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Cyber Security: Aligning Nigeria With Rest Of The World

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Top cyber threats listed by the United State’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are hacktivism, crime, insider, espionage, terrorism and warfare. The world is no longer witnessing an era of changes; it is actually the change of an era, as security becomes cyber security.

Internet of things has become the Internet of bad things, the Internet of threat, and the Internet of everything.

What was seen as emerging threats on Windows are now targeting Android devices, turning mobile security into a high priority.

All infrastructures that are widely used are inherently vulnerable.
 
Cyberspace has been declared as the fifth territory of war, as the next 9/11 will most likely not happen physically but it will only involve a keyboard on the other side of the world.

There is a lot of work to do but not enough people: there are 1 million unfilled jobs worldwide in the cyber security industry.
 
What is the state of Nigeria’s preparedness for cyber threats? Is the country putting in place right policies and required infrastructure to align itself with the rest of the world?

These and other questions were analyzed at the ISACA 7th Annual International Conference hosted by its Abuja chapter recently.
 
While welcoming the attendees to the event, Chimenka Ezeribe, chairman of the conference announced that the theme of the conference, “Cyber security: Aligning Nigeria with the rest of the world”, was adopted with a view to considering the pros and cons of cyber security situation in Nigeria, and other parts of the world, and to provide a way for compliance to international standards and best practices.
 
Opeyemi Onifade, ‎president and board chairman, ISACA Abuja, explained that Nigeria as a member of the global society is insulated from the opportunities and threats of globalization.

“As the use of IT becomes pervasive and more and more organizations in Nigeria leverage on the Internet to transact and interact with citizens, residents, customers, employees, suppliers and partners, it has become imperative to address our collective capacity to respond to the inevitability of cyber threats, especially Advanced Persistent Threats, APT,” he said.‎
 
He admonished the country, saying, “We need to understand that we cannot succeed by accident. The cyberspace is now recognized as the fifth domain of warfare in addition to land, air, sea and space. Unfortunately in Nigeria, our cyberspace domain is still a neglected and unprotected territory whereas we have come to depend so much on mobile telecommunications, electronic banking and e-commerce for our socio-economic for survival.” 
 
Basil Udotai, managing partner, Technology Advisors and a foremost ICT lawyer, spoke on the duties of financial institutions in combating cybercrime.

According to him, Section 19 of the new cyber law prohibits financial institutions to give posting and authorizing access to any single employee while section 20 punishes fraudulent issuance of e-instructions.
 
He said Section 30 says that any person who manipulates an ATM machine or POS with the intention of defrauding commits an offence.

Also, section 35 deals with sales and purchase of another person’s card; under section 36 any person who with intent to defraud uses any device or attachment email or obtain information of a cardholder commits an offence.
 
Udotai also revealed that the new law frowns at not disclosure of cyber threat.

According to him, reporting cases of cyber threat is mandatory.

Section 21 of the new law says any person or institution, which operates a computer system or a network, whether public or private, must immediately inform the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordination Center of any attacks, intrusions and other disruptions liable to hinder the functioning of another computer system or network, so that the National CERT can take the necessary measures to tackle the issues.‎
 
“Any person or institution, who fails to report any such incident to the National CERT within 7 days of its occurrence, commits an offence and shall be liable to denial of internet services. Such persons or institution shall in addition, pay a mandatory fine of N2,000,000.00 into the National Cyber Security Fund”.
 
He said that the Cybercrime Act, though long in coming and beset with certain challenging components, may be applied to effective tackle Nigeria’s cybercrime and cyber security challenges.

However, the key players; ONSA and the OAGF, working with stakeholders, should make deliberate effort to make this a reality
 
Taiye Lambo, chief information security officer, Office of Information Security City of Atlanta, United State of America, spoke about the critical success factors in aligning Nigeria with global best practices. He argued that there must be visible support and commitment from top management; which he termed a top down approach.
 
He said institution’s information security policies, objectives and activities must reflect business objectives and there is an approach to implementing information security that is consistent with organizational culture must be put in place.
 
He said a good understanding of the security requirements, risk assessment and risk management and distribution of guidance on information security policy and standards to all employees and contractors are very critical.
 
Besides, he recommended a comprehensive and balanced system of measurement, which is used to evaluate performance in information security management and feedback suggestions for improvement.

In his contribution, Iyke Ezeugo, a business intelligence expert revealed that businesses in the country are under pressure to cope with new business trends, challenges and opportunities.

According to him, they need to deal effectively with the emerging big data – transforming the raw data into meaningful and useful information.

They require capacity for interpreting large amounts of unstructured data to help identify, develop and otherwise create new strategic business opportunities.

