With Internet users across mobile networks in Nigeria currently standing at 149.8 million as at August 2020, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, has been speaking on the need for Internet users to be cybersecurity-conscious as well as see online safety as everyone’s business and not reserved for a group of people.
Danbatta’s speech was to herald the commencement of a series of enlightenment and awareness campaign activities being embarked upon by the Commission for this year’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), according to a statement on Sunday signed by the Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde.
DigitalTimesNG understands that the month of October every year is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) globally, aimed at raising awareness about cybersecurity, and to provide the public with general knowledge and tools required for online safety.
Danbatta, who noted that more users are expected online as services in different sectors of the economy are becoming digitalized, also stated that the increase in digital financial transactions for e-commerce activities calls for greater responsibility on the part of individuals and corporate internet users to protect themselves against cybercrimes.
He said that though the Commission embarks on various policy initiatives to drive pervasive broadband penetration to achieve increased digital inclusiveness, it is not unmindful of those who use the Internet to carry out nefarious and dubious activities in the cyberspace.
“To keep the genuine individual and corporate Internet users safe, the NCC, as the regulator of the telecom sector, annually joins the rest of the world to create a lot of enlightenment around cybercrime in the month of October every year.
“We ensure that consumers are empowered through awareness and sensitisation campaigns, by providing information on both the positive and negative potentials available online, and measures required to safeguard themselves and their loved ones,” the EVC said.
According to him, “Security is not reserved for a group of people, it is truly everyone’s business; bringing competence and knowledge to help build a safer and more inclusive information society.”
Danbatta restated the commitment of the Commission to continually embark on policy initiatives to enhance online security as well as educate and equip the consumers of telecoms services with information they need to be protected online.
