The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has explained why collective effort by stakeholders toward enhancing security of cyberspace for Nigerians became imperative with a view to using digital tools and platforms to carry out their daily activities.
The Minister stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 2020 International Legislative-Stakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja on Monday.
Represented by Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Minister said, the conference was timely as it was slated for the month of October, dedicated globally to raising awareness on online safety and cybersecurity.
Besides, Pantami noted that while there were adequate laws, policies and frameworks in the country on cybersecurity, collective efforts at fast tracking implementation of their instruments had become more central in view of the pandemic.
One of such instruments, he said, was the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, developed by the Ministry with eight pillars, including developmental regulation, digital literacy & skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services development & promotion, soft infrastructure, digital society and emerging technologies, as well as indigenous content development and adoption.
According to Pantami, the sixth pillar of NDEPS aligned with the theme of the conference as it essentially aimed at ensuring that Nigerians were secure online.
Pantami 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.
“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 (NITDA) Act 2007 Section 6(l) states the role of NITDA in promoting the development of information technology to enhance national security.
“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.
“Our plan is to move all parts of the economy to the digital platform. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the transition to more digitally-enabled lifestyles and ways of working have brought about a ‘new normal’ globally with new opportunities and possibilities being unlocked by digitization.
“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 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.”
