The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, attended the opening session of Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Protection and Resilience Workshop for policymakers and sector regulators, held at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja on Monday. This landmark event aims to fortify cybersecurity across Nigeria’s key infrastructure sectors in response to rising global cyber threats.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu underscored the workshop’s significance as a vital step in enhancing Nigeria’s cybersecurity defences. “The primary goal,” Ribadu noted, “is to mitigate threats and build resilience within Nigeria’s critical information infrastructure,” a mission crucial for safeguarding national security and supporting economic growth.
In his address, Minister Edun highlighted the importance of attending the event to fully grasp the level of commitment being made to cybersecurity protection. He spoke on the surge in cyber threats affecting both government entities and private individuals, emphasizing the crucial role cybersecurity plays in protecting Nigeria’s digital assets.
The Minister also commended Nigeria’s security agencies for their tireless work in upholding national security, expressing confidence in their continued efforts to combat digital threats.
The workshop supports an executive order, cited by Ribadu and amended in the Cybercrimes Act, which grants the National Security Adviser authority to designate specific computer systems and networks as critical infrastructure, thereby mandating their protection to uphold national security and public safety.
High-profile attendees included Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Executive Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General Ahmed Audi, Nigeria Governors’ Forum Director General Abdulateef OT Shittu, and TETFUND Executive Secretary Sonny Echono, among others.
The workshop is expected to conclude with a comprehensive action plan aimed at bolstering cybersecurity resilience across Nigeria’s essential infrastructure sectors.
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