Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime is reviewing Nigeria’s cybersecurity.

ONSA explained that the regime had taken steps to develop a protection plan for Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) by implementing the new National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.

This is contained in a statement by ONSA spokesman Zakari Usman on Tuesday.

Mr Usman disclosed that the modality was discussed at the ‘Seventh Meeting of the Cybercrime Advisory Council’, chaired by the National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, on Monday.

He explained that the council deliberated on developing a protection plan for CNII and updated the modalities for the cybersecurity sensitisation programme for the relevant sectors.

Mr Buhari launched the NCPS 2021 on February 23 following the implementation and review of the maiden National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy.

“Following the launch, the policy document was widely disseminated to Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, private organisations and relevant stakeholders for implementation,” said the statement. “The 7th meeting of the council reviewed emerging risks in the cyberspace and discussed modalities to facilitate and strengthen ongoing initiatives towards the implementation of the NCPS 2021.”

Mr Usman further disclosed that ONSA had planned a three-month cybersecurity sensitisation workshop across seven sectors from September to December as part of ongoing initiatives to achieve the strategic objectives of the policy.

The sectors are telecommunications, defence and security, education, finance and capital market, energy, professional organisations, the private sector, and the judiciary.

“The workshop series will provide information, strengthen cybersecurity governance and coordination, and build the capacity of relevant stakeholders on their responsibilities under the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy,” added the ONSA statement. “The workshops will also sensitise stakeholders on the expected deliverables, projected timelines and key performance indicators as required in the Action Plan for the Strategy Implementation.”

The sensitisation programme will begin with the defence and security sector on Wednesday and Thursday and will be conducted in other sectors every fortnight until the first week of December.

(NAN)