E-Business
ITSSP Decries Govt’s Cold-feet Towards IT Security Lapses
Information technology experts are angry with the manner, especially, the Federal Government handles issues related to IT security in the country, as the trend at the global level remains worrisome.
The experts under the umbrella of Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP), the Infotech security group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) at its inaugural roundtable conference, emphasized that the government, apart from getting its policy sets right, must eschew nepotism, engage professionals with the right tools and review the educational curriculum, as basic steps to address the challenges.
Apparently, the experts bemoaned the lukewarm attitude in government in spite the escalating IT security breaches.
Notable breached in 2014 include the eBay, which affected about 145 million members; Michaels Stores which reported that 2.6 million payment card numbers and expiration dates and 400,000 at Aaron Brothers could have been obtained in an attack; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services where the server hosting names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers on roughly 1.3 million people were attacked; and the latest being Sony Corporation where over 77 million playstation network users where affected, spanning an attack that started in 2011.
“In Nigeria, such cases,” according to Wilfred Mamah, a representative of Accenture, “are not even reported for fear of ‘reputational lose’, but the truth is that companies, especially banks are losing a lot’.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rogba Adeoye, president of ITSSP and a fellow of NCS, said, even the financial sector is much more abreast and ahead of the public sector in terms of data security; because they are safeguarding their investments.
“It ought not to be. Our discussion is basically on the policy thrust that concerns data or information security in the country. In the government of Obasanjo there was a little hype about the national identity card. It failed woefully. Today, the similar experience is been witnessed with INEC’s PVC; NCC’s SIM registration.
“So, do we continue to just take the calamity as they come and go? However, we have many pluses which can be attributed to the professionals. The economic coordinating minister told the country that we have saved N160bn following the singular act of moving the payroll of government to e-platform. Today, there is something called EMV coiled from Euro, MasterCard and Visa collaboration. In other words, our chip and pin cards are even more secured that the slide cards used in places like USA.
“We want to hear from our people like NITDA; what are they doing as a framework to drive the security aspects of government’s IT projects. While the private sector has the Chief Information Security Officers, I don’t know the one responsible in Nigeria”, he said.
Adeoye regretted that the professionals represented by the Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN), were being neglected by the government during the articulation ad execution of IT related projects by the government.
“Government is guilty of not seeking CPN’s input in the recruitment of IT managers in its various agencies. Tribalism and ethnicity are still the orders of the day in the recruitment processes and not really professional competencies and efficiencies. These have to stop for us to move forward as a nation. All agencies of the government like INEC, I can’t say if the chief director of IT is an IT expert; even the director at the Presidency or NITDA. The only time I can be sure is when the person’s name appears in the CPN’s list. That is what the CPN Act says.
On his part, Mr Chris Uwaje, the past president of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), said that information technology security lapses in the country should be a concern to all
He said, “Of course, as the past president of ITAN and ISPON, we are deeply concerned with respect to how we can position Nigeria into a very competitive and secured environment, especially within the content of information technology development in Nigeria.
“Riding on this premise of concern, indeed, the professionals are not just concerned, we are involved in engaging in the domain; we are really going to ask, ‘what are we securing?’”.
Going by the constitutional norms of Nigeria, within the Article 33 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), the Government is expected to secure the lives and property within the sovereignty.
Nodding in agreement, Uwaje said, “Within that mandate, automatically, IT systems and professionals have a lot of works to do. Now, we are talking about, ‘what tools do you need to secure them?’ When we look at the trends, we will start to appreciate the enormity of the challenges before us. We are also looking at domain security, because if you want to appreciate the network ties in the world: be it in aural, image, symbol, aesthetics, compacted in digital form or analogue or indeed, in future, in quantum form; because the world is moving from digital competition to quantum computing. All this things should be looked at wholistically, so that we can move forward.
Significantly, if you look at the power of security in a nation, government takes a chunk of that responsibility. If you can secure the information circle within your government; because that is the root that gives life to the society, then, you will be able to secure the economy for the people; secure importation, exportation, etc.
