E-Business
Experts Proffer Ways to Protect ICT Users Against Cyber Security Crimes
Information and communication technology [ICT] experts who spoke at the recently held Indo-Africa ICT Expo in Lagos, which was declared opened by the Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, have proffered solutions to protect users of ICT products against cyber security attacks in the country.
MD/CEO of Inlaks, Femi Adeoti was represented by the Executive Director, Infrastructure Business, Tope Dare, and he spoke on “Cyber Security, Perils, Protection and the Role of ICT. He highlighted some historic events that occurred in the cyberspace in 2017, citing the rise of Ponzi schemes, which promised spurious financial returns on investments and the recent Ransomware attack, the wannacry which had negative consequences on over 150 countries including Nigeria.
Dare pointed out that the emergence of crypto-currency is a major threats to cyber security in the world today.
He said, “Hackers use cryptocurrencies based on its anonymous nature of receiving and making payments and they attack the cryptocurrency exchanges by flooding them with requests, therefore, making it unusable.
“In 2018, there will be a continuous demand for cybersecurity services and functions for cybersecurity providers and the demand will come from small and large scale businesses.
“As the demand for provider’s increases, request for technology talents would skyrocket locally and internationally, which may lead to the migration of skills outside Nigeria to the rest of Africa and the world.
“The use and promotion of effective cybersecurity regulations play a key role in reducing risks of cyber-attacks; as such, the emergence of Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Customer Security Programme (CSP) and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) companies would mandate the various bodies in order not to fall victim to cyber-attacks”, he said.
He further affirmed that the country’s regulatory agencies such as the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would need to establish and enforce regulations and codes of conducts that will protect the nation and its citizens from losses due to cyber-attacks.
In his presentation, Director General, ICT, Ekiti State, Toyin Olaniteru shared his thoughts on “securing data and protecting privacy” and averred that banks are the main targets for computer hackers and other thieves of electronic data. According to him rogue employees use swipe card skimmers to steal card numbers and related data from customers.
“The risk of losing customers’ data is critical and needs to be managed carefully. Banks and other companies are unprepared to deal with a serious data breach.
“While data security presents daunting challenges for most, there are basic steps that can be pursued to protect organizations against the worst cyber threats.
“Some of the banks apply due diligence when employing staff, and follow-up with employees can assist greatly in reducing the risks associated with data security breaches”, he said.
The CEO of Halogen Security, Wale Olaoye who was represented by the Director, Virtual Security and Strategic Market, Dayo Abegunde pointed out that everyone who owns a mobile phone, email address and password is prone to cyber security threat.
To buttress his case, he referred to artificial intelligence, internet of things, mobile, social media and cloud computing as the game changers in the ICT world.
“While these are the game changers in today’s world, they also have their challenges. Everybody who has a mobile phone is susceptible to cyber security attack.
The growing number of intelligent connected industrial and consumer devices has created new ways that intruders can gain access to network and data”.
Listing ways to overcome data breeches, Olaniteru said there is the need to encrypt data especially when dealing with customer account and personal information as well as certain categories of employee information.
He said data security protocols must be established for password protection, encryption, employee mobile devices, data placement on drives and laptop as well as continuous employee training and transfer.
“Data mapping is important to know what data your company has and on which of the systems the data is stored. The bank or any organisation must carry out diligence on employees, computer vendors etc as this will help ensure companywide compliance with security protocols”, he said.
Ignatius Kaigama, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) could pose serious risks if technological innovations are not guided by strong ethical principles.
Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines or software capable of simulating human cognitive processes.
Kaigama gave the warning on Sunday during his homily at St. Anthony Mary Claret Pastoral Area, Zuba, in the Federal Capital Territory,
He said that while artificial intelligence has enormous potential to improve lives, its irresponsible use could have harmful consequences.
Citing the teachings of Pope Leo XIV, the Archbishop said scientific and technological advances should serve humanity, uphold human dignity and promote the common good.
“We witness the misuse of human freedom, the unethical application of science and medicine, and now, in Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
The Catholic prelate also warned against what he described as an increasing pursuit of material wealth at the expense of moral values, saying greed and the love of money continue to contribute to many of society’s problems.
According to him, the excessive pursuit of wealth has diverted many people from the values of truth, justice and service, weakening the moral fabric of society.
TeKnowledge and Equinix announced a partnership to accelerate secure hybrid and multi-cloud adoption and enable AI-ready digital infrastructure across the region.
Nigeria’s digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, with the digital economy being a significant contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
As demand for cloud services, AI adoption, digital payments and data-driven innovation continues to accelerate across West Africa, the partnership is positioned to advance the region’s digital transformation.
By combining Equinix’s in-country and global data centre infrastructure and secure interconnection capabilities with TeKnowledge’s expertise in designing, deploying and managing AI, data, customer experience and cybersecurity solutions, organisations can accelerate innovation while maintaining data residency and sovereignty requirements.
Together, the organisations empower enterprises and government institutions to bridge the gap between digital ambition and execution through secure, high-performance digital environments built on local infrastructure and delivered by local talent.
