Ongoing growth in information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been a success story in Nigeria and other locations, especially within the African Continent.
According to experts, one of the significant achievements of ICT is the robust development of the sector with a variety of diverse stakeholders, including ministries, universities and communities, which helped to create an enabling environment for growth.
However, the issue of safety has not been adequately addressed. The United Nations (UN) arm in charge of global telecommunications, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recently called on governments in Nigeria and other parts of Africa to deepen Internet safety.
The UN observed that as the world continues to recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, coping mechanisms such as increased use of virtual workspaces; online marketplaces and e-governance have become the norm. It said while this presents opportunities to revamp economies and streamline public service delivery, it may also heighten exposure to cybercrime.
The body noted that in Africa, many countries have seen a rise in reports of digital threats and malicious cyber activities.
The results include sabotaged public infrastructure, losses from digital fraud and illicit financial flows, and national security breaches involving espionage and intelligence theft by militant groups.
Addressing these vulnerabilities, the UN observed requires a greater commitment to cybersecurity that requires enforceable policy safeguards, risk prevention and management approaches, along with technologies and infrastructure that can protect each country’s cyber environment, as well as individual and corporate end-user assets.
