Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria), also known as CPN has begun a nationwide crackdown on quackery and unlicensed practices in a bid to strengthen professional standards in the country’s information technology sector.

CPN has also  vowed tougher action against cybercrime in the country.

These were the major decisions taken at its 2026 Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday

Essien Eyo, president and chairman of Council of CPN, speaking at a virtual press conference, said the council would continue to enforce strict compliance with professional regulations to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s computing ecosystem.

He warned that the council would not tolerate unlicensed practice in the sector, stressing that regulatory enforcement would be strengthened in line with its statutory mandate.

“The Act makes it mandatory for all persons and organisations seeking to engage in computing and professional services to be registered and licensed by the council.

“It is illegal to engage in computing and professional practice without satisfying the requirement of registration and possession of a valid licence,” Eyo said.

He added that the council was determined to rid the sector of quackery and ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed to operate.

“CPN is committed to ensuring high professional ethics and standards, and we will continue to intensify efforts to eliminate quackery, arbitrary practice and lack of standards in the IT sector,” he stated.

Eyo disclosed that the 2026 IT Professionals’ Assembly, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja, would serve as a key platform to advance regulatory compliance, professional development and industry collaboration.

The event, now in its 20th edition, has the theme, “Digital Resilience and Inclusion for Smart Economy,” and aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital economy and Renewed Hope Agenda.

He explained that the theme reflects the urgent need to build a secure, inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem capable of withstanding modern technological disruptions.

“In an era defined by rapid technological change, cybersecurity threats, economic disruptions and evolving digital demands, resilience ensures that digital infrastructure and institutions can withstand shocks and sustain growth,” Eyo said.

“At the same time, inclusion guarantees that no segment of society is left behind in accessing digital opportunities.”

He said the assembly would also focus on emerging digital risks, ethical technology deployment, inclusive policy frameworks and strengthening collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society.

Eyo further noted that the event would feature the induction of new members into the computing profession and would be delivered in a hybrid format to ensure wider participation.

“The 2026 IT Professionals’ Assembly is not just an event but a strategic platform for shaping Nigeria’s digital destiny,” he said.

He confirmed that the keynote address would be delivered by Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Also speaking,  Aliu Abdullahi, vice president of Council, said the establishment of CPN was a Federal Government response to the need for proper regulation of Nigeria’s growing IT sector.

He said the council’s mandate includes setting professional standards, accrediting academic programmes, conducting examinations, regulating practice, enforcing ethics and maintaining the national register of computing professionals.

Abdullahi reiterated that all individuals and organisations engaged in IT training, computing services and related activities must be duly registered and licensed by the council.

He urged media organisations to support public awareness of the council’s activities, especially the forthcoming assembly, which he described as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s digital governance and professional integrity.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly increasing the danger of cyberattacks on the global financial system.

Pic credit… saturnpartners

According to a blog post from the IMF, these AI-driven threats could turn isolated security breaches into severe economic disruptions, potentially freezing payments, shaking markets, and undermining public trust in banks worldwide.

In its analysis, the fund highlighted a specific example involving the controlled release of an advanced AI model called Claude Mythos Preview by Anthropic.

The IMF noted that this model demonstrated the ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in all major operating systems and web browsers, even when used by individuals without specialized expertise.

The IMF cautioned that AI could heighten risk concentration within the financial system.

A single exploited vulnerability might cascade across numerous institutions simultaneously due to heavy reliance on a limited number of cloud providers, software platforms, and AI models.

Such events could escalate from operational issues to macro-financial shocks, triggering confidence crises, liquidity problems, and fire-sale dynamics in markets. The organization also acknowledged that AI forms part of the solution.

As attackers operate at machine speed, financial institutions are deploying their own AI-assisted tools for threat detection, fraud prevention, and faster incident response.

The IMF highlighted a geopolitical dimension to the threat, noting that cyber risk crosses national borders and that inconsistent oversight among countries could weaken the globally interconnected financial system.

Emerging economies, often with limited resources, may face disproportionate exposure.

The fund urged policymakers to treat cybersecurity as a core financial stability concern rather than a technical or operational matter.

It called for prioritization of resilience standards, systemic supervision, and international coordination to contain breaches before they spread.

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has warned that weak penalties under Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) policy are undermining efforts to protect telecoms assets.

Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON,  made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos while calling for urgent legal reforms to strengthen enforcement.

Emoekpere said that although offenders are being apprehended and prosecuted, the current framework was failing to serve as a deterrent.

NAN reports that Nigeria’s Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order 2024, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, provides the country’s main legal framework for safeguarding critical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure against vandalism, sabotage and theft.

The Order, anchored on the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, classifies assets such as telecom towers, fibre-optic cables and data centres as critical national infrastructure requiring enhanced protection.

“People are being caught, but the offences are still treated as petty crimes.

“That limits the impact. CNII needs stronger legal backing such as an Act or executive order to give it more teeth,” the ATCON president said.

He said that the group was actively supporting the implementation of the CNII policy in collaboration with security agencies, stressing that telecom infrastructure remained critical to national security and economic growth.

The ATCON president also reaffirmed support for the Federal Government’s “Project Bridge,” aimed at expanding connectivity across the country, but identified right-of-way approvals across states as a major bottleneck.

According to him, because telcos have to engage multiple states, it is slowing things down but efforts are ongoing to address it.

On service quality, he said operators are struggling to keep pace with rising subscriber numbers and increasing data demand, despite recent tariff adjustments.

“The challenge is not that nothing is being done—investments are ongoing. But demand is growing even faster, and operators are constantly trying to catch up,” he said.

Emoekpere added that subscriber migration between networks and shifting usage patterns are placing additional pressure on certain operators, contributing to service fluctuations.

He, however, assured customers that efforts are ongoing to improve network performance.

“We value our subscribers, and everything is being done not just to maintain, but to improve service delivery,” he said.

The telecommunications sector has consistently identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting service delivery and operational costs.

Industry stakeholders say the CNII Order is expected to strengthen the protection of telecom assets and improve quality of service for consumers, following years of rising attacks on infrastructure across the country.

Data from operators show that fibre-optic cable cuts remain one of the biggest threats to telecom operations.

However, in spite of the Order, Nigeria recorded 1,883 fibre cuts in the first quarter of 2026, while between January and August 2025, about 19,384 incidents were reported nationwide, averaging more than 2,400 monthly cases.

MTN Nigeria alone reported 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, compared with 9,000 in 2024 and 6,000 in 2023, highlighting the increasing scale of the problem.

The sector has also faced widespread theft of generators, batteries and other power assets used to keep telecoms sites operational.

In 2025, criminals reportedly stole 656 critical power assets, including 152 generators and 504 batteries, while telecom operators lost an estimated ₦27 billion nationwide within a 12-month period due to infrastructure damage.

Industry reports further indicated that 577 network outages recorded in the first quarter of 2026 were directly linked to vandalism of telecoms infrastructure.

(NAN)