Speaking, CEO and President, TeKnowledge, Aileen Allkins, said: “Organisations across Africa are increasingly looking to modernise their infrastructure while maintaining the performance, security, and compliance required to support growth.
Through our partnership with Equinix, we are combining world-class digital infrastructure with deep local expertise to help customers accelerate cloud adoption, strengthen resilience, and unlock new opportunities through AI and emerging technologies.”
Managing Director of Equinix West Africa, Wole Abu, expressed delight at partnering with TeKnowledge to bring together Equinix’s globally interconnected platform, spanning over 280 data centres and 10,000 customers worldwide.
Uche Chigbo, coordinating director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), has said the newly enacted NIMC Act strengthens data protection and privacy, expands identity coverage to include everyone in Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora, and provides the legal framework for a secure and trusted digital identity ecosystem.
She said the new law replaces the 2007 NIMC Act, which had become outdated due to rapid technological advancements, evolving cybersecurity threats, the growth of the digital economy, and the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
According to her, the updated legislation better positions the Commission to deliver Nigeria’s digital identity agenda and improve access to government and private sector services.
“The Act itself has taken in a whole lot of things to make sure that NIMC is well-positioned to be able to deliver on the identity agenda and program of Nigeria. The area of universal coverage was expanded within the Act so that NIMC can enroll everybody that is within the soil of Nigeria—male, female, children, whether they are IDPs or orphans or whatever it is, and even Nigerians in diaspora.
“There is quite a lot within the Act that over the few days and weeks, even with my Director-General’s courtesy visit, we are trying to sensitize and educate the general public, and also bring awareness to this new Act so that people will know what are the rights that exist within it, what are the obligations, what are the stronger enforcement and penalties that has also been expanded within the Act, and then what are also the regulatory autonomy that has been given to NIMC to make sure that they drive the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria,” she explained.
“There’s a lot of provisions and changes with the new Act. Um, the NIMC 2007 Act has been operating for close to 19 years now. So, we can see that, um, you can actually say it’s almost obsolete. And then with a lot of technological advancements in the world now, with the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and then with also a lot of evolving security challenges, cybersecurity challenges, as well as the ever-growing digital economy, it became very necessary that a comprehensive review of the NIMC Act should be done.
So, that 2007 Act has been repealed and a new NIMC 2026 Act is in place,” she explained.
Chigbo clarified that the National Identification Number (NIN) is Nigeria’s unique identifier and the only valid means of identification for accessing government services.
She added that it enables secure identity verification and improves access to services.
“NIN has been designated as the unique identifier in Nigeria and then by the government of Nigeria establishing it as the only valid means of identification for assessing government services. So, NIN, it’s positioned to be a valuable tool for empowering citizens and legal residents to facilitate access to service delivery in Nigeria. And it’s also a tool for people to be able to prove their identity as they go about their daily businesses,” she said.
Speaking on identity harmonisation across government agencies, Chigbo said NIMC is integrating identity databases to enable Nigerians to access services seamlessly using the National Identification Number (NIN), while other agencies continue to issue functional identities for specific purposes.
“There’s a distinction between a foundational identity and a functional identity. NIMC provides the foundational identity, which answers the question, ‘Who are you?’ Are you a Nigerian or a legal resident? Who are you? That’s what NIMC is providing. All these other agencies that you have mentioned, they provide functional ID, which is an ID that relies on the foundational ID, where they have established who you are and then they are now trying to answer the question, ‘Are you now eligible to have these services? Are you now eligible to benefit from this transaction or scheme?’ So, those are two different distinctions.”
However, Chigbo said NIMC’s mandate is to harmonise and integrate identity systems across government, with the amended Act designating the Commission as the sole repository for biometric data.
“However, NIMC mandate is to make sure that we harmonize and integrate with all these agencies so that you’re one and the same person in any of the databases or registries that you have. The Act that has been expanded and amended also positions NIMC as the only repository for biometric data capture so that we can have effective identity management and coordination in Nigeria.
“So, that harmonization is already happening, the integration is already happening,” she stated.
She also disclosed that NIMC has introduced an online modification portal that allows Nigerians to begin the process of correcting or updating their personal information from the comfort of their homes or offices.
“But also, NIMC we have a modification portal that enables you to sit in the comfort of your home or office to be able to start the process of correction or updates of your data. We already have a self-service modification portal that allows you to make corrections,” she disclosed.
On the cost of obtaining a NIN, Chigbo clarified that enrolment and issuance of the National Identification Number are free.
She, however, noted that some other identity-related services attract approved fees, which are published on the NIMC website and paid electronically through the government Remita platform.
“Enrollment for the issuance of the National Identification Number, NIN, is free. There are other services, identity services that NIMC provide. Those ones have their charges, and those fees and charges are publicized on the NIMC website so that people can see what those charges are. And NIMC does not collect cash. Our transactions and the charges are paid electronically through the government Remita platform,” she said.
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