“This is because government gives life to banks, education, indeed, every institution through licencing. I want to believe that government has done well by ensuring that we have a policy on National Information Communication Technology. It has done well in recognizing the enormity of the challenges by ensuring that professionals in the field should have significant role to play by the passage of the CPN Act. This Act must be followed thoroughly to ensure that we have a role to play.
“My concern is that we need to start building, not just professionals, rather information security champions. These champions might, probably, not just be professionals themselves, rather friends of the professionals. They could be investors, philanthropists, who would say ‘we want to secure the government environment’, we want to make sure that the professionals are funded’, ‘we want to sure there are commensurate tools to enable them become more productive and performs. Thus, we should be able to have patrons of information technology security system professionals. We need to articulate how to reach out to them to ensure the voice of our country is heard at the global level”.
The professionals also want Government to address issues such as capacity building; infrastructural development and management; institutional framework; financial content and risk management analysis, as the judiciary must be abreast of the contemporary issues on IT domain.
At this juncture, Jide Awe, chairman, Publicity, Events and Trade Services Committee, said that the roundtable is long over-due, because the trends at the international front should tell everyone that information security is becoming quiet sever.
“The Sony issue is one among them. The hackers are even threatening that they are still going to do some other things. That is a very sophisticated environment, still, it tells us that we should be prepared. We are talking about the achievements we have had at the online platforms like the cashless programme. However, there are issues that if they come up now our people will desert such platforms. These are new opportunities, developments with new challenges. It is very important that proffer solutions and think ahead.
“Just like Mr Uwaje has alluded to it; we should understand that information or data security is about national security. We are depending on our ATMs, PoS, and other e-payment channels. He mentioned government too as taking the large part of the pie; for most of us that are not directly interfacing with the government rather with the financial sector and we know that it is going to be a severe damage should we do not have water-tight security measures.
“One of the areas I think we should look at, even though the first lady has tried to do something about it: the Child Online Protection (COP). I believe ITSSP can come up with policies frameworks; when you talk about information security, NITDA needs to be on alert too.
“Also, what is our culture, in terms of information security? How can we get our IT priorities right: enterprise development, local contents, software and other areas begging for attention.
To Dr. Niran Oyekale, chairman/ CEO, Commit Technology & Consult, foundation matters a lot.
He said, “We have to look at IT as a global issue, but the manner we have been going about it in Nigeria has been sort of localization. Every problem in the IT domain should not be viewed as just a local concern. I want to re-emphasis that the problems of IT require global solutions.
In his contribution, Dr. Akinseye Damilola, chairman, NCS Lagos Chapter, said, “If we look at IT for development three components are basically involved: technology, services and policies. As long as we put these items into use, there is need for us to have solid regulatory framework, which brings us to politics and policies of government. If we look at the recent happenings like in Australia, IT was deeply involved.
“The whole thing is that they even used the media to communicate. The IT security in that environment surpasses what we have in Nigeria; look at the happenings in Pakistan, six terrorists were communicating with their mastermind somewhere. And then, IT was seriously involved. The issue is that back home, we do not have solid regulatory framework and that has been a serious concern.
“The judiciary cannot be exonerated too. As we speak, if you take a case on IT to court, you will be having some difficulties, because somebody will tell you that the laws are not there to checkmate the issues. Internationally, some Nigerians go to do some e-business; they feel comfortable running back because when they get here they have safe haven. The laws are there and you can be easily be dealt with, but here it is still not enough. We must ensure the laws are right, if we are serious about having security in place. We implore the government to look at that critically”, he said.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has called for the urgent adoption of digital technology in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to boost food production, curb rising prices, and reduce the country’s dependence on food imports.
Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta at the Ogun Tech Forward Innovation & Startups Roundtable session, Tijani stressed that Nigeria’s vast arable land and large population could only be effectively harnessed through technological intervention.
He warned that without embracing innovation, traditional farming practices would remain inefficient and expensive, putting food security at risk.
