The National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd), has revealed that the ongoing Russian-Ukraine crisis heightened cyber threats in the country.
He, however, said the Cybercrime Advisory Council at its 9th meeting which he chaired, addressed the threats through increased routine monitoring activities.
According to him, other strategy was advisories to relevant stakeholders, and holding of sectoral Computer Security Incidents Response Teams meeting.
He said the meeting which held last Thursday was to facilitate incident management coordination, enhance reporting and strengthen information sharing mechanism in order further tackle the threats.
In a statement by the Head, Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Usman, the office launched Cybersecurity Toolkits for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He said the council noted that the toolkits would be available for use to protect online activities of over 41 million MSMEs that operate in Nigeria.
The statement partly read, ”The Cybercrime Advisory Council meeting held Thursday, 31 March 2022 updated members on activities and events since the 8th Meeting of the Council in compliance with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021 and the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.
”As part of measures to address emerging cyber threats heightened by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, ngCERT has increased its routine monitoring activities and advisories to relevant stakeholders and held sectoral Computer Security Incidents Response Teams meeting on 29 March 2022 to facilitate incident management coordination, enhance reporting and strengthen information sharing mechanism.”
The retired military officer added that his office is putting in place different measures to sensitize state governments on emerging threats and how to protect telecommunications assets in their domain.
