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Monitoring Nigeria’s Cyberspace Before, During, and After the 2023 Gubernatorial and State Assembly Elections
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS, wishes to bring to the attention of the digital economy stakeholders and the general public the Ministry’s activities before, during, and after the 2023 Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

It may be recalled that on the 14th March, 2023, the Office of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy released a Press Statement regarding the activities of the Ministry and its parastatals before, during and after the Presidential and National Assembly elections. As a follow up to that and in line with the Ministry’s mandate as well as in our efforts aimed at supporting the initiatives of securing the Nigerian cyberspace, the Honourable Minister directed the Ministerial Standing Committee on Advisory Role for the Protection of Nigerian Cyberspace and ICT Infrastructure to further enhance the cyberspace surveillance activities of the three cybersecurity Centres of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB).

It may also be recalled that the Committee, inaugurated by the Honourable Minister on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, was charged with the following responsibilities, among others:

Monitoring of Telecommunication Infrastructure for the successful conduct of the 2023 General Elections:
1. Developing and implementing plans to enhance the resilience of critical digital infrastructure against cyber threats;
2. Designing procedures and using technologies to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber-attacks, as well as developing the ability to quickly recover from any damage that is done;
3. Developing a comprehensive risk assessment, analysing the nation’s current cybersecurity capabilities, and identifying gaps that need to be addressed; and
4. Providing professional advice to the Government on the effective utilisation of digital technologies in the conduct of the 2023 General Elections.
Based on Honourable Minister’s directives, the Committee provided close oversight on the activities of the cybersecurity Centres, from Friday 17th March, 2023 to Monday 20th March, 2023. During this period and as previously reported, a series of hacking attempts were recorded, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), email and Internet Protocol Spoofing (IPS) attacks, SSH Login Attempts, Brute force Injection attempts, Path Traversal, Detection Evasion, and Forceful Browsing. A total of 3,834,244 attacks were recorded, originating from both within and outside Nigeria. Daily breakdown of these attacks are:
1. Friday 17th March, 2023: 1,046,896
2. Saturday 18th March, 2023: 1,481,847
3. Sunday 19th March, 2023: 327,718
4. Monday 20th March, 2023: 977,783
It is interesting to note that the activities of cyberthreat actors on the Nigerian cyberspace during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections are much lower than those during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. This is neither surprising nor unexpected as, Nigeria being Africa’s largest democracy, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are bound to attract much attention of everyone, including cyberthreat actors, than during the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.

Furthermore, the Honourable Minister is confident that the implementation of some recommendations as well as measures taken to fortify our cyber defence mechanisms might have helped in this.

The Honourable Minister reiterates that these attainments would not have been possible without the continued support of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR in particular, and the administration in general, towards ensuring Nigeria’s successful transition into the digital economy.

The digital economy sector has enjoyed Mr President’s unprecedented support and it is highly appreciated.
March 23, 2023
Nigeria Set to Host Regional Digital Economy Conference

Policy makers and stakeholders in the digital economy ecosystem in the West African sub-region will converge in Abuja from January 31 to 1srt February for the Digital Economy Regional Conference to discuss the future of digital economy and intensify regional public private partnerships for the region.

The event is being hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Bank.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, who will deliver the keynote address at the event will be joined by his Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Mohammed Bello, to welcome Ministers and top government officials from the subregion.

The Conference, with the theme “Positioning West Africa’s Digital Economy for the Future”, will provide a platform for countries in the region to discuss issues that will strengthen the digital economies in West Africa and by extension the continent.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy said the conference will also create an avenue for peer review to accelerate digital transformation and increase collaboration to secure partnerships within the region to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem while intensifying regional public-private partnerships for digital economy funding, research, and development.

It is expected that the gathering will also provide an opportunity to showcase the progress made in the development of digital economy in the West African sub-region, identify winning strategies, discuss challenges, and prepare for the future in addition to creating awareness of the region’s needs in the areas of policies and framework for the digital economy and attracting private sponsors for digital transformation in the region.

