The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) has met with heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders under the National Advisory Council on ways address the growing cyber threats and cybercrimes in the country.
The National Advisory Council meeting, which reviewed emerging risks in cyberspace, was set up in 2016 and tasked with checking rising cybercrimes and formulating programmes for implementing the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act 2015.
According to a statement by the Head, Strategic Communication at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Usman, the 7th edition of the National Advisory Council meeting also discussed modalities to facilitate and strengthen ongoing initiatives towards the implementation of the National Cyber security Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.
The NCPS, launched on February 23, was drafted to put some measures in place to protect the nation from cyber threats.
Monguno had lamented how cyber-criminals have been wreaking havoc on many Critical National Information Infrastructures (CNII), saying such an ugly development necessitated a protection plan for CNII.
Shortly after the launch of NCPS, the policy document was widely disseminated to federal ministries, departments and agencies, private organisations and relevant stakeholders for implementation.
However, the ONSA spokesman, Usman disclosed that the council deliberated on the development of a protection plan and guidelines for the already identified Critical National Information Infrastructure.
He said, “The Office of the National Security Adviser updated the council on the identification, designation and protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure as specified in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Protection etc) Act 2015.
“As part of ongoing initiatives to achieve the strategic objectives of the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy 2021, the Office of the National Security Adviser briefed the council on the progress made towards the planning of the three-month cybersecurity sensitisation workshops across seven sectors from September to December 2021.
“These sectors include telecommunications, defence and security, education, finance and capital market, energy, professional organisations, the private sector and judiciary.”
