Wednesday May 14, 2025 |
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has said the federal government was committed to protecting the nation’s vital digital and physical assets.
He said the government was ready to protect, monitor and make Nigeria’s assets resilient against emerging threats.
Ribadu spoke on Wednesday, May 14, at the 2025 Information Technology Professional Assembly organised by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) in Abuja.
The national security advisor reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to national security and digital transformation.
The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who was represented by a director in his office, Prof. Abdullahi Yau, said the current administration has evolved various policies aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity architecture.
He underscored the importance of the gathering, saying there was the need to chart a forward-looking path that responded effectively to evolving global threats, aligned with international best practices and secured the nation’s digital future.
He commended the role being played by CPN in keeping the nation secure, informed, and prepared.
Ribadu said, “We must recognise that cybersecurity is a dynamic and constantly evolving field. Threat actors are becoming more sophisticated, more resourced, and more coordinated.
“The tools and tactics they employ, from artificial intelligence-driven attacks to supply chain infiltrations and persistent threats targeting national infrastructure, demand that our strategies remain agile and forward-looking.”
He highlighted measures by the current administration to enhance national security and digital transformation, saying before the administration of President Tinubu, many of the goals outlined in the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) had remained largely unfulfilled.
The NSA reassured Nigerians that cybersecurity remained a top priority of the federal government.
Ribadu said the government would continue to strengthen its policy frameworks, deepen inter-agency collaboration, invest in talent development, and modernise the nation’s national cybersecurity infrastructure.
He, however, called for support from various stakeholders, saying success could rest on the shoulders of government alone but requires all hands on deck, government, industry, academia, civil society, and international partners.
Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa described the theme for this year’s IT Assembly, “National Cybersecurity Policy: Implementation and Effectiveness” as timely and appropriate.
His speech was read by a Deputy Director, Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Olie Frank.
He charged the management of the Council to ensure elimination of quackery in the IT industry, saying the the ministry would continue to strengthen the CPN and assist it in carrying out the task of regulating, supervising and controlling the Information Technology profession in Nigeria.
President and Chairman of Council of CPN, Kole Jagun, said this year’s event which is the 19th in series of Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly, focused on issues aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace from cyber threats, online fraud, fake news, and hate speech, while fostering international alliances and promoting local technology development.
“This gathering is more than just a meeting; it is an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. The rapid evolution of technology demands that we stay ahead—through continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and professional networking,” he stated.
