The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali-Pantami, has urged Nigerians to see social distancing as a positive development that would support implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, for a Digital Nigeria.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Social Distancing is a measure imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus across the country and even globally.
Mr Pantami, a statement signed on Friday by his Technical Assistant on Information Technology, Dr Femi Adeluyi, however, called on Nigerians to be extra security cautious while interacting online, especially when banking online.
While noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed individual interactions, the minister expressed his happiness that several meetings, lectures and other form of interactions in the country have been moved to online platforms.
This, he said, was an implicit requirement of social distancing.
He, however, said “this migration to home-based unsecure digital platforms, often with outdated security systems, can make users more vulnerable to cyberattacks”.
Mr Pantami noted that cybersecurity teams have already intercepted some cases of phishing attacks aimed at infecting systems or extracting sensitive information and campaigns that defraud citizens by offering essential products and services at suspicious prices;
Other cases, he said, included spread of fake news and misinformation aimed at spreading panic, creating instability and promoting distrust and Video-teleconferencing, VTC, hijacking (also called “Zoom-bombing”).
He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to observe basic cyberspace rules such as ignoring suspicious online offers, being circumspect in sharing VTC details, using complex passwords, keeping software up to date and refraining from sharing unverified information.
While assuring that the ministry was committed to keeping Nigerians safe online, the minister noted that the ministry and its parastatals would issue regular cybersecurity advisories.
