Nigeria partners UK on building resilient national cybersecurity architecture

Plans are underway towards building a United Kingdom/Nigeria National Cybersecurity Architecture as the National  Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is to facilitate UK/Nigeria Inward Cyber Trade Mission.

Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa at the meeting with some UK delegates on Monday in Abuja, said that President Bola Tinubu was committed to economic reforms and transformation, which digitisation could drive.

Inuwa noted that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, would enhance the digitisation of the country by ensuring digitally literate populace who were abreast with cybersecurity concerns.

He said the federal government was working towards embedding cybersecurity in every aspect of general activities, adding that 95 per cent of cyber breaches were as a result of human errors.

He added that they were conducting some research on emerging technologies like the Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, robotics and additive manufacturing.

The DG further explained that as emerging technologies evolved, there was need for cyber security to evolve.

“We need to evolve in the way we talk about cybersecurity and the way we secure the system we are building,” he said.

He added that in the past the use of AI never posed a threat but presently it required explanability to avoid misuse of the technology.

Inuwa also said that issues about cybersecurity was a global concern and addressing it would require strategic partnerships and working as a global ecosystem to gain cyber diplomacy.

He added that they were collaborating with other countries who would be working with local businesses to build security systems according to cyber landscape of Nigeria.

Mr Mark Smithson, Country Director, Department of Business and Trade (DBT), UK, in his response revealed that the relationship between Nigeria and the UK was valued at 7.5 billion Pounds and they were committed to continue strengthening it through building safe cyber spaces.

“The UK remains firmly committed to supporting Nigeria in tackling cyber security challenges and harnessing the opportunities of the digital age as global threads evolve”, Smithson said.