January 24, 2023
DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Bags Forbes’ Africa Award

It was a night of glowing tributes for Kashifu Inuwa, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as Forbes Magazine recognised him as Best of Africa Outstanding Corporate Governance CEO Award, 2022.

The award ceremony which was held virtually was organised by the Forbes magazine in conjunction with the Foreign Investment Network, (FIN.)

The annual event sets out to recognise distinguished Africans of their outstanding performances and track records in governance and businesses which have made far reaching impacts in the lives of Africans and the world at large.

Inuwa in his acceptance speech, thanked the organisers of the Award for the incredible honour, adding that, “I will also thank Forbes for this recognition and the commitment to promoting strong corporate governance practices.”

He said “I am truly humble and grateful to be recognised as Best of Africa Outstanding Corporate Governance CEO Award. It is a privilege to lead NITDA and being recognised for promoting strong corporate governance practices.”

He noted that he has always believed that good corporate governance is essential to the success and sustainability of any organisation which he says helps to create transparency and accountability culture that fosters trust and confidence among stakeholders.

Inuwa maintained that NITDA is working tirelessly to ensure adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance which has led to the implementation of robust processes and systems that ensures transparent operations and accountability which are in alignment with the mission and core values of the Agency.

While acknowledging the contributions of his colleagues at NITDA for their hard work and dedication to the mission of the Agency, he noted that without their support and commitments “we will not be able to achieve the level of success that we have achieved.”

Inuwa equally commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) for his guidance, mentorship and unwavering support he is getting from him.

He promised to continue striving to maintain the highest standard of corporate governance because “it is an honour to be recognised by such a reputable and respected organisation for doing so.”

In his welcome remark, Mark Furlong, the President of Forbes Best of Africa Custom stated that the Award which began 15 years ago is to recognise and showcase the successful businesses and economies that exist in Africa continent.

He said, “It has been my personal mission to bring the success, growth and opportunity of modern African author to many United States’ executive investors and Chief Executive Officer. Our message of Africa’s success is the truth and we believe that the stories would be well told by African change agents who work tirelessly to ensure better future for the continent.

Other recipients of the Forbes Best of Africa Awards 2022 were the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero who emerged as the winner, Forbes Best of Africa Outstanding Traditional Ruler; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the winner, Forbes Best of Africa Governor Industrial Revolution; the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) Brigadier General Muhammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as the winner of Forbes Best of Africa Safety Award of Excellence amongst other distinguished personalities across the continent.

January 16, 2023
Pantami to Kick-Start Landmark Broadband Projects in Abuja

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, will on Thursday, preside over the commencement of landmark broadband initiatives to be implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC in Abuja.

This was according to a statement made available to TechTV Network.

The statement reads: “The event will witness the award of contracts for the provision of broadband infrastructure for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME, as well as for tertiary and higher institutions of learning across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Pantami is also billed to present a book, ‘Skills Rather Than Just Degrees, authored by him, with a foreword written by Brad Smith, President, Microsoft Corporation.

“The list of projects for the various geopolitical zones that are set for launch were recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC, after presentation by the Minister. The projects are expected to be completed within six months, from the date of the award.

“Well-known tech companies have been selected through a transparent tendering process by the NCC for the implementation of the strategic projects. “The event is expected to attract multi-stakeholders from the academia, technology enthusiasts, including prospective start-up companies, fintech organisations and other interested sectors, whose activities are billed to energize the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, 2020-2030.”

November 21, 2022
Pantami to Lead Software Ecosystem Players to TestNigeria Conference 1.0

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) is set to lead stakeholders in the country’s software industry to the first Software Testing Conference tagged ‘TestNigeria Conference 1.0’, organized by Nigeria Software Testing Qualification Board (NGSTQB).

Since assumption of office in August of 2019, Professor Pantami’s aggressive initiatives and reforms towards digital transformation have received recognitions within and outside the country.

The Minister had expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with the NGSTQB in democratizing software testing.

