NISS engages NCC on ICTs for improved national security

*The National Institute of Security Studies seeks partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission to enhance ICT application for improved security in the West African country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) has sought partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to advance strategic collaboration that will enhance the application of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) towards improving security in the country.

Speaking during a recent visit to Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja, FCT, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, Director of Research Estimates and Library Services at NISS, said the visit was on a fact-finding mission to enrich ongoing research.

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Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Sunday, March 5, 2023, stated Dr. Karim noted the research effort focuses on globalisation and regional integration for sustainable development in Africa.

He led to the Commission a team delegation of Executive Intelligence Management Course Sixteen Participants (EIM16), a study group with representations from various security agencies under the auspices of NISS, typically senior officers in security agencies, including the military, police, intelligence services, and other relevant agencies.

The NISS Director of Research Estimates and Library Services also said that the telecoms sector regulatory Commission had made giant strides advancing the course of digital economy development in Nigeria.

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According to NISS, NCC’s regulatory processes provide a good opportunity for the collaboration to enable the former to research further into matters regarding telecommunications and national security in Nigeria.

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Special Duties of the Commission, who received the team on behalf of Prof. Danbatta, affirmed the readiness of the Commission to collaborate with the Institute, and, indeed, any private and public institution that is focused on national development.

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Reiterating the advancements made in ICTs, Adinde said it was within this context that the Commission continued to promote the deployment of robust digital infrastructure capable of supporting and improving the security of lives and property in the country.

The NCC Director of Special Duties also stated: “As a way of consolidating the tremendous successes that had been recorded in the telecoms industry through effective regulatory regime emplaced by the Commission, the Federal Government has formulated a number of policies, such as the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), among others, which serve as a compass for our efforts at building a resilient digital economy that supports security.”

Adinde further enlightened the visiting delegation on NCC’s efforts at ensuring adequate protection for telecoms facilities, across the nooks and crannies of the country where it is treated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), the building of Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across states and FCT, as well as series of collaborations with relevant agencies to ensure effective connectivity to individuals and institutions.