FG committed to combating cyber crime ―Shittu

THE Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu has said that the federal government is working on strategic security measures to ensure secured cyberspace in Nigeria devoid of probable attacks.

He stated this recently while addressing participants at the 2018 Legislative Stakeholders Conference on cyber security in Abuja.

According to him, the ICT Roadmap 2017-2020 and Cybercrime Act 2015, commits Nigeria to an ambitious, proactive, strategic and diplomatic agenda to ensure the deployment, utilization of ICTs safe and secure cyberspace.

Adebayo reiterated that keeping Nigerians safe, secure and free is the government’s most fundamental responsibility which is the reason it is leveraging on ICTs to build strong defence mechanisms to check the activities of cyber criminals to keep the nation cyber space safe from vulnerability.

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Shittu added that Ministry of Communications in collaboration with the office of the national security to bolster Nigerian’s defences against foreign interferences.

He further stated that the Ministry of Communications in conjunction with relevant stakeholders is coming up with an essential and effective cyber security management strategy based on existing legislative frameworks as well as building on the work being done by bodies like the cyber-crime advisory council.

The Minister maintained that the cyber ecosystem has been weaponised and manipulated to devastating effect to undermine democratic processes and whip up tension amongst societal groups as well as carry out fraudulent acts for financial gains.

He however assured that the Ministry will continually partner with the office of the national security adviser to benefit from the internet, secure it, as well as engage the international rule-making bodies to make the nation’s cyber security space safe.