Prof. Pantami will expatiate on the government’s agenda for the software industry at the TestNigeria Conference 1.0 to be held on Tuesday November 22 and Wednesday November 23, 2022 at Lagos Oriential Hotel, Lekki road, Lagos under the theme: ‘Impact of Software Quality Assurance in the Nigerian Digital Economy’.

Guests & speakers lined up for the conference are; Mr. Hakeem Fahm, Hon Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Olivier Denoo, President of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), Mr. Bob Van de Burgt, the Test Maturity Model integration Foundation (TMMi) Local Chapter Manager, Dr. Babatunde Oghenobruche Obrimah, Chief Operating Officer, FINTECH Association of Nigeria, and Dr. Chika O. Yinka-Banjo, Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos.

Other expected guests and speakers include; Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr. Dan- Azumi Ibrahim, Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Mrs Rukiya Mohammed, Director of IT, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ms. Ola Williams, Country Manager Nigeria & Ghana, Microsoft Nigeria; Speaker from Inlaks, and Global Accelerex.

Speaking ahead of the Conference, Mr. Boye Dare, the President of NGSTQB, said that TestNigeria Conference 1.0, said that the role of software professionals in actualizing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, cannot be overemphasized.

He said that TestNigeria Conference 1.0 will feature networking cocktail, keynote presentations, panel sessions and fireside chat including special sessions on Software Test Improvement in Organisations; Growing Software Testing Ecosystem in Nigeria’s Educational Sector, and Need for Certified Test Professionals in Organisations.

While reemphasizing the need for software testing, Mr. Dare said is it vital for Nigeria to be identified as a country with high-quality software.

In his words, “Testing is necessary because we all make mistakes. Some of those mistakes are unimportant, but some are expensive and dangerous.

“Software failures can be devastating to company value and reputation. For example, UK-based loan company Provident Financial lost 1.7 billion pounds (about 2.4 billion American dollars) of market value in 2017 after a bug in their newly developed scheduling software, such that barely half of their loan debts were collected when due. This bug cost the company 120 million pounds (170 million American dollars) in profit loss, and the fiasco is considered a record-breaking loss.

Designed as a platform for software professionals to discuss how Nigerian IT ecosystem can start developing quality software that meets international standards and help achieve Nigeria’s Digital Economy Strategy, the conference is targeted at software developers, banks, government institutions, telcos, fintech companies, industry regulators and major users of sensitive software among others.

Interested participants should visit the website here or click here to see details.

NGSTQB is a member of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB); the world’s leading organization for Certification of Professionals in Software Testing.

November 7, 2022
Pantami Speaks on Gains of Digital Economy at Digital Nigeria Day Celebration

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami,has said that the Government have developed a policy for promoting indigenous content in the telecom sector to complement similar efforts that focus on the information technology sector.

The Minister who was recounting the gains of the digital economy at the celebration of the Digital Nigeria Day in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, said that the policy is helping to stern the tide of capital flight, amongst other things.

He stated that the Information and Communication Technology provided three unprecedented contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in the last three years, namely 14.07% in Q1 2020, 17.92% in Q2 2021 and 18.44% in Q2 2022 stressing that at each time, these numbers been the highest ever contribution of the ICT sector to the GDP.

According to him, the ICT sector grew by 14.70% in Q4 2020, making it the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in the last quarter of 2020 and the only sector to have grown by double digits adding that Ministry excelled at the recently concluded Retreat for Ministers, where it scored 70% and exceeded all the deliverables, with an average score of 173.86%.

The Minister recalled that besides the recent signing into law the Nigerian Startup Acts and other notable policies that it midwifed, over 863,372 citizens have benefited from digital skills programmes of the Ministry done in partnership with global companies like Microsoft and Huawei.

He disclosed that the official broadband penetration figures stood now stand at 44.65%, representing close to 13 million new broadband users while there are now 36,751 with 77.52 percentage 4G coverage across the country.

Pantami said further that under him, the cost of data was crashed from N1,200 per GB to about N350, making it easier for Nigerians to connect to the Internet saying that the Ministry has been able developed an IT clearance portal to support inoperability, eliminate duplication and ensure value for money in the implementation of ICT projects in the country.

