The Amnesty Coordinator, who stated this in a press statement made available by his Media Assistant, Murphy Ganagana, said that the over-reliance on the gadgets was exposing Nigeria to potentially debilitating cyber attacks.
The statement quoted him as lamenting that the internet-driven world is fast-paced and leaves little room for individuals and organizations to properly guard very sensitive data or documents.
The statement quoted him as speaking while delivering a paper on “Cyber Security and Economic Development”, at a workshop organized by the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
The programme was held in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria. The event held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers.
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The statement further said that findings from several studies and research on Cybersecurity had warned that due to malpractice by operators, Information Technology security personnel are susceptible to being tricked into deviating from secure procedures through various methods of social engineering.
He said: “Fortunately or unfortunately, our daily activities are now being almost totally controlled by the computer. This predominant, and possibly overawing importance on computer systems, the internet and wireless networks such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and of course the ubiquitous internet-enabled smart devices, including smartphones, televisions and various tiny devices, have also made us vulnerable and susceptible to potentially debilitating attacks. More than ever before, we have all become extremely vulnerable to attacks and possible exploitation.”
He said that findings have shown that in Nigeria, cyber attackers are increasingly turning to cryptocurrency, with the most common attacks on cryptocurrency exchanges, an exchange like the Stock Exchange which allows buying and selling using different currencies.
He also predicted a high demand for cybersecurity talents globally in the near future, with the increasing shortage of skills and rising cost of technologies. “A quick fix for organizations is to look towards outsourcing their cybersecurity functions, as a plethora of reports indicates that there will be a continuous increase in demand for cybersecurity services/functions from cybersecurity service providers. This request would come from all sizes of businesses and the demand for cybersecurity talents would not just be local but global where there is already a massive shortage of supply.
According to him, this expected to lead to migration of skills outside Nigeria and servicing of other African and Western markets from Nigeria.
He stated: “Upcoming graduates and undergraduates will continue to eye cybersecurity and would start acquiring the necessary skills needed to thrive in the field of cybersecurity, as it is fast becoming one of the most lucrative skills globally.”
The statement also quoted him as stating that cybersecurity is a critical driver of economic development and Nigeria cannot afford to be left out or lag behind, he urged the Federal Government to take the lead in entrenching the culture of cybersecurity in the country.
“The Federal Government, I believe, should facilitate and encourage innovation through the development of public research institutes, financial incentives, and global linkages,” he said.
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