Business

IMO Joins AACE To Boost African Trade

Published

2 years ago

December 5, 2024

OCHEFA

624 Views

International Maritime Organization (IMO) has joined States of the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AACE) to support work on ‘The Role of Single Windows and Digitalization in Boosting African Trade.

The members of AAEC are: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Djibouti, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mauritius, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Senegal and the WAEMU Commission.

This was disclosed by the Organization at a workshop held in Casablanca, Morocco (4 December). During the workshop, the participants learned about the 2022 amendments to IMO’s FAL Convention, which now mandates the electronic exchange of mandatory data in ports for the completion of formalities.

Since 1 January 2024, all IMO Member States are required to use a centralized digital platform or ‘Maritime Single Window’ to collect and exchange information with vessels when they dock at ports.

The workshop will boost States’ ability to implement a MSW, which aims to significantly reduce time and costs associated with port procedures and thereby enhance the efficiency of shipping worldwide.

The workshop was organized by the AACE in partnership with the Moroccan Single Window, Portnet SA.

Business

Cybercriminals cloning DStv, other brands to steal bank accounts across Africa

According to cybersecurity company NordVPN, the campaign distributes Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and banking trojans, forms of malware that can give criminals control over infected devices and access to sensitive information.

Published

1 day ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

20 Views

Cybercriminals are impersonating popular companies and government agencies across Africa in a campaign designed to take over smartphones and bank accounts.

More than 100 fake websites linked to the malware campaign have been identified since August 2025.

Brands including DStv, Takealot and South African Airways, as well as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), are being used to make fraudulent messages and websites appear legitimate.

The attacks are particularly concerning in South Africa, where Android dominates the mobile operating system market.

NordVPN said the attacks typically begin with social engineering, where criminals send convincing messages through SMS, WhatsApp or social media.

The messages may contain urgent offers or requests involving job opportunities, tax refunds, identity renewals or pension verification.

Victims are then directed to fake websites designed to closely resemble the official websites of trusted organisations.

The sites encourage users to download an Android application. Once installed, the malicious software can operate quietly in the background, including after the smartphone is restarted.

Business

Cement price hits N16,000 per bag

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

Published

1 day ago

August 21, 2026

OCHEFA

26 Views

• Chairman of BUA cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR)

Cement dealers across Nigeria have announced fresh price increases, with a 50kg bag now selling for as much as N16,000 in some markets, up from N13,000 recorded by buyers just days earlier.

The current cement prices mark a steep rise from late 2024, when a bag sold for around N7,500.

By the third quarter of 2025, that had risen to about N9,000 before reaching the N12,000 to N16,000 range now seen across different locations.

Other building materials have followed a similar upward path. Blocks have climbed from around N600 to N1,100 each.

Sand has gone from N165,000 to N250,000 per 30 tonnes. Granite has risen from N530,000 to N780,000 per 30 tonnes.

Reinforcing steel now costs N1.15 million per tonne, up from N850,000.