Osioke Ojior, NIBSS’s chief risk officer, said risk management is a comprehensive process that requires NIBSS to frame risk (that is establish the context for risk-based decisions), assess risk, respond to risk once determined, and monitor risk on an ongoing basis using effective organizational communications and a feedback loop for continuous improvement in the risk-related activities of organizations.
 
He explained that risk framing produces a risk management strategy that addresses how NIBSS intends to assess, respond and monitor risk – making explicit and transparent the risk perceptions that organizations routinely use to make investment and operational decisions.
 
According to him, risk assessment identifies threats to operations, assets, individuals or threats directed through the organization or industry against other organizations or the nation. 

He averred that risk could also be internal and external vulnerabilities to the payment system, the harm (i.e., consequences and impact) to the payment system that may occur given the potential for threats exploiting vulnerabilities; and the likelihood that harm will occur.

The result is a determination of risk (i.e., the degree of harm and likelihood of harm occurring).
 
He explained that risk response provides a consistent, organization-wide, response to risk in accordance with the organizational risk frame by developing alternative courses of action for responding to risk; evaluating the alternative courses of action; determining appropriate courses of action consistent with organizational risk tolerance and implementing risk responses based on selected courses of action.

Professor Daniel Okunbor, University of Abuja, in his paper disclosed that the rising usage of social media in Africa has serious security implications.

He argued thatthat Africa caught on social media much quickly than she has been with so many other modem technologies is clearly not a surprise.

Social media penetration in Africa could attributed be largely to the relative cost of the technologies, easy of operations and availability of relevant applications.

He explained that social media platforms are increasingly being used by enterprises to engage with customers, build their brands and communicate information to the rest of the world.

However, social media for enterprises is not all about \’liking,\’ \’friending,\’ \’up-voting\’ or \’digging.\’ For organizations, there are real risks to using social media, ranging from damaging the brand to exposing proprietary information to inviting lawsuits.


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NITDA, API Partner Against Harmful Online Content

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National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), has convened a one-day workshop in Abuja to advance dialogue on the draft Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill to confront harmful online content.

NITDA, API Partner Against Harmful Online Content

The bill, a rights-based, locally rooted, and multi-stakeholder initiative, is aimed at addressing the challenges of the digital age.

The event, which held yesterday, brought together government officials, civil society, academics, digital platforms, and legal experts to shape a policy framework designed to combat online ills such as cyberbullying, disinformation, hate speech, digital exploitation, and gender-based violence, while safeguarding democratic freedoms and digital inclusion.

In his keynote remarks, Kashifu Inuwa, director general, NITDA urged a paradigm shift in the way society engages with digital technologies.

“For almost two decades, we have viewed digital technology through a consumer lens. But these technologies are not just products and services. They are transforming how we live, work, and interact. They shape our politics, our society, and our democracy,” he said.

Warning against unaccountable digital power in the hands of private corporations, the DG likened the digital journey to the tale of Alice in Wonderland, where initial fascination with innovation has given way to deeper concerns about privacy, autonomy, and manipulation by big tech platforms.

“We thought we were using Google, but now we realise Google is using us. Social media, once a tool of expression, has become a tool of surveillance and influence,” Inuwa noted.

He, therefore, emphasised the urgency of developing a democratic and accountable framework.  He explained that following the 2021 Twitter ban, NITDA facilitated dialogue between the government and platform operators, leading to a Code of Practice that stressed Nigeria’s sovereignty and legal standards.

According to him, the same process birthed the multi-stakeholder steering committee and the OHP White Paper in December 2024, laying the foundation for the current legislative push.

Earlier in her opening remarks,  Victoria Manya, co-founder, API, observed the moral and civic necessity of the bill.

Her words: “The internet did not break society, it merely revealed its unfiltered version. Every day, Nigerians are exposed to harassment, disinformation, exploitation, and even algorithmic violence. The OHP Bill is not a war on the Internet. It is a peace offering to its users, a social contract for a digital future that is safe, inclusive, and democratic.

“We cannot answer the question of algorithmic power with unchecked state control. We must answer it with shared, rights-based governance. This bill must not be written for the people, but with them.”


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How AI Alert by Airtel is Transforming Mobile Security in Africa

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These days, people rely heavily on their mobile phones for talking, texting, banking, social media, and storing important personal information. Because of this, scammers and spammers often target phone users.

Mobile fraud, like fake SMS messages and scams, is becoming more common and putting millions at risk of losing money or having their private details stolen.

Airtel’s new AI-powered Spam Alert Service offers a smart and timely way to fight back, marking a major step forward in protecting mobile users in Africa.

A brief look at mobile fraud and spam

Mobile fraud and spam are problems around the world, but they hit harder in places where mobile phone use is growing fast, and safety measures haven’t caught up.

