Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, has reiterated that stakeholders’ collective efforts are needed to enhance cybersecurity.
In a statement by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs, the minister stated this while delivering a keynote address at the ‘2020 International Legislative – Stakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity’ at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
Represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the minister said, “Cybersecurity awareness has become imperative due to the attendant risks that emanate from the appreciable migration of several transactions, meetings, lectures and other forms of interaction to online and digital platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He further noted that while there were adequate laws, policies and frameworks in the country on cybersecurity, collective efforts at fast-tracking the implementation of their instruments became more central in view of the pandemic.
One of such instruments, he said, was the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria, with eight pillars, which include developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services development and promotion, soft infrastructure, digital society and emerging technologies, as well as indigenous content development and adoption.
According to Pantami, the sixth pillar of NDEPS aligns with the theme of the conference.
“Furthermore, Section 106(1(c)) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, states the role of the Nigerian Communications Commission in the protection of consumer information. Similarly, the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007 Section 6(l) states the role of NITDA in promoting the development of information technology to enhance national security,” he said.
He also stated that the Nigeria National Cybersecurity Framework also prescribed guidance for public and private sector organisations for instituting measures for enshrining cybersecurity culture and enthrone cyber-resiliency in Nigeria.
Pantami added, “While all these ground preparations for a digital future were going on, unexpectedly, the world was struck with COVID-19 pandemic which changed the way we live. The impact of the pandemic led to many measures taken by governments the world over to contain the spread of the ravaging virus. Restrictions of movement as part of the measures to abate the spread gave credence to our ‘Digital First’ ideology.
“We are also working to ensure the privacy of their data online, as the ministry is working hard towards making Nigeria the digital economy capital of Africa by 2023. There are several other ongoing initiatives geared towards supporting the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.”
