NITDA, CAC activate cybersecurity measures amid system concern

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have initiated coordinated measures to strengthen cybersecurity following recent concerns affecting aspects of CAC’s digital systems.

Join the Premium Times WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

Open in WhatsApp

Both agencies said they have activated response and assurance mechanisms in line with national cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain service integrity.

The cybersecurity effort was disclosed in a statement by the NITDA Director, Corporate Communications and Media Relations Department, Hadiza Umar, on Friday.

The measures followed alleged breaches of data and information systems of government and private institutions, including CAC, Remita Payment Services Limited, Sterling Bank, and other entities, in the past weeks. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said it is probing alleged data breaches.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Add as a preferred source on Google

In the statement on Friday, NITDA reiterated that all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) must adopt proactive cybersecurity measures in compliance with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.

The agency directed all MDAs to immediately review and reinforce their cybersecurity architecture to address emerging threats targeting government systems and sensitive data.

As part of the directive, MDAs are also required to conduct comprehensive security assessments, remediate identified vulnerabilities, and strengthen access controls across critical platforms.

They are also expected to enhance data protection mechanisms, maintain effective backup and disaster recovery systems, and improve monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to suspicious activities.

“In addition, there is the need for functional incident response frameworks, including prompt reporting of cybersecurity breaches for coordinated intervention.

“Detailed cybersecurity guidelines have already been issued to MDAs for implementation as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience across public sector digital infrastructure,” the NITDA stated.

According to the agency, the measures are aimed at improving the overall security posture of government institutions and ensuring the continued protection of national digital assets.

NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government agencies in safeguarding digital systems and advancing cybersecurity best practices across the public sector.

Maintenance

Meanwhile, in a separate statement released on Friday evening, the CAC also announced that it will carry out scheduled maintenance on its portal from 17-20 April.

READ ALSO: FG to establish Cybersecurity Council to combat cyber threats

The commission said its portal might be unavailable during the maintenance process, saying the effort is to serve the CAC’s customers better.

“Dear valued customer, to serve you better, we will be carrying out scheduled maintenance on our portal this weekend, from 12:00 midnight today, 17th April 2026, to 6:00 a.m. on Monday, 20th April 2026.

“During this period, the portal may be temporarily unavailable. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding,” the CAC stated.