Shittu wants internet stakeholders to prepare against cyber attacks

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu

The Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has called on Internet stakeholders to put measures in place to tackle all forms of cyber attacks in the country.

Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that everyone and any organisations was vulnerable to cyber criminals and stressed the need for Nigerians to be prepared against such attacks, so that when they occur, the damage to data would be minimal.

Shittu said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) site was attacked about two three weeks ago, adding: “It is a thing of joy that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under this ministry, rose to the occasion.”

The minister said the attack on JAMB was an indication that the Nigeria government was at alert and equipped to forestall attacks like this, noting, however, that does not mean government is the one with the sole responsibility to prepare for such attacks.

“Attacks will come against banks and other financial institutions, airlines, hospitals and what have you. “It behooves on all agencies, companies, establishments to prepare ahead.

“The banking sector, for instance, must also take precautions by employing experts in cyber defence to protect their data,” he stated.

The minister said collaboration was key to combating any attack in the Nigerian cyber space, since even highly industrialised nations, such as the United States, was not immune to these attacks.