NCC to establish CSIRT for telecoms

Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed plans to set up Computer Security Incidence Response Teams (CSIRT) exclusively for the telecommunications sector.

The Commission which also played a key role in its collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) towards the establishment of the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team coordination center (ngCERT) believes that with 152 million active lines in 2016 and 97 million internet users across compared to 400,000 active telephone lines in 2001, cybersecurity has become an essential component of human activity with Its high level of complexity requires action at different levels.

This was disclosed in a keynote speech by Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the NCC titled, Building Resilience in Critical Cybersecurity Infrastructure,’ delivered at 2016 Cybersecurity Awareness Month organized by the United States Embassy in Lagos on Thursday, adding that the current scale and growth of ICT applications transcends all spheres of social and economic boundaries worldwide.

The EVC who was represented by Mr. Tony Ojobo, director, Public Affairs at the NCC, said that whether it is broadcasting (digital TV) or social networking, e-Commerce (mobile banking and financial services), e-Governance (government services management, e- education, e-health, e-taxation, etc), governments, institutions and the society in general are increasingly embracing these technologies and at the same time becoming exposed to vulnerabilities of cyber-attacks.