…As CSEAN calls for unified Action against cyber threats in the country
By; OLIVIA NNOROM
Ade Shoyinka, President of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), has called on the Nigerian governments, private sector, and civil society groups to join forces against cyber threats in the country.
He said this on Wednesday at a two-day conference by the Association in Abuja, while speaking on the theme “Cybersecurity: A Digital Transformative Tool in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals’’.
Shoyinka expressed concerns over the persistent occurrence of cybercrime by individuals or groups not affiliated with the government, emphasising that without sufficient preemptive actions, Nigeria’s progress towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be jeopardised..
He raised alarm on the increasing activities of cyber criminals, that is crippling economies, emphasising that some services of cyber crime are being distributed in the public domain.
Shoyinka also noted that lack of adequate regulation of cryptocurrencies enables anonymous transactions, making it easier for cybercriminals to perpetuate their crimes, while in most situations escaping the consequences.
“The availability of cryptocurrency has also made it easier to conduct transactions anonymously, further fuelling the growth of Ransomware as a service.
“One of such is Genesis Marketplace, available both on the dark web and the public internet; this is like selling a banned substance in a supermarket.” he said.
According to the CSEAN’s President, this platform offers attackers the opportunity to acquire digital fingerprints, enabling entry-level cybercriminals to easily purchase malware, deploy it, and sell large volumes of stolen credentials and other data. These malicious individuals will persistently undermine Nigeria’s capacity to attain the SDGs.
“The bad actors will continue to undermine our ability to achieve the SDGs, considering the significance of cybercrime in relation to achieving the SDGs, the greater our chances of countering the efforts of bad actors who seek to hinder our progress.’’ he said.
Also speaking on the growing rate of cybersecurity in the country, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), who was represented by Bala Fakandu, Manager, Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), revealed that Nigeria’s Government is currently putting measures in place to amend the 2015 Cybercrimes Act.
Ribadu recognised the existence of emerging technologies which bad state actors are already leveraging to perpetrate cybercrimes.
“It is worthy to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of critical information systems because cybersecurity is an enabler for a better and more sustainable future.
“As we embrace the rapid evolution of technology, we must be mindful of new and exciting areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain technologies that will continue to affect the future,”
“This is bearing in mind that criminal elements are already exploiting new technologies to progress their illicit activities,” he said.
Therefore, he said, Nigeria is actively working towards amending the Cybercrimes Act of 2015. In this process, important inputs from stakeholders are being taken into account, including the aspects related to artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual assets. These inputs are considered crucial in shaping the amendments to effectively address emerging challenges in the realm of cybersecurity.
He highlighted the Presidential Order on the designation and protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) currently awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s assent, which will enhance Nigeria’s current efforts for progressive economic prosperity, national development and attainment of national security objectives.
“This underscores the need for continuous cybersecurity awareness in the wake of increased cyber threats from both states and non-state actors.’’ Ribadu added.
According to the NSA, Nigeria had recorded remarkable strides in cybersecurity by fostering international cooperation and collaborations to combat cyber threats, thereby making her a trusted player in the global digital space.
Moreover, Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, said that the commission has always engaged with Nigeria constructively to promote global growth and security.
Represented by Magdalene Lagu, Head of Governance and Stability, Montgomery said the British commission is committed to continuing capacity building work in Nigeria through funding some of its programmes.
“We work hard to see a wide range of cyber stakeholders’ engagement across the private sector, civil society to retain a true understanding of Nigeria’s cyber ecosystem and ensure to support Nigeria against cybercrime,’’ he said.
The conference featured technical sessions, hackathon and the presentation of a research report on cyber threats to Nigeria in 2022, among other activities.
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