At a three-day workshop in Abuja, cybersecurity experts praised the Federal Government for its substantial investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and skills to shield Nigeria from cyber attacks and disruptions.
The event was organised by Flexip Group (FPG) Technologies and Solutions Ltd and Checkpoint Technologies.
Experts highlighted the staggering scale of the global cybercrime economy, which has reached nine trillion dollars, with approximately 86 billion dollars in transactions monitored daily.
Rex Mafiana, Managing Director and CEO of FPG Technologies and Solutions commended federal institutions for their investment in Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and assets to safeguard the nation’s cyberspace.
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While acknowledging the rising global rates of cyber attacks, Mafiana expressed satisfaction with the government’s proactive measures to stay ahead of cybercriminals.
He urged both public and private sectors to establish robust digital boundaries and protect the security, trust, and integrity of critical national infrastructure.
Issam El-Haddioui, Chief Technology Officer at Checkpoints Africa, detailed the methods employed by cybercriminals, who primarily target information, intellectual property, and financial data, often motivated by activism or financial gain. He emphasised that cyber-attacks often start with phishing and identity theft.
El-Haddioui advised the government and private sectors to continuously upgrade their cybersecurity measures and adopt technologies capable of thwarting attacks.
He stated, “Cybersecurity is a journey. It is not something that you do once and forget. You have to constantly upgrade and update. Security is becoming more complex in cyberspace, so all stakeholders must take action and prevent attacks.”
The experts lauded institutions like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for their exemplary operations in cybersecurity.
They also mentioned the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The workshop included representatives from NNPCL, CBN, NITDA, the Data Protection Commission, and members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS).
NAN
