By Dele Ogbodo
The Director General of the National Information Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has said the agency is deploying
a multifaceted approach and proactive mitigation strategies to address threats in Nigeria’s cyberspace.
In an all stakeholders’ conference weekend, organized by the agency which attracted policy makers, MDAs and the private sector in Abuja, to address the growing cyber-security threat, he said:
“The agency is using a multi-faceted approach: implementing new regulations, inspecting and examining regulated entities, providing support to its constituents, collaboration with relevant stakeholders, sensitizing and educating both the industry and the public, conducting research and leveraging on collaborations to issue guidance on trending cyber-security matters and mitigation strategies.”
He said, NITDA has conducted education and awareness on cyber-security training for network administrators in MDAs and security agencies.
He added: “Sensitization awareness campaigns in the six geopolitical zones which started in 2018 is continuous and scheduled through 2020.
According to him, the campaign includes broadcasting jingles on specific issues ad into most prominent local languages on TV and radio.
Inuwa, explained that publication on cyber threats distribution of cybersecurity awareness booklets and dissemination of cybersecurity related tips on social media platforms; for the digital citizens.
NITDA, he said furnishes its constituents with advisories and guidance on cybersecurity issues, roles and obligations to individuals and corporates.
He said: “NITDA has also established a multi-stakeholder platform Nigeria Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) for coordinating cybersecurity activities for the private and public sector activities in the country.
This platform, he said is aimed at educating, sensitizing, and mobilizing everyone on cybersecurity, stressing that in terms of collaboration, NITDA has established MOUs with national and international stakeholders including; Seoul National University and Cybersecurity Malaysia, cSEAN, KPMG and British High Commission.
On keeping pace with trends globally, he added: But to ensure that the regulatory framework Keep pace with the rapidly evolving technological trends, the agency has introduced new regulations: the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and the National Information systems and Network Security Standards is currently being reviewed, in line with the agency’s rule making process.
The DG underscored the need for government and industries to employ measures and to enlist the trust and confidence of all stakeholders: the government, private sector and Individuals, he added.
“This is one of those platforms for ensuring that everybody puts in the required amount of effort and commitment to ensuring trust building and dissuading the negatives of the criminals in a digital economy.
“This workshop is planned to bring together efforts of MDAs to combat one of the growing threats to economies, personal and national security globally.
“Government and industries migrate online and find effective ways of reaching out to citizens and finding efficient ways of carrying out their businesses.”
According to him, these activities are majorly dependent on use of data; it’s either data is created, collected, stored or analyzed, emphasizing that data is a critical asset to the digital economy and therefore a critical target for cyber criminals.
The increasing use of digital technologies, according to him, is continually exposing sensitive information and critical systems to risks and threats in the cyberspace.
He said: “Cyber criminals not only try to gain control over our infrastructure, they also try to steal personal information, official data and mislead citizens with fake news.
“The boom in digital economy is delicately balanced with equivalent threats that could bring organisations and nations to their knees with colossal damage arising from financial and reputational losses to cybercriminals; hence government and industries need to enhance their cybersecurity in the wake of these evolving threats to online activities.
“Every day, malicious cyber actors infiltrate computers and accounts of individual citizens, businesses, the military, and all sectors of government and most of which we are not even aware of.
“The growth and potential of the digital economy depends on the trust on the Internet and in cyberspace.”