The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for stronger cooperation across sectors to guide against growing cyber threats in the country.
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of NCC, stated this during his keynote address at the opening session of a workshop aimed at protecting the nation’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
This workshop which was arranged by the National Cyber security Coordination Centre (NCCC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja, brought together policymakers and sector regulators to discuss cyber security issues.
Dr. Maida also called for quick implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order on CNII protection. He explained that the CNII Order focuses on ensuring resilience, which will allow networks to recover quickly from incidents and maintain public and business trust in telecom infrastructure.
The NCC boss also announced the creation of a Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN) to help improve information sharing and risk assessments related to the CNII. This network, led by the Office of the National Security Adviser and supported by various government bodies and private sector groups, will help identify threats and vulnerabilities while building capacity for effective security measures.
In a related statement, the ngCERT@ngCERTofficial, through its verified social media account, reported that Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, launched a workshop series focused on strengthening the protection and resilience of Nigeria’s CNII.
The initiative follows a recently approved Order for the Designation and Protection of CNII. The workshop gathered various stakeholders to discuss strategies for safeguarding important national information assets.
Ribadu reiterated the urgent need to secure key sectors, including telecommunications, banking, energy, transportation, and defense, to avoid serious disruptions. He also pointed to efforts like the development of a Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) and the establishment of the Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN) to create a unified cyber security strategy.
Dr. Maida again stressed the importance of implementing the Executive Order on CNII protection and called for collective action to protect telecom infrastructure.
Other leaders also highlighted the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration to tackle cyber threats like fraud and cyber espionage, which continue to threaten Nigeria’s digital landscape.