News
Cyber Security: NITDA, NISS to train forensic experts
The Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this while receiving the Commandant, NISS, Saheed Adeleke, on a courtesy visit at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters.
The DG applauded the commandant of NISS and his management team for taking the initiative to seek collaboration with NITDA in making Nigeria a better and safer place to live.
Mr Inuwa noted that most government and private processes were prone to hacks and cyber-attacks, and it has become imperative to improve on capacity building for security agencies and private outfits to produce more forensic experts in combating these crimes.
The NITDA boss said: “The trending COVID-19 pandemic has forced the digitilisation of processes and has disrupted the normal way of life globally.
“This has led to increase in cyber-attacks and crime waves, necessitating collaborative efforts of relevant organs of government to ensure safe, secure and digitally safe country.”
He opined that the two organisations have what it takes to proffer strategic initiatives which would help in safeguarding the lives and properties of all citizens of Nigeria and sustaining the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS.
The Director General explained that the Agency usually collaborates with private and government institutions because, according to him, no one can operate in isolation. “In governance, there’s no way you can work in silos and expect success.
“The world is going digital now and for any objective driven organization, they must embrace digitization”, the DG said.
He mentioned that NITDA has set up Digital Transformation Technical Working Group for MDA’s that oversees the entire digital architecture whereby valuable information are shared through relevant platforms.
Regulatory Instruments
On regulatory instruments put in place by NITDA to support a digital economy, he reiterated that Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR, stood out as a unique instrument targeted at protecting the ‘oil’ of digital economy which is data.
“I am sure you manage a lot of people’s data at your institute and NDPR, which is an initiative by NITDA, which will give clear directions on how to manage people’s information and data,” the DG stated
He aligned with the NISS commandant that the security of the nation is a collective responsibility and this, also falls under one of the Agency’s mandates, which is securing the country’s cyberspace.
“One of our mandates is to use information technology to improve national security and this cannot be taken for granted because at NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, (SRAP 2021-2024), cyber security is one of the 7 strategic pillars we are working on”, he said.
The Director General averred that it is almost impossible to separate the physical and digital world because data received from the digital world can be used to depict and influence the subject physically.
“In intelligence gathering, trailing a suspect is rather archaic presently because having access to the person’s mobile phone will yield faster and more accurate results”, the DG stated.
Mr Inuwa restated that the Agency was investing hugely on cyber security by building capacity to have wholistic insights into what is happening in the dark web so as to be proactive in helping the nation in securing her cyberspace.
He also disclosed that the Agency is willing to collaborate with NISS on areas of emerging technologies because according to him, every technology has its perils and promises, adding that “As a nation, we need to build capacities to achieve these promises and avoid the perils.”
While assuring his visitors of utmost support and collaboration, he mentioned that on intelligence gathering, the Agency has the tools and investments which could be used to get valuable information from the dark web and come up with intelligent recommendations.
The Commandant, Mr Adeleke stated that the Institute is currently running its 14th series flagship programme which has 66 participants undergoing various courses from agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Nigerian Customs Service, Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and many others.
Mr Adeleke said, “Managing security of the nation should be a collective responsibility which is why we would like to tap into and collaborate with you, especially in areas of cybersecurity, in order to achieve optimum security for the nation.”
He expressed his willingness to train some staff of the Agency in any of their offered security courses while inviting the DG to pay a working visit to their facilities at the Lower Usuma Dam, Bwari, to enjoy the serenity of their learning environment.
A 4-man committee drawn from the two organisations was set to look at areas of mutual collaboration and make necessary recommendations for the benefit of the citizenry.
The Anambra State Police Command has foiled a cult initiation ceremony in Nawfia, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka.
According to Ikenga, the operation was carried out by police operatives around 9:30am on June 15, leading to the arrest of six suspects at the scene.
Recovered during the raid were one Jojef pump action gun, two cartridges, and a golden-coloured Lexus SUV with registration number ATN 202 AE. Other items found include two cutlasses, two scissors, a cap bearing the inscription of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, charms, and substances suspected to be hard drugs.
“They are currently undergoing police interrogation to get more insight into their modus operandi, after which the case will be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations,” Ikenga stated.
The police spokesperson reassured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to fighting cultism and other related crimes across the state.
Headlines
Tinubu Urges United Front on Development as Africa’s Sovereign Wealth Funds Gather in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Monday called for greater regional cooperation and coordinated action among African countries to unlock transformative development across the continent.
Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Africa Sovereign Investors Forum (ASIF) in Abuja, the President said sovereign wealth funds must evolve from passive fiscal buffers into proactive tools for continental transformation.
“Our future lies not in working in silos but in pursuing regional cooperation and collective ambition,” Tinubu said while declaring the forum open. “Our sovereign wealth funds must become the anchors for pan-African investment platforms that de-risk projects, standardise processes and deliver sustainable outcomes at scale. This is not just a strategy. This is a necessity.”
The forum, hosted by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), had the theme: “Leveraging African Sovereign Wealth Funds to Mobilise Global Capital for Transformative Development in Africa.”
President Tinubu emphasized the need for Africa to adapt to a rapidly transforming global economy by rethinking investment strategies to close infrastructure gaps, build climate resilience, and create jobs for the continent’s fast-growing youth population.
“Africa faces a development dilemma: limited fiscal space, growing expectations, and urgent demands for long-term capital,” the President noted. “There can be no greater inspiration to re-imagine how we invest in setting up critical infrastructure, strengthening our climate resilience, promoting food security, supporting MSMEs, or embracing digital economy to create jobs and expand opportunity.”
He lauded NSIA as a model institution, describing it as “a catalyst in our national quest” to unlock growth in renewable energy, healthcare, agriculture, and more.
Tinubu added that ASIF provided a much-needed pan-African mechanism for sovereign funds to “share knowledge, co-invest across borders and speak with a unified voice in the global financial ecosystem.”
Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of NSIA, Mr. Aminu Umar-Sadiq, said the forum was expected to lay the groundwork for African sovereign funds to co-create sustainable investment vehicles capable of attracting global capital.
“We want to strike the right balance between risk-taking and conservative wealth management,” he said. “And we aim to position ourselves as preferred strategic partners for global investors looking for credible exposure in Africa.”
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, highlighted capital mobilisation, cross-border collaboration, and policy alignment as key priorities for driving long-term development across the continent.
President of AfreximBank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, underscored the importance of investing Africa’s sovereign wealth within the continent, stressing that domestic markets must be strengthened to shape Africa’s developmental future.
Chairman of ASIF, Mr. Obaid Amrane, said the forum had made significant strides in its three years of existence and would continue to champion Africa’s global investment positioning.
Delivering a rousing address, renowned Pan-African scholar Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba called on African leaders to prioritise investments for future generations.
“It is an intergenerational duty for political and economic leaders on the continent to cater for unborn generations,” Lumumba said. “Africa’s resources are inexhaustible. The time to invest in our future is now.”
With a convergence of policymakers, development financiers, and investment leaders, the ASIF meeting in Abuja signalled a united determination to rethink Africa’s path to development—driven not by aid, but by African capital working for African progress.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will on June 17, inaugurate the newly upgraded Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, Zamfara.
Police Foil Cult Initiation in Anambra, Arrest Six Suspects
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