In view of the enormous roles of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the areas of education, defense, banking, agriculture, power generation, marine services and other vital sectors of the economy, the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT/Cybercrime, Senator Yakubu Oseni has called on accelerated drive in Nigeria’s ICT development.
The call was made today in Abuja during the Committee’s various oversight visits to the Defense Space Administration, Army Cyberwarfare Command, Nigeria Immigration Service and Civil Aviation.
Senator Oseni in company of the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai and other members had earlier intimated their various hosts that they were in the facilities to be debriefed and synergized for speedy establishment of the ICT and cyber security potentials of the country.
While the Committee members were received by Major General. E.G. Whyte at the Defense Space Administration, Brigedier I.G. Lasa and other top military officers at the Army Cyberwarfare Command played host to the lawmakers.
Also, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede and his counterpart at the Civil Aviation, the Commissioner/CEO Accident Investigation Bureau, Amin Olateru respectively received and conducted the Senators round their facilities.
While enumerating the exigencies of the ICT especially in the 21st century, Senator Oseni who described the sector as a pivot for economy transformation noted that the pace of globalization has been quickened with plethora of effects on human lives.
“Digital technology also promises to make the world a much safer place. The need therefore to galvanise accelerated ICT development in Nigeria particularly to ease business and service delivery, widen employment opportunities and to expand revenue sourcing for the country cannot be overemphasized,” he reiterated.
The lawmaker, however, lamented that despite the lofty benefits embedded in ICT and digitalisation, criminal elements around the world have chosen to turn ICT revolution to nightmare, adding that the “gains of digital technology are being dampened by rapid evolution of cyber security threats”.
He expressed worry that cyber security threats in Nigeria over the years has been heightened as a result of weak systems and palpable gaps in digital technology, noting that in Africa, Nigeria is at the bottom of cyber security manpower ratio to total population.
The Committee consequently urged the management of Defense Space Administration to always seek collaboration with relevant stakeholders in order to galvanize rapid development in Nigeria’s digital technology and cyber security ecosystem.
The highlight of the visit was the conferment of various awards on Senator Yakubu Oseni by the Nigerian Army Cyber warfare Command and Nigeria Immigration Service.
