms in our primary and junior secondary schools are marred by dilapidation and disrepair, rendering them unsuitable for the noble pursuit of knowledge.

“Today, I stand before you to announce the declaration of a STATE OF EMERGENCY in the education sector. A state of emergency, as declared today, is an extraordinary legal measure that allows us to take some bold steps to address these critical challenges swiftly and effectively,” the governor said.

Five months after the commencement of the implementation of the State of Emergency in the all-important sector, members of the Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ),Kano Council,set out on a tour of projects being executed by the State Government under the initiative,and their findings were quite revealing as they were educative.

The tour took the Reporters to many primary and junior secondary schools in whose premises a one-storey block of four classrooms each is being constructed across the 44 local government areas of the state to address the challenge of inadequate infrastructure bedeviling the education sector.

The Writers also monitored the provision of furniture and instructional materials as well as the deployment of more teachers as part of the efforts of the Government to respond to the challenges in the sector.

The schools visited included but not limited to Namadi Primary School,Unguwar Jakada in Gwale Local Government Area,Sabon Layi Special Primary School, Bichi,in Bichi Local Government Area, Dawakin Tofa Model Primary School in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area and Garin Dau Central Primary School in Warawa Local Government Area.

Others include: Hotoro South Special Primary School, Chula Central Primary School in Ajingi Local Government Area,Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Ungogo Special Primary School in Ungogo Local Government Area and Kumbotso Special Primary School in Kumbotso Local Government Area.

In virtually all these schools visited,it was observed that the implementation of the State of Emergency has taken shape with the construction of one-storey block of four classrooms reaching advanced level of completion, provision of more furniture and instructional materials and deployment of additional teaching staff.

Another notable development in the schools is the high level of attendance of pupils and teachers, with lessons going on steadily, which,it was gathered, was encouraged by the ongoing efforts of the State Government to improve the standard of education, especially as it was evident in the provision of furniture and teaching aides such as books and writing materials.

Some stakeholders interviewed appreciated Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for launching the education revival programme.

The stakeholders whom included Sarkin Fulani Dagacin(Village Head) of Kumbotso,
Aminu Iliyasu, described the measure as “bold and timely.”

“The ongoing implementation of State of Emergency in the education sector by the State Government ably led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,is a welcome development as it will address the decay in the sector,”Iliyasu said.

He particularly commended the construction of one-storey block of four classrooms for primary schools across the 44 local government areas of the state, as well as the provision of furniture and instructional materials and deployment of more teachers to primary schools in the state.

On his part, the Headmaster of Kumbotso Special Primary School, Shuaibu Idris, commended the State Government for its provision of more classrooms, furniture and teaching aides to the school.

The gesture,Idris said, would boost teaching and learning in the school,but appealed to the State Government to deploy more of such infrastructure to the school.

Similarly,the Headboy of Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Saminu Sunusi, and the Headgirl of the school,Hadiza Ahmed Sulaiman, lauded the introduction of the State of Emergency by the State Government,saying the initiative would boost school enrollment and improve the education sector.

In the same vein, Nura Yusuf,the Headboy of Ungogo Special Primary School in Ungogo Local Government Area,and his counterpart,the Headgirl of the school,Jamila Isa Suleiman,said they were encouraged by the provision of additional infrastructure, teachers and instructional materials under the initiative.

On his part,the Headmaster of Dawakin Tofa Modern Primary School in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Sabi’u Sunusi Idris, commended the State Government for providing furniture, teaching materials,water and toilet facilities in the school, so also Latifatu Jibrin Bichi and Abdulrahaman Idris, both parents of some pupils in the Sabon Layi Primary School,Bichi, who lauded the government for intervening in the education sector.

Like any government work, however,the implementation of the State of Emergency in the education sector is confronted by challenges.These include inadequate furniture, teaching and learning materials, toilet facilities as well as dearth of classrooms and teaching staff in the primary and secondary schools visited.

It was also observed that lack of perimeter fencing, inadequate number of security guards, near total absence of libraries and dispensaries were prevalent in the schools.

These challenges formed part of the testimonies of stakeholders met on ground, including Aminu Iliyasu,the village head of Kumbotso,who said that poverty and hunger are distracting primary school pupils in the area.

Iliyasu lamented that many of the pupils stray away from school and indulge in petty trading and other menial jobs because their parents cannot provide adequate care for them and other members of their respective families.

“Because of the prevailing poverty and hunger in the country, many of the pupils have to indulge in petty trading and other menial jobs so as to complement their families’ income,” he said.

In this situation,the village head said, the parents find it difficult to make any material contribution to the State Government’s efforts to revamp education.

Another major challenge facing the implementation of the State of Emergency as testified by some primary school pupils including the Headboy of Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Saminu Sunusi,and the
Headgirl of Ungogo Special Primary School, Jamila Isa Suleiman,is the inadequate number of toilet facilities in the schools.

The pupils complained that the existing toilets in their respective schools are grossly inadequate, forcing them to either do their sanitation at home or defecate in the open.

Dearth of furniture and inadequate number of teaching staff are also part of the major challenges as lamented by the Headmaster of Hotoro South Special Primary School, Habibu Sani, and his Sabon Layi Primary School, Bichi counterpart, Malam Auwal Baduku.

Both Headteachers said shortage of chairs and desks had compelled the pupils to be receiving their lessons on bare floor.

Similarly,the Headmasters said, the low number of teachers had compelled them to ration them between the multitudes of classrooms in their respective schools, which they pointed out,is inimical to the implementation of the State of Emergency programme.

Again,some other Headteachers complained that lack of perimeter fencing had exposed their schools to the menace of trespassers and thieves, which according to them, negate the State of Emergency initiative.

The findings of the tour clearly revealed that in spite of the challenges,the State of Emergency in the education sector as declared by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,is working as planned.What is now needed is more vigour in its implementation as requested by the stakeholders.