The Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, has directed all law enforcement agencies, regulators, businesses and stakeholders to put in place mechanisms for the full enforcement of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act.
The Head-Strategic Communications, ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the directive became necessary in order to secure Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure, CNII, counter-terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen national security and protect economic interests.
Mr Mijinyawa added that the directive was part of the concrete steps being taken to prevent the use of social media and other platforms by terrorists and organised criminal groups.
The statement recalled that Nigeria had in 2022, joined 66 other countries that signed and ratified the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
The convention was to enhance international cooperation, provide common platform and procedural tools for efficient and safe cyberspace.
This, he said is pursuant to section 41(2) (a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015 requiring conformity of Nigerian cybercrime and cybersecurity laws and policies with regional and international standards.
Mr Mijinyawa said that African leaders had recently stressed the urgent need for improved deployment of greater support and resources towards strengthening cybersecurity activities in Africa.
He added that the measure was also in line with the agreement reached at the just concluded High Level African International Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja.
Mr Mijinyawa said additional resources would be deployed to counter terrorism and violent extremism as provided in section 44(5) of the Cybercrimes Act.
