FG expresses concern over rising cyber-terrorism

Cyber-terrorism which is the use of computer network tools to shut down critical national infrastructures (such as energy, transportation, government operations) or to coerce or intimidate a government or civilian population is the most precarious challenge facing Nigeria today.

This was the view of General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of Defence Staff (CDS), at the recent multi-stakeholders workshop for the validation of the draft national cybersecurity policy and strategy 2020, organized by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), in Abuja.

He said that the Cyberspace has been the main warfare after the lands, sea, air and space has no boundary and hence does not obey conditional rules in warfare.

Olonisakin, who was represented by Air vice Marshal Charles Oghonwen, chief of Defence Policy and Plans at the Defence Headquarters, stated further that cyberspace is used to facilitate various terrorist activities, such as recruitment, training, propaganda, intelligence gathering and fund raising.

According to him, “Considering the rapid and constant evolution of the cyberspace, it is therefore, imperative that this document will reduce at this time as initiated by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

“Cyberspace has been the main warfare after the lands, sea, air and space has no boundary and hence does not obey conditional rules in warfare.

“It remains open to exploitation by state actors, organized syndicates, sects, criminals and terrorists. Cyber terrorism has become the most precarious challenge facing us today as a nation.

“The use of cyberspace to facilitate various terrorist activities, such as recruitment, training, propaganda, intelligence gathering and fund raising, cyber terrorism is now globally recognized as the fundamental threat to global security.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria are not also immune to this menace of cyber threat. That awareness makes me to establish the Defence Cyber Operation Centre under the Defence Space Administration enables by this house to safeguard the cyberspace for the Armed Forces of Nigeria operations and other security agencies.”

In his keynote address, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), National Security Adviser, disclosed that the Federal Government will soon unveil the National Cyber security Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2020 to check digital threats and enhance national security and economic growth for the over 200 million population.

Major Gen. Monguno (rtd) noted that the government has been proactive to develop policies that will check threats from the use of cyberspace.

He said his Office inaugurated a multi stakeholders committee on September 10, 2020 to review the NCPS 2014, stressing that the review is to strengthen the existing cyber policy as stipulated that it should be reviewed every five years.

“Our country is currently at a turning point in its history, a significant section of our population of over 200 million people are young and entrepreneurs, we are also witnessing a rapid rise in our adoption of the internet in our daily lives.

“There is no gainsaying that cyberspace has become an engine for the enhancement of Nigeria national security, economic transformation and national development,” he said.

He said the sophistication of cyberspace comes with inherent challenges, adding that “the threats posed by cyber terrorists, and the use of the internet has brought social media circulation of hate speech and seditious messages. It is almost impossible to overstate the challenges.”