The impact, he said made quarterly savings from the IT Projects’ Clearance Process rose from N12.45 million to N10.57 billion promising to create a pool of Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs) to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Minister said that “Through our efforts, 355,610 direct and indirect jobs were created.Privacy concerns are also being addressed through the newly established Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB). The drafting of the data protection bill has reached an advanced stage.”

October 24, 2022
Buhari Commends Microsoft For $200m African Development Centre in Nigeria

President Buhari welcomes $200million African Development Centre by Microsoft, says Nigeria ready to lead in digital technology

President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja said Nigeria stands poised to welcome more initiatives and investments in digital technology, while appreciating Microsoft for an engineering hub, African Development Centre, worth $200 million.

Receiving Brad Smith, the President of Microsoft Corporation, at the State House, accompanied by Professor Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, the President said:

“I have been informed that the African Development Centre in Nigeria is Microsoft’s first engineering hub in Africa as the current investment stands at about $200 million.

“I have also been informed of Microsoft’s skilling initiative that aims to train five million citizens and provide 27,000 jobs over the next three years. These initiatives are commendable and I urge you to expand them and continue to prioritize Nigeria as you roll out your global initiatives.’’

President Buhari told the visiting Microsoft team that as the largest economy and most populous country in Africa, Nigeria was positioned to play a strategic role in the global technology ecosystem and seek the right partnerships to harness the potentials.

He said one of such key partnerships was in the area of capacity building.

This administration, according to the President, had shown great commitment in providing conducive environment for investors and the massive jump in the Global Ease of Doing Business Ranking was proof that the efforts were yielding positive results.

“Our emphasis on the development of our Digital Economy has also positioned the sector as a prominent factor in the Nigerian economy. As the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in 2020, the Information and Communications Technology sector played a very important role in supporting our country to exit the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are keen to build on the momentum as we continue to implement our National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, along with other related policies.’’

Apart from partnership in the area of skills building, President Buhari said he looked forward to further partnerships that will support the digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, with regard to emerging technologies.

“I believe that this meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss how the Nigerian government can support the growth of your business here and how Microsoft can contribute to the growth of our economy through the active support of our policies and programmes,’’ he added.

President Buhari said he launched the Nigerian National Broadband Plan on the 19th of March 2020, with the aim of expanding broadband access across Nigeria and Microsoft’s connectivity initiative aligns with the plan.

“I believe it would be very useful and mutually beneficial to both Microsoft and Nigeria if your connectivity project is expanded beyond the current four locations in this country.

“Emerging technologies play a key role in digital transformation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a number of indigenous companies have developed very useful solutions. We are willing to partner with Microsoft to make Nigeria the epicenter for innovative emerging technology in Africa.’’

The President commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and all industry stakeholders for their support for the sector.

“In order to sustain the momentum, I further direct that you and other stakeholders in the technology ecosystem keep government fully informed of your ongoing and proposed activities that support the growth of our digital economy.

“We have the potential of becoming your most lucrative market in Africa. As such, we urge you to continue to support the development of our digital economy. We also urge you to step up your Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and support for Research and Development that will enhance your services in Nigeria and on the African continent,’’ the President said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said he represented President Buhari at the commissioning of the African Development Centre, adding that Microsoft had over 200 Nigerians working for them in the country, and Seattle.

Prof. Pantami noted that 320,000 Nigerians have also been trained on digital skills by the technology company.

The President of Microsoft and Vice Executive Chairman said the company will keep creating jobs to help build technology that will change the world, noting that the “multi-tasking approach’’ also stretches to digital infrastructure.

“We pledge to train five million people in Nigeria in the future,’’ Smith said, noting “60,000 people had already enrolled for courses while 300,000 had completed various courses.’’

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The President of Microsoft said the company had gone into partnership with other companies to increase Internet and broadband penetration, while efforts have been advanced in innovating technology that will fight corruption and preserve cultural heritages, like languages.

April 2, 2022

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