• The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA)

National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA)

How we’re tackling cybercrime in Nigeria – NITDA

byOge Udegbunam
October 31, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

The National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it has adopted a multi-faceted approach to addressing the growing cybersecurity threat in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the agency, Kasheem Inuwa, said this at the Information Assurance Workshop in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Inuwa spoke through the Director of Information Technology and Infrastructure Solutions Department (ITIS), Usman Abdullahi.

He said the increasing use of digital technologies is continually exposing sensitive information and critical systems to risks and threats in cyberspace.

In combating the problem, he said the agency is implementing new regulations, inspecting and examining regulated entities, providing support to its constituents and collaborating with relevant stakeholders and sensitising citizens.

It is also educating both the industry and the public, conducting research and leveraging on collaborations to issue guidance on trending cybersecurity matters and mitigation strategies.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the United States Department of Justice announced that 80 defendants, most of whom are Nigerians, were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft.

A number of the defendants are also facing substantive fraud and money laundering charges.

Atiku-Okowa AD

Mr Inuwa said cybercriminals not only try to gain control of infrastructure, they also try to steal personal information, official data and mislead citizens with fake news.

However, he said, the growth and potential of the digital economy depends on the trust on the Internet and in cyberspace

Mr Inuwa said the digital economy is estimated at 22.5 per cent of the world’s economy and yet has not been fully exploited. He said this is even as digital investments have a growth multiplier effect in national GDP, where it increases the national economic output.

‘‘Government and industries migrate online and find effective ways of reaching out to citizens and finding efficient ways of carrying out their businesses,” he said

NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD

Kogi AD

TEXEM Advert

“These activities are majorly dependent on the use of data; it’s either data is created, collected, stored or analysed. Data is a critical asset to the digital economy, as such a critical target for cybercriminals.

‘‘The boom in the 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.”

Mr Inuwa advised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with the circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the implementation of one of the regulations by MDAs.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

This is the National Information Systems and Network Security Standards, which he said are to ensure the security of data and technology systems in line with global best practices, and also to ensure a thriving digital economy where all stakeholders would have confidence and trust.

On his part, cybersecurity expert, Kenneth Okereafor, said the establishment of a single coordinating unit of all cybersecurity activities in Nigeria such that this body can help in the operationalisation and be held accountable when necessary.

“We are looking at a situation where Nigeria as a country has a framework in place to detect cybersecurity breaches. Beyond that to also respond proactively,” he said.

He said one of the ways to do that is to have a single coordinating unit.

“Though, we may be having an agency regulating IT and Cybersecurity, it is also important to have people we can hold accountable such that these bodies can help in the operationalization around him.

“People are not aware of the various exposures that we have in terms of cybersecurity. And the only way to do that is to have constant training and retraining in cybersecurity,’’ said Mr Okereafor.

Mr Okereafor said knowledge and awareness of cybercrime should be a priority amongst individuals. This is because of the “complexity of the data space that we operate in,” he said.

‘‘Legislation and for supporting cybersecurity can never be too much. We also as a country need to look into legislation to legitimise all the regulations that need to be applied in cybersecurity.

“To that extent, it is necessary for the government to consider having more legal frameworks to backup other areas of cybersecurity,” he said

Meanwhile, the Head of CyberSecurity Unit at NITDA, Wariowei Dimie, said heads of public institutions will be educated on the need to keep the confidentiality and integrity of all public information whenever and whoever that intends to have access to it.

‘‘We discovered that in public service the world over, cybercriminals are working very hard to steal information because there is value attached to data. Because the value of data is so important, we are putting up this workshop to make sure that whatever data generated and made available in public service is kept safe from hackers,” he said.

He said preparations are in top gear for monitoring and evaluations.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print



Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Tinubu mourns ex-Lagos military governor, Mobolaji Johnson

Next Post

How Mompha, Lebanese associate laundered N33 billion from Internet fraud — Magu

Oge Udegbunam

Oge Udegbunam

More News

Central Bank of Nigeria on the need for a Trade Remedies Legislation

New Naira Notes: CBN finds hoarded N4m in commercial banks in Ogun amidst shortage

January 31, 2023
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi [PHOTO CREDIT: @TheOfficialPOMA]

Obi urges universities, INEC to allow students exercise voting rights

January 31, 2023
Yakubu Maikyau, newly-elected NBA president

NBA excludes Akwa Ibom lawyers from election monitoring over alleged partisanship

January 31, 2023
Fulani Coalition Leaders

Governments, other ethnic groups ‘working to destroy cattle rearing’ – Fulani herders

January 31, 2023
The Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State, Nuhu Muhammad-Sanusi

Emir of Dutse dies at 79

January 31, 2023
Shops in Byazhin community, Kubwa, FCT

Inability to access credit trapping farmers in poverty in Abuja rural communities

January 31, 2023
Leave Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Digital Store
  • Home
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Gender
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria