NITDA, CAC activate cybersecurity measures, urge MDAs to tighten safety controls

*The National Information Technology Development Agency and Corporate Affairs Commission partner to activate response and assurance mechanisms in line with national cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain service integrity in Nigeria, directing government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to tighten cybersecurity controls

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to recent concerns affecting aspects of the Commission’s digital systems, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in Nigeria, have initiated coordinated measures to strengthen cybersecurity in the digital ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports both NITDA and CAC affirmed they had activated response and assurance mechanisms in line with national cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard critical infrastructure and maintain service integrity.

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In regard to its collaboration with the CAC, NITDA restated that all government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must adopt proactive cybersecurity measures in compliance with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021.

Mrs. Hadiza Umar, fnipr, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations Department at NITDA, also stated that the IT sector regulatory agency directed all MDAs to immediately review and reinforce their cybersecurity architecture to address emerging threats targeting government systems and sensitive data.

Mrs. Umar said detailed cybersecurity guidelines for MDAs would require them to conduct comprehensive security assessments, remediate identified vulnerabilities, and strengthen access controls across critical platforms.

NITDA stated that the MDAs are also expected to enhance data protection mechanisms, maintain effective backup and disaster recovery systems, and improve monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to suspicious activities.

Besides, there is the need for functional incident response frameworks, including prompt reporting of cybersecurity breaches for coordinated intervention.

According to NITDA, detailed cybersecurity guidelines have already been issued to MDAs for implementation as part of ongoing efforts at strengthening resilience across public sector digital infrastructure.

Umar added the measures are aimed at “improving the overall security posture of government institutions and ensuring the continued protection of national digital assets.”

NITDA, therefore, reiterated its commitment to supporting government agencies in protecting digital systems while advancing cybersecurity best practices across the public sector of the Nigerian economy.