“Technology innovation has already contributed 16 to 18 per cent, but we are aiming for 21 per cent. We need to introduce our technology into agriculture to produce enough food to feed ourselves
“Without technology, countries like Nigeria cannot practise agriculture effectively. We have the vast land, but without technology, we won’t do it well,” the minister said.
Tijani noted that the continuous rise in food prices and the country’s dependence on foreign exchange to import grains that can be grown locally is unsustainable.
He emphasised that leveraging tools such as mobile apps, drones, sensors, and data analytics could transform Nigeria’s farming landscape by enabling precision agriculture and providing real-time insights on soil conditions, pest control, crop health, and intruder detection.
He maintained that the deployment of such technologies would not only enhance farming efficiency and sustainability but also lead to higher yields, lower production costs, and ultimately, more affordable food for Nigerians.
The minister also made a broader case for inclusive innovation across the country, cautioning that Nigeria’s technological future cannot be shaped by a few urban centres alone.
He said the federal government would support emerging tech ecosystems, especially in states like Ogun, to ensure grassroots participation in the digital economy.
Tijani declared, “We can’t leave innovation in the hands of just a few cities. Every part of Nigeria, including towns and rural areas, must be part of the digital journey. The more people we carry along, the stronger we become as a country.”
Tijani, however, revealed that the federal government would back Ogun Tech Hub’s initiative aimed at creating 300 jobs through business process outsourcing as part of a broader vision to transform Nigerian states into ‘talent cities’.
He said, “If we don’t invest in our own people, we’ll keep depending on others for solutions. We must create space for local ideas to grow and become real businesses.”
The minister further called for the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones into key sectors, particularly agriculture, while advocating for the adoption of generative AI in education to support personalised, accessible learning across communities.
In his remarks, the President of the Ogun Tech Community, Adekunle Durosinmi, called on the federal government to provide strategic support to accelerate the growth of the state’s digital ecosystem.
He urged the minister to facilitate the establishment of a functional innovation hub and a permanent secretariat to nurture local startups.
Durosinmi highlighted the critical role Ogun State plays in Nigeria’s economic framework, describing it as a major industrial hub and strategic transport corridor linking Lagos with the rest of the country and West Africa.
He said that with 57 per cent of its 7.1 million projected population in the working-age category, Ogun State possesses immense potential for digital innovation, job creation, and youth development.
“Ogun State is uniquely positioned to become a national leader in technology and entrepreneurship. We have more than 29 tertiary institutions—more than any other state in the country—which makes us a natural home for innovation,” he said.
Since its launch in February 2022 and formal registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Durosimi stated that the Ogun Tech Community has organised various initiatives aimed at strengthening digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and grassroots tech engagement.
He noted that the community has created 19 active clusters, ranging from developers and mentors to women in tech and agritech specialists, all working together to drive inclusive growth in the tech space.
He reiterated the community’s alignment with the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2024, stressing that its programmes, governance structure, and advocacy are geared toward promoting digital literacy, supporting startups and SMEs, encouraging e-government services, and fostering responsible digital innovation.
He also stressed that collaboration between government, industry, academia, and the tech ecosystem is key to achieving national development goals.
He expressed appreciation for Tijani’s presence at the roundtable, describing it as a clear indication of the federal government’s commitment to inclusive innovation.
“We want to see such solutions replicated across the country. To accelerate this, we need your support. Ogun urgently needs a fully functioning physical secretariat and, importantly, a dedicated innovation hub to nurture and grow even more startups,” he said.
National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has signed an agreement with Revass System limited to strengthen technology acquisition compliance through its regulatory framework and boost sustainable capacity in the country.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement in Abuja, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general and chief executive officer, NOTAP, said that the agreement is to reinforce NOTAP’s core mission of ensuring that technology imported into the Country serves the broader interest particularly in advancing local content development, nurturing indigenous capabilities and ensuring sustainable job creation.
