The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) yesterday moved to secure Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) by directing all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders to put in place mechanisms for the full enforcement of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act. The directive will also counter terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen national security and protect economic interests, Head-Strategic Communications, ONSA, Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, said in Abuja.
In a statement, Mijinyawa described the directive as part of the concrete steps being taken to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.
According to him, Nigeria had in 2022, joined 66 other countries that signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
The convention was to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace.
Mijinyawa said the directive was pursuant to Section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015 requiring conformity of Nigerian cybercrime and cybersecurity laws and policies with regional and international standards.
He said that African leaders had recently stressed the urgent need for improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa.
The ONSA director also added that the measure was also in line with the agreement reached at the just concluded High Level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja.
Mijinyawa said additional resources would be deployed to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act.