A 2024 report from GSMA Mobile Economy shows that more than 20% of mobile users globally have experienced some kind of mobile fraud, with spam texts being one of the most common.

In Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has noted a sharp rise in scam messages and fake calls, leading to yearly losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

These spam texts often include fake links, harmful ads, or tricks to steal personal details. Many people get caught without knowing, which can lead to stolen bank money, identity theft, or damaged devices.

Older spam blockers only work on certain phones or apps, leaving many people, especially those using basic phones, without protection.

Why Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Service stands out

Airtel, a top telecom company in Africa, has launched a new and free service called the AI Spam Alert Service. It’s the first of its kind in Africa and aims to protect mobile users from spam text messages as they come in.

What makes this service different is that it doesn’t read or check the actual message content. Instead, it uses advanced artificial intelligence to quickly study the sender’s behaviour using over 250 signs or patterns, all within a fraction of a second.

Some of those parameters, according to Airtel, includes:

  • How frequently the sender changes SIM cards.
  • The volume and frequency of messages sent by the message initiator to different recipients.
  • The geographical spread of the recipient numbers, whether messages are targeted locally or dispersed nationwide.
  • Whether the sender receives replies or only sends messages.
  • A cross-reference of numbers previously reported for spam activity.

The AI completes this analysis in just 2 milliseconds, faster than the blink of an eye, allowing real-time alerts to subscribers as suspected spam messages arrive.

How Airtel’s Spam Alert Service improves mobile safety and trust

Airtel’s new AI-powered spam alert system is set to make a big difference in mobile security across Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Instead of depending on users to block spam themselves, the service works directly through the network to stop suspicious messages before they reach people’s phones.

This kind of technology helps users feel safer and more confident using mobile networks—especially as more people rely on their phones for banking and other money-related services.

A 2025 report by McKinsey Digital shows that many Africans worry about mobile security when using digital financial tools. By reducing the risk of spam and fraud, Airtel is not only protecting its users but also helping to build a safer digital space where more people can take part in the growing mobile economy.

According to Airtel, within two months of its launch, the spam alert service system has identified 9,667,008 messages as potential spam.

Why this is a game changer

By building a service that is first-of-its-kind in Africa, Airtel is leading the way in offering spam alerts, powered by AI directly on its network, for over 150 million subscribers across the continent.

In addition, the service is quick, spotting suspicious sender activity in just milliseconds without reading users’ messages.

Finally, the service is free and requires no app downloads or extra setup. Airtel says the turns on automatically, making it easy for everyone to stay protected, even those using basic phones.

By sending signals to users before problems happen, Airtel boosts trust and encourages more people to safely use mobile money and other digital services.

Scammers are always finding new ways to trick consumers through the ubiquitous mobile phones, so increased demand for security improvements is, understandably, shifting to telecom companies.

Airtel’s AI Spam Alert Service is a strong and timely move toward better, smarter protection for users. As more people start using the service, it should help cut down fraud, keep personal information safe, and make mobile use more enjoyable.

As African economies continue to grow more digital, users of telecom services will need more secure and reliable ways to communicate, and Airtel is leading the way towards that safe future.

 


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Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

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A widespread cyberattack targeting Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) server software used by thousands of government agencies and businesses for internal document sharing was likely orchestrated by a single actor, a cybersecurity researcher said on Monday.

Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

Microsoft issued an alert on Saturday warning of “active attacks” on on-premise SharePoint servers.

The company clarified that SharePoint Online, part of the Microsoft 365 cloud suite, was not affected by the exploit, which is considered a “zero-day” vulnerability due to its previously undiscovered nature.

“Based on the consistency of the tradecraft seen across observed attacks, the campaign launched on Friday appears to be a single actor. However, it’s possible that this will quickly change,” Rafe Pilling, director of Threat Intelligence at Sophos, a British cybersecurity firm.

That tradecraft included the sending of the same digital payload to multiple targets, Pilling added.

Microsoft said it had “provided security updates and encourages customers to install them,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

It was not clear who was behind the ongoing hack. The FBI said on Sunday it was aware of the attacks and was working closely with its federal and private-sector partners, but offered no other details.

Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Washington Post said unidentified actors in the past few days had exploited a flaw to launch an attack that targeted U.S. and international agencies and businesses.

According to data from Shodan, a search engine that helps to identify internet-linked equipment, over 8,000 servers online could theoretically have already been compromised by hackers.

Those servers include major industrial firms, banks, auditors, healthcare companies, and several U.S. state-level and international government entities.

“The SharePoint incident appears to have created a broad level of compromise across a range of servers globally,” said Daniel Card of British cybersecurity consultancy, PwnDefend.

“Taking an assumed breach approach is wise, and it’s also important to understand that just applying the patch isn’t all that is required here.”


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