Telecom
NITDA Clarifies Position on 2019 General Election Security Measures
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has refuted the news attributed to its Director General that the 2019 general elections may be disrupted if inadequate information technology security measure is put in place.
The Agency in a statement issued by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, National Information Technology Development Agency on Thursday said that the DG was quoted out of context.
According to the statement,” The attention of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been drawn to the news making the rounds in some media outlets ascribing certain statements to Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Director General/CEO of NITDA.
“The statement, for all intent and purpose, is quoted out of context.
“The Director General was invited to the ISACA Abuja Chapter event to speak on Security and Privacy: Towards the Development of a Vibrant National IT Governance Structure.
“Due to other commitments, the Director General is out of the country on official assignment and was represented at the event by Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, Director IT Infrastructure Solutions.
“The extant portion of the speech is reproduced below for the public’s attention: 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.
“This statement, made at an IT Security Conference, was aimed at explaining the dangerous possibilities of a lax national cybersecurity system.
“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.
“This is sensationalism gone awry. Furthermore, the Agency 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 Cybersecurity 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.
“As indicated earlier, the Agency 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.
The statement further revealed that the agency has formed profitable partnership with global technology giants to improve our cybersecurity readiness.
“Our Cybersecurity 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 cybersecurity.
“Our statement at the ISACA Abuja Chapter event is meant to do only one thing-to show the far reaching impact of cybersecurity 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 cybersecurity is critical to national security.”
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
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SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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