In a statement made available to journalists by Raymond Ogbu, assistant chief information officer, NOTAP, the DG said that the major purpose of the agreement was for Revass Systems limited to design, develop, deploy and manage a secure and efficient digital revenue collection system for NOTAP that will be in compliance with NOTAP Act, Central Bank of Nigeria CBN financial guidelines, NITDA policies, and other applicable Nigerian laws.
The DG said that the app should enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in revenue collection and management as well as build the capacity of NOTAP staff through structured training and technology transfer initiatives.
Dr. Amadiobi stated that the agreement reflects a strategic approach to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and technological independence by ensuring that every technology transferred into the country delivers tangible value to Nigerians.
“This partnership represents a pivotal step in ensuring that technologies coming into Nigeria are not only in compliance with Nigerian laws but also aligned with the country’s developmental priorities”.
“The goal of the agency is to ensure that every agreement NOTAP registers, contributes meaningfully to critical skills development, job creation and growth of local enterprises” she said.
The Director General reaffirmed that the milestone is in consonance with the strategic vision of the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy driven by local capabilities, productive collaborations, and build globally competitive talents.
“No meaningful developments could happen in critical areas of our economy without the deployment of technology hence the office is making every effort to deploy technology in all its operations to ensure efficient and timely service delivery” she added.
Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate data collection from Informal Cross Border Trade.
Nonye Ayeni, executive director/CEO of NEPC, at the signing ceremony held in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital said the event marked a major turning point in Nigeria’s quest to grow its export trade through the capturing of data in the informal sector.
“Existing trade data primarily capture activities within the formal sector, offering limited visibility into informal export trade transactions, despite their significant volume and economic impact. In 2024, formal export trade records indicate that 7.291 million metric tons of non-oil products valued at US$5.456 billion, were exported from Nigeria. This figure excludes informal export trade data”, she added.
She stated that the Informal cross-border trade is not just a distant, peripheral activity but real trade that fuels livelihoods, strengthens regional supply chains, and contributes significantly to our national and continental economic resilience.
According to her, “Informal export trade representing millions of dollars in goods and services has remained largely outside our official records. Informal export trade data collected by NEPC State offices from major corridors in Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun, and Adamawa reveal transactions valued at over $31.8 million in some months of 2024”.
Ayeni disclosed that reports from the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), shows that over 1.6 million bags worth of the commodity were traded informally to neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cote D Ivoire, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, and Niger Republic.
The NEPC boss pointed out that these impressive achievements were not captured in the national export trade statistics thus portending real implications for economic planning for the country.
“It weakens Nigeria’s voice in regional and global trade negotiations, it denies informal traders the recognition and support they need to thrive as well as diminishes Nigeria’s economic potential, especially the vital contributions of women, youth, and MSMEs”.
Ayeni explained that the collaboration between the Council and the NBS was borne out of the desire to correct the imbalance and capture the full spectrum of Nigeria’s export trade activity.
Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician general of the Federation, noted that the meeting of key players from national and sub-national agencies, regional institutions, international development partners, and the organized private sector, reflects the strong spirit of collaboration required to address one of the most pressing challenges in Nigeria’s trade data architecture, capturing and integrating data from informal trade and trade in services into the national framework.
Adeniran was of the view that the data gap severely impedes evidence-based policymaking, limits capacity to engage in fair trade negotiations, and undermines the accuracy of macroeconomic indicators adding that traditional trade measurement systems have long focused on formal, large-scale transactions while overlooking the vibrancy of informal trade routes.
He disclosed that informal trade in Sub-Saharan Africa contributes between 20 to 40 per cent of intra-African trade, with Nigeria accounting for a significant share due to its long and porous borders.
“These are not just gaps in data, rather, they represent gaps in our understanding of economic life and the well-being of millions of Nigerians who engage in these activities daily”, he said
Adeniran said the collaboration with NEPC, presents a timely opportunity to update and harness current trends, identify new opportunities, and design data-informed strategies to support trade formalization, enhance competitiveness, and ultimately foster inclusive economic growth.
“Capturing informal trade data will also help us design smarter border policies, enhance food security, facilitate small and medium enterprise development, and monitor regional integration efforts,” he added.
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