NITDA forms strong team against cybercrime

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has developed a strong partnership with relevant agencies including INEC, CBN, NIMC, NIS, FIRS, CAC, ONSA, etc.
for the purpose of effectively securing Nigerian cyberspace.
NITDA in a statement signed by the Head Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs.
Hadiza Umar stressed that through the efforts of the agency, the country has formed profitable partnership with global technology giants to improve our cyber security readiness.
“Our Cyber security Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) has also been gathering necessary information and intelligence to counter the activities of devious cybercriminals.
“The efficient containment strategy of the agency during the global incidents of WannaCry and Petyavirus attacks shows the country’s growing readiness in cyber security.
This statement came as a response to the impression created in some quarters that there was verifiable and imminent threat of terrorist attack on the 2019 general election.
NITDA misconstrued statement at an IT Security Conference was aimed at explaining the dangerous possibilities of a lax national cyber security system.
“If proper IT security measures are not put in place, terrorists may disrupt the national elections by hacking into INEC voter register database; they can disrupt the banking system by hacking into and taking over the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform.
They can critically disrupt the national economy by cyber-jacking the Treasury Single Account (TSA) software etc.
“However, the way it was carried in the press gave the impression that there was verifiable and imminent threat of terrorist attack on the 2019 general election.
The agency said that it is not aware of any plan to disrupt the 2019 general election but is proactively working with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure the security of election and voting IT Infrastructure.
“NITDA, as the IT Sector Regulator, has prioritized Cyber security as one of its seven strategic focus areas.
In this regard, public awareness through capacity building workshops for relevant stakeholders in the states has so far been conducted in the North West, South South and North East zones while the train moves on to other zones shortly.
“Our statement at the ISACA Abuja Chapter event is meant to do only one thing-to show the far reaching impact of cyber security breach and to challenge the professionals to come up with more options to help us become better prepared as a nation in the days of global cyber warfare.
“We therefore call on all Nigerians to discard the sensationalism and take the message that cyber security is critical to national security,” the statement reads in part.

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